Marco Rubio, another Obama or Bill Clinton? Frank, you just insulted these two brainiac, handsome Presidents. Rubio is just a pretty face in an empty Brooks' Brothers suit. I don't think Brooks' Brothers will even have Rubio as a model.
144
I am sure your endorsement will help Rubio.
'NY Times columnist endorses Rubio" Yeah, that's going to work for Rubio in a Republican primary.
KISS OF DEATH.
I know the Trump people will thank you. What were you thinking?
'NY Times columnist endorses Rubio" Yeah, that's going to work for Rubio in a Republican primary.
KISS OF DEATH.
I know the Trump people will thank you. What were you thinking?
22
"But Bill Clinton is not only a brilliant politician, he's also brilliant. Rubio? Not so much. ... The fact that this is the best that the GOP can do is a measure of how far they've fallen."
Ronald Reagan wasn't exactly "brilliant" either. How'd he do?
Ronald Reagan wasn't exactly "brilliant" either. How'd he do?
25
Sanders will win with the "youth vote?"
You must not have heard what every candidate and pollster knows:
Youths don't vote.
Every election, someone assures us it will be "different this time." But then it's not. There are occasional "blips," to be sure -- for example, more young people voted in 2008 than usual, largely for Obama. But keep in mind that Obama was young. Hillary's not; Rubio is -- and so that means more "youth votes" may not go Democratic anyway. More likely, it's a waste of time to debate how youths might vote this time, since this election is likely to show, once again, what pollsters and candidates have understood for a very long time:
Youths don't vote.
You must not have heard what every candidate and pollster knows:
Youths don't vote.
Every election, someone assures us it will be "different this time." But then it's not. There are occasional "blips," to be sure -- for example, more young people voted in 2008 than usual, largely for Obama. But keep in mind that Obama was young. Hillary's not; Rubio is -- and so that means more "youth votes" may not go Democratic anyway. More likely, it's a waste of time to debate how youths might vote this time, since this election is likely to show, once again, what pollsters and candidates have understood for a very long time:
Youths don't vote.
12
Rubio is far more charlatan than savior. You simply have to look beyond the slick suits, well-rehearsed rhetoric and choirboy smile. Among a ton of flags, understand that he gained a political identity in the Florida legislature, an incubator for corruption and deception. His best friend there was David Rivera, arguably the most ethically challenged person in that body's history. They bought a house together -- you can just imagine them sitting around at night listening to Mary Poppins sing. Right!
59
Rubio is another neocon hope who will fail to win. The GOP establishment is stuck on neocon stupid. Till they realize this, they will keep losing. Trump will destroy Hillary head to head by the way. Not a Trump supporter, but I am also not in denial about him. He will win, with ease. The nation wants toughness, but no more stupid wars. It supports Israel in general, but does not want a president who prioritizes Israel over America.
19
Candidates' views on abortion matter less than you may think:
"Rubio's god proclaims that a rapist's sperm is sacred but that a woman's life is not. My God is kinder to women."
I happen to disagree, strongly, with Rubio on this, and I gather you disagree with him too.
But it doesn't matter much what Rubio thinks about abortion. The federal government can't outlaw abortion -- never could, never will. All Roe v. Wade said is that the US constitution prohibits state-law restrictions on abortion. If Roe v. Wade gets reversed (or, more likely: slowly eviscerated), abortion (or not) will be up to the states. Some will prohibit abortion (Texas, for example). Others will declare it legal (New York and California, for example). A woman in Texas who wants a legal abortion will have to travel to New York or California to get it -- inconvenient, but not all that big a deal, especially if pro-choice donors start funding travel expenses.
"Rubio's god proclaims that a rapist's sperm is sacred but that a woman's life is not. My God is kinder to women."
I happen to disagree, strongly, with Rubio on this, and I gather you disagree with him too.
But it doesn't matter much what Rubio thinks about abortion. The federal government can't outlaw abortion -- never could, never will. All Roe v. Wade said is that the US constitution prohibits state-law restrictions on abortion. If Roe v. Wade gets reversed (or, more likely: slowly eviscerated), abortion (or not) will be up to the states. Some will prohibit abortion (Texas, for example). Others will declare it legal (New York and California, for example). A woman in Texas who wants a legal abortion will have to travel to New York or California to get it -- inconvenient, but not all that big a deal, especially if pro-choice donors start funding travel expenses.
9
The guy doesn't want to be a US Senator, but he is prepared to become POTUS? Little Marky Rubio isn't the candidate of tomorrow, he is the candidate of the distant past, and all his policy stances prove it. Go away little Marky Rubio.
70
Senator Rubio can't "add up" his personal finances that, in and of itself, should preclude him from any public office. The fact that he is considered a viable presidential candidate for the party of fiscal responsibility speaks volumes...
65
I have a lot of latino friends and none of them are voting Republican. They believe Rubio and Cruz as living in the same barrel as Trump and the rest of the GOP wannabes.
51
"Because this is his first national campaign, reporters (and opponents) are digging into his past more vigorously than ever,"
Interesting that not one campaign or news organization has been able to find one bit of dirt on Trump. All those decades as a Atlantic City developer? All those contracts he or his corporation let? Not one Tony Soprano anywhere?
Just the whiff of organized crime did in the POTUS hopes of M. Cuomo.
It begs credulity that none exists re. Trump.
Interesting that not one campaign or news organization has been able to find one bit of dirt on Trump. All those decades as a Atlantic City developer? All those contracts he or his corporation let? Not one Tony Soprano anywhere?
Just the whiff of organized crime did in the POTUS hopes of M. Cuomo.
It begs credulity that none exists re. Trump.
38
Since we're talking about numbers...
"I don´t expect intelligent analysis from the Republican base nor from its 1% and .01% supporters."
As Casey Stengel, the old Yankee manager from decades back, liked to say: "You can look it up." Start by checking the widely published numbers on campaign contributions. In the most recent election (2014), the top donor -- yes, to Super PACs and all -- gave exclusively to Democrats, and his donations were higher than the next 7 or 8 combined. As I recall, another "all Democrats" supporter was number 3 or 4.
Obviously anyone who makes it to the top of that list is himself a member of the 1%, or the .01%. Just as obviously, that doesn't mean he gives his money to Republicans. Quite the contrary, in fact. Look it up -- don't just toss out shoot-from-the-hip allegations that support what you'd like to believe is true but actually isn't.
"I don´t expect intelligent analysis from the Republican base nor from its 1% and .01% supporters."
As Casey Stengel, the old Yankee manager from decades back, liked to say: "You can look it up." Start by checking the widely published numbers on campaign contributions. In the most recent election (2014), the top donor -- yes, to Super PACs and all -- gave exclusively to Democrats, and his donations were higher than the next 7 or 8 combined. As I recall, another "all Democrats" supporter was number 3 or 4.
Obviously anyone who makes it to the top of that list is himself a member of the 1%, or the .01%. Just as obviously, that doesn't mean he gives his money to Republicans. Quite the contrary, in fact. Look it up -- don't just toss out shoot-from-the-hip allegations that support what you'd like to believe is true but actually isn't.
7
I'm pretty sure that Bill Clinton would have deferred to scientists on science that he didn't personally understand instead of throwing up his hands and effectively implying that since he didn't know the answer, probably nobody else does either, and therefore there was no need to consider the policy implications.
57
There's not a candidate out there that has the common man in mind. They're all waterboys for the 1%, except when they want to give it all to the illegals which benefits the 1%. All the laws we need are on the books to take care of the problem that defines these times. Are we a country of laws and rules, or are we a sweatshop competing with Honduras for a wage floor?
All of these candidates want a sweatshop; Hillary, Rubio, Cruz, Bernie, Bush, etc.
All of these candidates want a sweatshop; Hillary, Rubio, Cruz, Bernie, Bush, etc.
10
Supporters of Hillary Clinton (gosh, does that include NYT’s columnists?) don’t like the prospect of a Clinton versus Rubio election. America will look at those two and see a dowdy and heathenish Queen Victoria (“we are not amused”) and a bland, yet cocksure Latino JFK.
Honestly, who do you think America will vote for?
So Mr. Trump’s most ardent supporters, people like Frank Bruni, with their envisioning of an easy victory for Mrs. Clinton against the brash and horrid Mr. Trump, are doing their best to help make that happen. Thus readers are treated an article like this, an obvious if tacit endorsement for Trump.
Marco Rubio, like the rest of the GOP field, underwhelms. But if he can beat Mrs. Clinton, then he has my vote.
Not much of an endorsement for the young Sen. Rubio, but there you go. This election is shaping up to be one of painful trade–offs; my lukewarm support for Rubio being one of them.
Anything to keep horrid Trump and corrupt Clinton out of the White House; America deserves better than either of those two bozos as president for the next four years.
Honestly, who do you think America will vote for?
So Mr. Trump’s most ardent supporters, people like Frank Bruni, with their envisioning of an easy victory for Mrs. Clinton against the brash and horrid Mr. Trump, are doing their best to help make that happen. Thus readers are treated an article like this, an obvious if tacit endorsement for Trump.
Marco Rubio, like the rest of the GOP field, underwhelms. But if he can beat Mrs. Clinton, then he has my vote.
Not much of an endorsement for the young Sen. Rubio, but there you go. This election is shaping up to be one of painful trade–offs; my lukewarm support for Rubio being one of them.
Anything to keep horrid Trump and corrupt Clinton out of the White House; America deserves better than either of those two bozos as president for the next four years.
6
"Reasonable people may not stomach Trump or Cruz....." - we have an entire political party made up of unreasonable voters who have significantly obstructed progress since the 1980s, much more destructively so since 2000. Marco Rubio is one of them, whether he wins the nomination or not. I suspect that these millions will vote for any Republican candidate, just as the Democrats will likely do, regardless of their eventual nominee. Until the action in Iowa begins and ends, any scenario is possible. Maybe some unnoticed dark horse will emerge. I don't have much hope for any of the Republican candidates. None are fit to be President of the United States.
31
Do any of these ever talk to Latinos to see how they feel about the Cuban Rubio. Cubans are the sugar cane cutters, Mexicans are the dirt farmers. That's how some see each group and it isn't a positive comparison. And realize Rubio lost the Latino vote in 2010. Mexicans can't see why Cubans get special status in the US and they don't. Parts of the US were part of Mexico about 150 years ago. Cruz will have the same problem. Also Rubio is a crook, fibber, and lazy. He wants to make money more then be a big wig in political circles.
29
Not sure you get it:
"Why is the media spending ANY time covering Rubio, Trump, or the rest of the occupants of the Republican clown car? None of them are remotely qualified to become president, and none of them will be elected."
"None of them will be elected" -- not sure why you believe that. If Rubio and Clinton got the nominations today and the election were held tomorrow, Rubio would probably be elected.
By the way, I'm pretty sure why so much attention is being paid to Trump by Hillary Clinton supporters: Hillary matches up well against Trump, but not against other Republican candidates (especially Rubio). Reminds me of the old joke about the guy walking through the city park who sees someone else on his hands and knees, evidently looking for something in the grass:
FIRST GUY: "Lose something?"
SECOND GUY: "Yeah, my car keys."
FIRST GUY: "I'll be glad to help look. Where, exactly, were you when you dropped them?"
SECOND GUY: "Over there (pointing to a shady spot about 20 feet away)."
FIRST GUY: "Then why are you looking over here?"
SECOND GUY: "The light's better here."
"The light's better" for Hillary when it's reflecting off of Trump. Rubio? Not so much.
"Why is the media spending ANY time covering Rubio, Trump, or the rest of the occupants of the Republican clown car? None of them are remotely qualified to become president, and none of them will be elected."
"None of them will be elected" -- not sure why you believe that. If Rubio and Clinton got the nominations today and the election were held tomorrow, Rubio would probably be elected.
By the way, I'm pretty sure why so much attention is being paid to Trump by Hillary Clinton supporters: Hillary matches up well against Trump, but not against other Republican candidates (especially Rubio). Reminds me of the old joke about the guy walking through the city park who sees someone else on his hands and knees, evidently looking for something in the grass:
FIRST GUY: "Lose something?"
SECOND GUY: "Yeah, my car keys."
FIRST GUY: "I'll be glad to help look. Where, exactly, were you when you dropped them?"
SECOND GUY: "Over there (pointing to a shady spot about 20 feet away)."
FIRST GUY: "Then why are you looking over here?"
SECOND GUY: "The light's better here."
"The light's better" for Hillary when it's reflecting off of Trump. Rubio? Not so much.
3
Rubio is too impressionable and that makes him frightening. He will do and say what his power base wants--war, raise taxes, back fossil fuels--whatever the money wants Rubio wants. He would be a puppet president looking only to get re-elected, not lead with conviction and conscience. He as got nice hair, a boyish charm, and speaks well; but he is not a leader. He follows his billionaire bosses. Marco does add up; he adds up the fat cat donations and tweaks his message to suit their needs. Callous and calculating behind that political charm. He could be worse for America than Cruz or Trump combined, as he is spineless and malleable--a tool for the oligarchs.
44
I have nightmares just thinking about any of the conservative "candidates" getting near the White House and/or staying in any position of political power. That said, we need to be beware of someone who is not even "in the race yet" - Paul Ryan. John Boehner did not step down from being Speaker of the House by accident and Kevin McCarthy gave up his position for a reason. Paul Ryan is supposedly being SO reasonable as the speaker of the house and appears to "sincerely" want to work with President Obama to get things done. Mr. Ryan is as much a wolf in sheep's clothing as the rest of them. So BEWARE America when they trot him out as "the" candidate. Vote only for socially conscious democrats and independents unless you want the wealthiest to get even more control.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Paul_Ryan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Paul_Ryan
45
That's the best the opposition research people can do---he tried to help his brother-in-law get a real estate license? No wonder the progressives are worried.
4
Drug prohibition is evidently very lucrative to those who wish to perpetuate it. Rubio wants to perpetuate it.
7
Rubio isn't the only Republican candidate that doesn't add up. There certainly are lots of examples of the GOP's fuzzy math and faulty "products" being advertised to us on a daily basis. But these weaker than weak candidates seem to be the best the GOP can come up with. Wonder why???
11
People who can add can also see that nature has no empathy for humans. Republican policies are essentially idolatry to make manna trickle down from the sky.
4
Is it wise to wager on a hyper-controlled candidate who’s all puzzles and paradoxes?
=====================
You're speaking of Hillary Clinton, right?
=====================
You're speaking of Hillary Clinton, right?
4
Only Trump rejects the scripts of political consultants.
3
I can only hope that he burns out. Not due to work I'm afraid. A true taker, this one.
13
Can we just please take the entire month of January off from any and all campaigning unless there is something newsworthy. As far as I can tell int the last few months, we have learned that Republican primary voters either are conned or just plain like bullies and snake oil salesmen.
On the democratic side, we have learned that Bernie is REALLY MAD and Hillary is desperate to land a joke.
Boil it down, primary voters do not come close to representing this country and young people hardly EVER put their polling pen where their mouths are. So I say reporters actually do due diligence for the entire month of January and come out in February with lots of analyzed data on the candidates, a list of flips, flops and whys and why nots for such and write about anything else for a whole month. It would be a great gift to our country.
On the democratic side, we have learned that Bernie is REALLY MAD and Hillary is desperate to land a joke.
Boil it down, primary voters do not come close to representing this country and young people hardly EVER put their polling pen where their mouths are. So I say reporters actually do due diligence for the entire month of January and come out in February with lots of analyzed data on the candidates, a list of flips, flops and whys and why nots for such and write about anything else for a whole month. It would be a great gift to our country.
6
Baloney, no one is predicting Rubio as the winner but this author. He is a weak candidate that exposed himself with the disastrous gang of eight fiasco.
This is the worst possible political climate for him. He is fighting it out for the bottom with Jeb and Kasich.
This is the worst possible political climate for him. He is fighting it out for the bottom with Jeb and Kasich.
6
This seems half-right, half-wrong:
"What you are sensing here is the limited ability of polling and statistics to provide trustworthy insights into future events. This limited ability is due at least two factors: one, the trend does not portend the future. Two, the samples in polls are an unreliable representation of the broad population (and that in turn is the limitation of statistical theory)."
The first "factor" is inarguably valid. Polls in early 2015 can't tell us much about late 2016. But I disagree on the second point. I was amazed at how well the polls predicted the results in the 2012 election. I remember thinking many would prove to be incorrect, but they were quite accurate. Sampling is always an important issue for pollsters, but they're well aware of that and have made huge advances toward eliminating that problem.
Bottom line: Polls aren't great at predicting events far in the future, but they're quite good at measuring present sentiment.
"What you are sensing here is the limited ability of polling and statistics to provide trustworthy insights into future events. This limited ability is due at least two factors: one, the trend does not portend the future. Two, the samples in polls are an unreliable representation of the broad population (and that in turn is the limitation of statistical theory)."
The first "factor" is inarguably valid. Polls in early 2015 can't tell us much about late 2016. But I disagree on the second point. I was amazed at how well the polls predicted the results in the 2012 election. I remember thinking many would prove to be incorrect, but they were quite accurate. Sampling is always an important issue for pollsters, but they're well aware of that and have made huge advances toward eliminating that problem.
Bottom line: Polls aren't great at predicting events far in the future, but they're quite good at measuring present sentiment.
1
A better title would probably be: " Marc Rubio: Can he add?"
5
"Where's Rubio ?" is apparently also a common question on the Senate floor,the as most months he misses more than one vote.Add the fact that compared to Trump ,Cruz,and Christie, Rubio is boring,if he get's the nomination he might be a GOP version of the Democrats' 1968 nominee, Hubert Humphry, especially if as a result of a deadlocked,brokered GOP Convention,which is still a strong possibility.In such an instance I can even envision Cruz's-and perhaps Trump's-supporters rioting.The GOP's fun may not have even begun in earnest, in other words.
3
The NYT (balance?) continues to enable the macabre dances of Bruni, Brookes, and Douthat, while the tide of reality threatens to unravel the Republic and impoverish most Americans.
The NYT wants debate on Social security, but the GOP maintains its policy of destroying SS and any vestige of just or great societies—all for the benefit of the wealthy.
The NYT showed a frightful photo of a man waiting in a Texas deli to order coffee--with an assault rifle on his back. Another Bundy leads an armed assault on Federal property, however innocuously in Oregon this time. And the GOP excoriates anyone pleading for common sense in arms legislation.
The USA has never been truly democratic, but it often appears so—when all three branches of government are in GOP hands. No GOP POTUS opposes the fourth real branch of government, the Pentagon--or its allies in industry. No GOP Congress favors a peace economy over a war economy. And now the NYT tells us that Obama’s policies on GTMO have been stymied not just by Congress but by the Pentagon.
In this election cycle, the puppet scribes of the GOP will continue their bluster; naïve lefties will salivate over Bernie; but the realities of a GOP controlled SCOTUS and a banana republic Pentagon stare us in the face.
The NYT wants debate on Social security, but the GOP maintains its policy of destroying SS and any vestige of just or great societies—all for the benefit of the wealthy.
The NYT showed a frightful photo of a man waiting in a Texas deli to order coffee--with an assault rifle on his back. Another Bundy leads an armed assault on Federal property, however innocuously in Oregon this time. And the GOP excoriates anyone pleading for common sense in arms legislation.
The USA has never been truly democratic, but it often appears so—when all three branches of government are in GOP hands. No GOP POTUS opposes the fourth real branch of government, the Pentagon--or its allies in industry. No GOP Congress favors a peace economy over a war economy. And now the NYT tells us that Obama’s policies on GTMO have been stymied not just by Congress but by the Pentagon.
In this election cycle, the puppet scribes of the GOP will continue their bluster; naïve lefties will salivate over Bernie; but the realities of a GOP controlled SCOTUS and a banana republic Pentagon stare us in the face.
11
Republicans are in no mood for a sane, thoughtful, compassionate candidate. They want fire and brimstone.
12
Here we go again, carting out an old Lloyd Bentsen chestnut: "I knew JFK. You're no JFK." Then it applied to a youthful looking and not very bright Dan Quayle.
J. Danforth Quayle today evokes an equally inexperienced Marco Rubio. Rubio fancies himself a bit like jFK, with one deficiency, JFK was whip smart and armed with a rapier wit. So, relying more on looks than JFK's smarts, Republicans, yes, hard to believe it but Republicans, fondly admire JFK as the last "good" Democrat because, of course, he cut taxes, like Ronnie Reagan. For the GOP, say the magic words "tax cut", and it vaults them to saintlike status. Plus, JFK stood up to the Soviets, also just like St, Ronnie, and that's worth extra credit right there.
Marco Rubio without doubt is a very ambitious fellow. He aspires to higher office almost immediately after assuming a new position, disregarding the job he currently was hired for, to begin anew a search for something better. Senators Rubio, Cruz and Paul are following the winning playbook of President Obama. Strike while the iron's hot, leave little or nothing of a record of substance, close the deal before anyone becomes the wiser. Though they detest President Obama they want to follow in his footsteps. And what's even weirder is Republicans who also hate the President with equal vigor don't seem to mind in the least. They fail to see the paradox in their critique. However, like JFK, BHO has more smarts than the GOP Senate Trio combined.
DD
Manhattan
J. Danforth Quayle today evokes an equally inexperienced Marco Rubio. Rubio fancies himself a bit like jFK, with one deficiency, JFK was whip smart and armed with a rapier wit. So, relying more on looks than JFK's smarts, Republicans, yes, hard to believe it but Republicans, fondly admire JFK as the last "good" Democrat because, of course, he cut taxes, like Ronnie Reagan. For the GOP, say the magic words "tax cut", and it vaults them to saintlike status. Plus, JFK stood up to the Soviets, also just like St, Ronnie, and that's worth extra credit right there.
Marco Rubio without doubt is a very ambitious fellow. He aspires to higher office almost immediately after assuming a new position, disregarding the job he currently was hired for, to begin anew a search for something better. Senators Rubio, Cruz and Paul are following the winning playbook of President Obama. Strike while the iron's hot, leave little or nothing of a record of substance, close the deal before anyone becomes the wiser. Though they detest President Obama they want to follow in his footsteps. And what's even weirder is Republicans who also hate the President with equal vigor don't seem to mind in the least. They fail to see the paradox in their critique. However, like JFK, BHO has more smarts than the GOP Senate Trio combined.
DD
Manhattan
20
I live, happily, in an Arizona county at the border with Mexico that's 85% Mexican-American.
The other night, two of my Mexican-American friends and I watched a clip featuring Rubio.
"Is this the guy whose family emigrated from Cuba?" one asked. "If so, I'd never vote for him."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because when a Cuban's little finger even touches US soil, they become US citizens. It took me six years to earn my right to become a US citizen!"
The other night, two of my Mexican-American friends and I watched a clip featuring Rubio.
"Is this the guy whose family emigrated from Cuba?" one asked. "If so, I'd never vote for him."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because when a Cuban's little finger even touches US soil, they become US citizens. It took me six years to earn my right to become a US citizen!"
18
I watch Rubio in the debates. He seemed pretty nervous, even sweating in the beginning.
Even as he improves, he doesn't look presidential to many of us.
And that gut feel has more weight than some people realize if it were to be Rubio vs. Hillary.
Even as he improves, he doesn't look presidential to many of us.
And that gut feel has more weight than some people realize if it were to be Rubio vs. Hillary.
7
A lot of metaphors here to describe what to anyone who is not "pundent" or a duplicate of Rubio is alarmingly clear. Rubio is a self-centered con artist. His egomania is every bit as apparent as Trump's. Rubio is simply shilling to a different group of suckers.
15
Marco Rubio is no Bill Clinton, and certainly no John Kennedy. By default, people are looking to him for reason, but he has yet to deliver. Marco Rubio is young, but that is not a qualification for the presidency.
12
Rubio's prospects don't add up, in Bruni's mind. But that's because Bruni is looking for qualifications and presidential-ness, while Rubio's prospects are based on a least-worse dynamic.
Republican voters will eventually get over their love affair with Trump and Cruz because both candidates spark an "anyone but" reaction. We'll probably see the anyone-but voters start to coalesce around a candidate when the field whittles down to fewer candidates. The Trump-Cruz numbers may stay steady, and start to dip a little, but be eclipsed by the anyone-but vote when a not-them candidate starts to garner enough votes.
Similarly, many GOP voters and independents have strong negative feelings about Hillary, and will cast an anyone-but vote too.
In that landscape, the person aiming to get the most votes needs first and foremost to be not-them. In such a landscape, its best to look good - friendly, handsome, with an outward demeanor that attracts trust, but for visceral reasons not past history. It's best not to commit to much of anything. Your vote base is more interested in what you aren't' than what you are. So its better to be evasive, and pose a vague threat of triangulation, but without projecting how. Best for people to see your charm, but no further.
After the anyone-but candidates have been rejected, you will be one of those who remain. Add a dash of good charm, and that's a winning formula: You'll be the guy who's left over, attractively charming, and not-them.
Republican voters will eventually get over their love affair with Trump and Cruz because both candidates spark an "anyone but" reaction. We'll probably see the anyone-but voters start to coalesce around a candidate when the field whittles down to fewer candidates. The Trump-Cruz numbers may stay steady, and start to dip a little, but be eclipsed by the anyone-but vote when a not-them candidate starts to garner enough votes.
Similarly, many GOP voters and independents have strong negative feelings about Hillary, and will cast an anyone-but vote too.
In that landscape, the person aiming to get the most votes needs first and foremost to be not-them. In such a landscape, its best to look good - friendly, handsome, with an outward demeanor that attracts trust, but for visceral reasons not past history. It's best not to commit to much of anything. Your vote base is more interested in what you aren't' than what you are. So its better to be evasive, and pose a vague threat of triangulation, but without projecting how. Best for people to see your charm, but no further.
After the anyone-but candidates have been rejected, you will be one of those who remain. Add a dash of good charm, and that's a winning formula: You'll be the guy who's left over, attractively charming, and not-them.
3
If you put a dozen political consultants around a table and asked them to design a Republican candidate, they would present you with Rubio. That's what he is, and that's all he is. He seems to lack the one thing a consultant can't supply: a center. As it once was for Ted Kennedy, the question "why do you want to be president?" would be a killer for Rubio. It seems potential voters can sense this.
8
If Trump hasn't "imploded" by now he isn't going to. The only thing that will drive him from the race is losing primary elections. He hates losers, especially if he is one.
5
Regarding my comment about Ted Cruz being the reincarnation of Joseph McCarthy:
http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=ted-cruz-joseph-mccarthy-reincarnati...
http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=ted-cruz-joseph-mccarthy-reincarnati...
"...no Republican or Democrat — with the exception of Bill Clinton — lost both Iowa and New Hampshire and survived that crisis..."
But Bill Clinton is not only a brilliant politician, he's also brilliant. Rubio? Not so much. Actually, not even close.
The fact that this is the best that the GOP can do is a measure of how far they've fallen.
But Bill Clinton is not only a brilliant politician, he's also brilliant. Rubio? Not so much. Actually, not even close.
The fact that this is the best that the GOP can do is a measure of how far they've fallen.
10
Check the PredictIt election market. Rubio is running third there.
1
Still waiting for Trump to implode, Frank? He can implode, like an implosion-type fission bomb, after being elected the president!
2
Rubio's policy positions are no less appalling than those of Cruz and Trump. Why he is thought to be more moderate, or less embarrassing, is beyond me.
12
We've seen this before -inexperienced Senator who looks good and speaks well; how did that turn out? We've had two mediocre Presidents in a row and can't afford a third.
Really Frank, you have long yearned for Marco to run and now that he does you finally notice he is an empty suit?
In truth Marco Rubio is nothing more than Jeb! without the family baggage and gray hair. A starry eyed underachiever without a clue.
In truth Marco Rubio is nothing more than Jeb! without the family baggage and gray hair. A starry eyed underachiever without a clue.
16
"[Rubio] misses too many Senate votes and is definitely wishy washy."
Wishy-washy -- that's a negative for presidential candidates?
Missing Senate votes? Keep in mind that few Senators get elected President. Obama is an obvious exception, but that may owe to his very short time in the Senate -- too short to have voted on many important issues (in other words, missing a lot of Senate votes). Before Obama, one has to go back 48 years, to JFK. He barely knocked off Richard Nixon, and certainly hadn't been known as a strong presence in the Senate. Before JFK? I can't even remember.
So missing a lot of Senate votes may be a good thing. And being wishy-washy? How would you describe Hillary on that measure?
Wishy-washy -- that's a negative for presidential candidates?
Missing Senate votes? Keep in mind that few Senators get elected President. Obama is an obvious exception, but that may owe to his very short time in the Senate -- too short to have voted on many important issues (in other words, missing a lot of Senate votes). Before Obama, one has to go back 48 years, to JFK. He barely knocked off Richard Nixon, and certainly hadn't been known as a strong presence in the Senate. Before JFK? I can't even remember.
So missing a lot of Senate votes may be a good thing. And being wishy-washy? How would you describe Hillary on that measure?
1
Rubio vs. Clinton —young Dem and independent voters stay home in droves, while young righties come out strongly to vote for Rubio.
Rubio vs. Sanders — Millennials flock to the polls for Bernie; Dems carry the youth vote by miles.
Thanks for alluding to that outcome, Apparently the Times is allowing columnists to move just a tad closer to reality.
Rubio vs. Sanders — Millennials flock to the polls for Bernie; Dems carry the youth vote by miles.
Thanks for alluding to that outcome, Apparently the Times is allowing columnists to move just a tad closer to reality.
8
Doubling doubling down on errors and deflecting criticism with personal attacks are behaviors that would cause me to fire Trump in a heartbeat.
5
The age factor:
Rubio is young -- no question -- and some seasoning would help.
But Clinton and Trump are old -- no question -- and that's a bigger issue than some acknowledge.
Hillary would be the second-oldest person ever elected president. Reagan presently holds that title. Trump would beat out both of them. (Sanders would beat all three, by a wide margin.)
At some point, this has to matter, especially if a candidate hasn't been the picture of good health: check for yourself on those mentioned above, and recall Reagan's creeping senility during his second term.
Rubio is young -- no question -- and some seasoning would help.
But Clinton and Trump are old -- no question -- and that's a bigger issue than some acknowledge.
Hillary would be the second-oldest person ever elected president. Reagan presently holds that title. Trump would beat out both of them. (Sanders would beat all three, by a wide margin.)
At some point, this has to matter, especially if a candidate hasn't been the picture of good health: check for yourself on those mentioned above, and recall Reagan's creeping senility during his second term.
2
"Hillary is old"? That is your version of 'old' but discounts all medical information that it is almost the prime of life today.
I am 78 and manage 8 portfolios, run a successful business, have a Family Foundation that donates millions ever year and am active in politics and finance. I started with nothing and at 78 am more active and social than any 40 year old. Rubio is younger than my children and does not seem as intelligent and worldly wise as them. Educate yourself on the brilliance and innovation of "old people" today and you will be surprised.
I am 78 and manage 8 portfolios, run a successful business, have a Family Foundation that donates millions ever year and am active in politics and finance. I started with nothing and at 78 am more active and social than any 40 year old. Rubio is younger than my children and does not seem as intelligent and worldly wise as them. Educate yourself on the brilliance and innovation of "old people" today and you will be surprised.
11
If I can overlook his pandering to the evangelicals, I would look upon him as Jack Kennedy Republican.Loyal to his conservative small Government views, but progressive on social issues.His one great advantage over Cruz & Trump , is he will draw Independents, & many Democrats who do not like Obama, & Hillary who they believe is a Obama;s clone .Not since Reagan will there be a ground swell Democratic support for Rubio, especially from Hispanics & Jews.Rubio is the best bet to put a Republican in the White House, Cruz & Trump will not win.
3
Rubio is going nowhere. You guys crack me up. He is another neocon hope who will only fail.
13
Rubio "considers himself a Catholic, but he attends two churches — an evangelical Protestant service on Saturdays and a Roman Catholic Mass on Sundays.”
Jeb Bush was an Episcopalian but then, citing the Church's positions with which he didn't agree, converted to Catholicism.
The one thing both Rubio and Bush have proven to the American voters is that their "religion" - their Jesus if you will - is actually just politics and votes.
And neither one of them (along with the rest of the GOP's elected "Christians") is ashamed of their flaming hypocrisy.
Jeb Bush was an Episcopalian but then, citing the Church's positions with which he didn't agree, converted to Catholicism.
The one thing both Rubio and Bush have proven to the American voters is that their "religion" - their Jesus if you will - is actually just politics and votes.
And neither one of them (along with the rest of the GOP's elected "Christians") is ashamed of their flaming hypocrisy.
13
If Rubio is truly a conservative, then he should be asked why he supports corporate welfare for Big Sugar, which has lobbied to unravel regulations protecting the Everglades, kept competition away, helped keep Caribbean nations impoverished, and forced American consumers to pay inflated prices for sugar for years.
18
I don't know what Bruni sees in Rubio. If you're going to go Republican, then go for someone like Kasich or Christie.
As for me, I'm sick of the Hillary coronation by the DNC and their hidden Saturday debates (I say hidden because they are not on prime weekday spots when people watch television).
I'm voting for BERNIE SANDERS.
As for me, I'm sick of the Hillary coronation by the DNC and their hidden Saturday debates (I say hidden because they are not on prime weekday spots when people watch television).
I'm voting for BERNIE SANDERS.
14
Isn't the 'boy who would be king' out of the running yet?
7
Compared to whom, although I suppose it's obvious. If I am correct, Mr. Bruni, surely you jest!
Rubio was pro-amnesty. He backs expanding the job-killing H1-B program that brings guys here from India to take our IT jobs. EXPANDING it!
Estimates are there may be 800,000 of them here at any one time. Each H1-B working here means an American family without a paycheck.
He's a back-stabber and you'll see us stay home rather than vote for him.
Estimates are there may be 800,000 of them here at any one time. Each H1-B working here means an American family without a paycheck.
He's a back-stabber and you'll see us stay home rather than vote for him.
6
ReBernardoStevens: Agree completely that if our "public servants" support H-1B visa programs with so many unemployed, then they r not serving our needs but their own and those of their corporate sponsors. Rubio on this score is guilty as is Cruz and others from establshments of both parties. Thus, voting becomes a meaningless exercise.George Wallace's words are pertinent, that there is not a dime's worth of difference between the two parties.After he left office, W predicted that O would follow the same policies that he followed re open borders, H-1B visa programs and the perpetuatation of a war without a name and without an end in the ME.Late Jack Newfield wrote of a permanent government in Gotham run by power brokers who continued to run things despite who was in office. What is true for NY is true for the nation.
1
Agreed, he's a political paradox. He a young politicians in a Grand Old Party. He's more polished than the rest of the republican candidates. He is just what his party needs. But, what about the Palin effect. How will he hold up under intense national media coverage? Lots of risk factors.
4
I'm stuck on this one issue. Rubio proclaims that his god creates the rules we all must follow and the Supreme Court rulings are wrong when they don't match the Rubio god. Thus, it appears Rubio does not believe in the separation of his church and our state. My religious beliefs, if they differ from his, are of no importance. Rubio's god proclaims that a rapist's sperm is sacred but that a woman's life is not. My God is kinder to women. My God allows women to use birth control, and have access to affordable child-care close to work.
My vote goes to a candidate that belives in the separation of church and state. That is not a yesterday issue, it is an everyday and forever issue.
My vote goes to a candidate that belives in the separation of church and state. That is not a yesterday issue, it is an everyday and forever issue.
27
Rubio may be 44 years old, but he's got the ideas of someone three times that age. He may listen to hip hop, but he should be lining up for his second hip replacement. Cuban policy--hold a grudge against the Castros forever, Iran--keep yesterday's status quo and prepare for WWIII although the world has moved on, healthcare--bring back "no preexisting conditions" and suck up to insurance companies, Climate Change--can't be true if my contributors don't want it to be true, immigration policy--satisfy the racist right wing base just to get elected! Rubio's campaign slogan should be "same as it ever was". He represents no change and a return to the "golden era of GW Bush". An old man in a young man's body.
26
Rubio is a slick politician for sure. But he also has lots of skeletons in his closet, and his opponents haven't used this leverage against him yet. (Jeb! made a half-hearted attempt in a debate, but it didn't stick.)
Rubio hasn't won over establishment Republicans yet. I have no idea if he can. They might be worried about those skeletons too.
Rubio hasn't won over establishment Republicans yet. I have no idea if he can. They might be worried about those skeletons too.
6
A relative young man with old ideas imposed on him by even older puppeteers
15
Yes, he is clearly a neocon puppet.
5
I don´t expect intelligent analysis from the Republican base nor from its 1% and .01% supporters. But it has astonished me that the consultants who run the campaigns somehow throw Rubio into "Latino Voter Cred" territory. His family story had nothing to do with Castro opposition, they were Batista supporters who migrated before the Castro revolution, so they have little credibility even among Miami Cubans.
Cubans in general in the USA are not representative of Latinos, who are much more democratic in their vision and resent the special treatment given to these former landowners/fascist regime supporters. Mexican Americans, the urban ones, tend to know Cuban Cubans, who are a completely different group. They are the group that is racially mixed, who on the island experienced a dramatic change during the Castro years from serfdom to 98% literacy, full education and health care benefits, all within a scenario of poverty imposed by the huge country to the northwest.
a decent analysis from half a yr ago: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arturo-lopez-levy/marco-rubio-cuba-family-...
Cubans in general in the USA are not representative of Latinos, who are much more democratic in their vision and resent the special treatment given to these former landowners/fascist regime supporters. Mexican Americans, the urban ones, tend to know Cuban Cubans, who are a completely different group. They are the group that is racially mixed, who on the island experienced a dramatic change during the Castro years from serfdom to 98% literacy, full education and health care benefits, all within a scenario of poverty imposed by the huge country to the northwest.
a decent analysis from half a yr ago: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arturo-lopez-levy/marco-rubio-cuba-family-...
7
And how many have left that island paradise on inner tube rafts, antique cars made into boats etc, all the shortages and despair of socialist Venezuela without the crime, thats Cuba.
RE: Just last week, The Washington Post reported that in 2002, when he was the majority whip in the Florida House of Representatives, he used statehouse stationery to write a letter in support of a real estate license for his sister’s husband, who had served 12 years in federal prison for distributing $15 million worth of cocaine.
Going to bat for family or in-laws no matter how odious is hardly a fault. Compare this to the CLintons selling presidential pardons for millions of dollars to Marc Rich and others. Gee Frank. Maybe you better get some perspective. Kinda of hard to do wnen you're so far in the tank for the Democrats.
Going to bat for family or in-laws no matter how odious is hardly a fault. Compare this to the CLintons selling presidential pardons for millions of dollars to Marc Rich and others. Gee Frank. Maybe you better get some perspective. Kinda of hard to do wnen you're so far in the tank for the Democrats.
4
Marco looks very good - young, good looking, compelling life-story, not Trump-or-Cruz 'crazy' until you actually look at him and there is no 'there' there. Looks like he's counted too much on his good-looks and easy likability over actually working hard.
13
As per usual Frank, you got nearly everything wrong. First, you're about 3 weeks behind the 8 ball. Rubio has visited both states almost as much as anyone. And he actually polls BETTER among millennials than does your candidate, Hillary Clinton. There was only ONE poll that put Rubio in third in New Hampshire. Of the more expensive polls with more accurate voter screens, Rubio is only a few points behind Trump and closing. There is only one reason lefties have gone after Rubio so hard: He beats the Democrat Clinton in nearly every swing state poll and in most national polls. In fact, he is tied or ahead in blue states Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota. Democrat media advocates such as yourself have most certainly read these polls and are becoming increasingly alarmed over the prospect of a Rubio nomination. I'm certain you would prefer Trump or Cruz, both polling well behind your candidate.
4
Why is the media spending ANY time covering Rubio, Trump, or the rest of the occupants of the Republican clown car? None of them are remotely qualified to become president, and none of them will be elected. About 50% of the Republicans I spoke to in flyover land over the holidays readily admit this. The Republican party is one big hot mess right now, and the base knows it. They are fully expecting at least 4 years of Clinton (I would prefer Sanders), and they're wondering how much downstream devastation a Trump candidacy will bring.
Good times to be a Democrat. Would be better times if Bernie Sanders got fair media coverage.
Good times to be a Democrat. Would be better times if Bernie Sanders got fair media coverage.
21
Bernie would get more coverage if he had credible coat-tails.
1
Rubio hasn't accomplished anything as senator. However, he single-handedly might have created the demise of Obamacare, as noted in this Washington Post column:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-marco-rubio-is-quietly-killi...
So, Rubio is yet another Republican who offers no solutions to our overwhelming problems, or tries to fix a bill, which makes Rubio definitely qualified to be the Republican presidential nominee.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-marco-rubio-is-quietly-killi...
So, Rubio is yet another Republican who offers no solutions to our overwhelming problems, or tries to fix a bill, which makes Rubio definitely qualified to be the Republican presidential nominee.
9
Marco Rubio is such a phony. He wants to be the candidate of the future while proposing policies that would return us to the 1950s!! Any democrat is head and shoulders over any republican, especially with Social Security at stake (all the repubs wish to eliminate). The Supreme Court cannot handle any more ultra conservative justices who have approved the ruinous Citizens United. There really are more Americans than the billionaire class, no envy, just a desire to have my United States not be bought by the few, and rmember thse of us lobbyistless.
15
"Republican voters 65 and older" are far richer than Donald Trump in wisdom. They are comfortable with their lot in life and are in a position to want what is best for the younger generation. Here Marco Rubio and his push for expanded family tax credits (grandchildren at last) has great appeal. Hillary's image of pushing for an expanded right to choose and weaker, less domnent, men as head of houshold is not very appealing to the elderly or to real men.
1
It's gonna be Jeb. He just has to ride his bankroll through the slings and arrows of outrageous tea partiers and he will be standing at the end.
5
Its still early. The entire Republican cycle has been unconventional. He has weaknesses, and Hillary has plenty of her own. If he can get to the general I still believe the 45 year old Senator will provide a stark contrast to the nearly 70 year old Hillary. Being compared to Bill Clinton in terms of political skill is a compliment because I believe Bill was one of the most gifted politicians of the latter half of the 20th century. and when he gets on the stump and speaks fluent Spanish and talks about is genuine policy concern for the poor I believe that will take care of itself. He doesn't have to win Latino's just deny the Democrats huge margins.
4
Maybe why the Democrats ought to go with Bernie.
3
The obsessive, cynical ambition of Marco Rubio,evidenced by his rapid ascendency to legitimate Presidential contender, has its roots in his first generation immigrant roots and the need for legitimacy. His rise to power is marred by a certain Snopesian amorality evidenced by his disingenuous accounts of when his parents left Cuba, questions about loans and financing of homes in Miami and Tallahassee, nepotism in his dispersal of campaign funds, and misuse of a Republican Party credit card. These incidents,while minor in isolation,collectively raise sobering questions about Marco Rubio's opportunistic ethics and fitness for the Presidency.
21
"These incidents,while minor in isolation,collectively raise sobering questions about Marco Rubio's opportunistic ethics and fitness for the Presidency."
I take it then you are a Bernie supporter. Hillary's transgressions are hardly "minor in isolation."
Clinton: crony-capitalist crook quintessential
Her dark-money growth is exponential
Bernie's money's transparent
His honesty's apparent.
Only Bernie is presidential.
(Make Clinton inconsequential!)
I take it then you are a Bernie supporter. Hillary's transgressions are hardly "minor in isolation."
Clinton: crony-capitalist crook quintessential
Her dark-money growth is exponential
Bernie's money's transparent
His honesty's apparent.
Only Bernie is presidential.
(Make Clinton inconsequential!)
3
Rubio is good with canned speeches. He's also good at delivering little snippets that seem unrehearsed but aren't. But ask him something he doesn't have a stock reply for and he'll melt down or make something up that makes no sense. He's like a 12 year old kid that trots out to the podium and and gives a 100 word mini-speech on the meaning of Einstein's theory of relativity. Makes the audience smile, then feel uncomfortable and finally just feel sorry for the kid,
16
The problem with the notion of Trump imploding is -- you have to ask what it would take. Look at candidates in the past who've "imploded" over one mis-statement, one peccadillo, one skeleton in the closet. Trump has made misstatement after misstatement -- he's a serial liar, in fact. He welcomes exposure of his peccadilloes and skeletons and laughs them in the face. He's made himself bullet-proof by being that guy who doesn't care what you say about him as long as you spell his name correctly. No, the only thing that will implode Trump is getting closer to the election and people waking up and realizing what it would mean to actually have a clown like him in the White House.
11
Rubio is no Bill Clinton. Rubio does not possess even a smidgen of the former president's political acumen, ambition and charisma. I was there in the '90's and witnessed firsthand Clinton's political talents. Clinton was a three term governor and not a first term senator when he ran in 1992. Clinton unlike Rubio, also exuded sheer joy and a prolific work ethic while Rubio appears to be sleep walking through his presidential bid.
30
Rubio may be just callow and unproductive enough to gain some real credibility in the ranks of 'a certain kind of deomocrat'.
Frank, and everyone else for that mattter, you might want to review your blog post from last March.
3
Your math may be subpar, but your puzzlement over the poll numbers is keen.
What you are sensing here is the limited ability of polling and statistics to provide trustworthy insights into future events. This limited ability is due at least two factors: one, the trend does not portend the future. Two, the samples in polls are an unreliable representation of the broad population (and that in turn is the limitation of statistical theory).
The oddsmakers are much better than polls at calling future election events. It's hard to say why, but I think it's because oddsmakers operate from the perspective of human behavior. Like you, their minds and their hearts simply cannot accept any of the prevalent statistical analysis.
Interesting thing is, when large numbers of people start thinking that way it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, don't fret that you don't understand numbers. Just play it safe and don't bet on Rubio.
What you are sensing here is the limited ability of polling and statistics to provide trustworthy insights into future events. This limited ability is due at least two factors: one, the trend does not portend the future. Two, the samples in polls are an unreliable representation of the broad population (and that in turn is the limitation of statistical theory).
The oddsmakers are much better than polls at calling future election events. It's hard to say why, but I think it's because oddsmakers operate from the perspective of human behavior. Like you, their minds and their hearts simply cannot accept any of the prevalent statistical analysis.
Interesting thing is, when large numbers of people start thinking that way it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, don't fret that you don't understand numbers. Just play it safe and don't bet on Rubio.
8
There is no form of social research that is not affected by how people feel about being subjected to it.
Many mentioning how scripted Rubio appears --- it must be the school. And, remember how Mitt Romney seem detached from his words? And poor Sarah Palin --- they tried to script her. (If I were her, I think I would sue them.) It's almost sad how they used her -- I guess she should be thankful it's in her blood to go off-road.
3
Trump is the only candidate who refuses to go by the scripts prepared by political consultants.
2
My guess is that was the best thing that happened to Sarah Palin.
After that fame, she quit being governor and started earning millions.
After that fame, she quit being governor and started earning millions.
2
The GOP nominee is probably going to be Trump. It's Trump's to lose--and he could lose it by becoming too outrageous, but that already hasn't happened a couple of times.
But make no mistake: the Democratic Party has aided and abetted Trump by espousing open borders. O's Domestic Policy Advisor is Cecilia Munoz, a former VP of La Raza, the open borders advocacy group. That vaunted Senate bill (which I realize had four GOP cosponsors, including Marco) would have near tripled legal immigration, while doing essentially nothing about illegal immigration.
O could perhaps have made his executive orders palatable had he included a national, mandatory E-Verify among them, but Cecilia Munoz. And that immigration bill might have been made palatable had it reduced legal immigration from the current million/year (the number of refugees that has Europe shutting down its borders right now) to several hundred thousand, and had it contained an immediate implementation of E-Verify without the clauses that would have suspended it in the wake of legal challenge. Then the Americans who are rallying around Trump might have felt less threatened by the floods of Spanish speakers coming into their towns, since they could have seen an end to it.
But make no mistake: the Democratic Party has aided and abetted Trump by espousing open borders. O's Domestic Policy Advisor is Cecilia Munoz, a former VP of La Raza, the open borders advocacy group. That vaunted Senate bill (which I realize had four GOP cosponsors, including Marco) would have near tripled legal immigration, while doing essentially nothing about illegal immigration.
O could perhaps have made his executive orders palatable had he included a national, mandatory E-Verify among them, but Cecilia Munoz. And that immigration bill might have been made palatable had it reduced legal immigration from the current million/year (the number of refugees that has Europe shutting down its borders right now) to several hundred thousand, and had it contained an immediate implementation of E-Verify without the clauses that would have suspended it in the wake of legal challenge. Then the Americans who are rallying around Trump might have felt less threatened by the floods of Spanish speakers coming into their towns, since they could have seen an end to it.
7
Regionists universally deny that overpopulation is even possible.
1
Illegal immigrants, like cocaine, will stop crossing the Rio Grande when Americans stop hiring illegals and stop buying cocaine.
2
Marco avoids too much public and media exposure so that he'll seem "fresh out of the box" when he debates Senior Citizen Hillary. Appearance is everything -- as long as you avoid too much of it.
3
The strongest arguments establishment Republicans make for nominating empty-suit Marco Rubio are that he's young, Hispanic and comes from the large swing state of Florida. But that logic, the GOP might as well nominate George Zimmerman.
www.newyorkgritty.net
www.newyorkgritty.net
32
Unfortunately, Zimmerman might garner a pretty big bloc of votes. That's how far our racial politics have deteriorated since the death of Trayvon Martin.
5
love your blog
1
This column raises for me the whole question of putting Iowa and New Hampshire at the front of the primary process, and the media overblowing what it really means. Both small states population-wise. Iowa has a caucus, not a primary. The people who show up for the Iowa caucus are a small sliver of the voting population, and way more to the right than the average voter. That these two states constitute great momentum for the winner(s) or a death knell for the losers is just crazy and undemocratic.
29
and paid to show up for each candidate.
2
More of the GOP can of worms, well worms and baby snakes.
On the other side it’s all about the anointment of Hillary (and Slick Willie).
The thought of 11 more months of this is utterly mind boggling.
On the other side it’s all about the anointment of Hillary (and Slick Willie).
The thought of 11 more months of this is utterly mind boggling.
11
Slick willie, you mean President Bill Clinton who left George Bush a huge budget surplus to waste in Iraq? Or President Bill Clinton, twice elected by the majority of Americans. How about Senator Hillary Clinton, elected to the US
Senate by the majority of the residents of the state of New York, whose population vastly outnumbers Tennessee. Hillary Clinton will not be annointed, she will win the election , not have it handed to her by her brother , the Gov. of Florida. Hillary Clinton, who made Trey Gowdy look like the backwater fool that he is, will be the first female President of the USA.
Senate by the majority of the residents of the state of New York, whose population vastly outnumbers Tennessee. Hillary Clinton will not be annointed, she will win the election , not have it handed to her by her brother , the Gov. of Florida. Hillary Clinton, who made Trey Gowdy look like the backwater fool that he is, will be the first female President of the USA.
9
I would love to know what his actual IQ is. Gurp. Even intellectually challenged people can manage to do ONE thing well.
9
But couldn't it also be said that anyone who comes in third in Iowa and New Hampshire, behind Cruz and Trump, has a good chance with Republicans? Rubio seems utterly shallow and corrupt, but that never stopped anyone from being elected. I would hate to see him as our president. The Republicans have earned this batch of lackluster candidates.
20
You are so right that Rubio is the "it" candidate because we are all afraid of the evil Cruz and the buffoon Trump. But he is so shallow. Living in Iowa, I am so lucky to watch his commercials flash by as I fast forward my dvr. He is on all of the time. I have read a bit on him by Florida opinion writers and it doesnt seem he is very well respected in his own state. Misses too many Senate votes and is definitely wishy washy.
20
Thankfully with this kind of deeply analytical opinion, Iowa doesn't determine the ultimate nominee.
1
I , a Cuban, consider Marco Rubio to be a double minded and unstable in all he does and says. I will NEVER vote for him. He neither represents my Latin roots nor my Latin values. He sold his soul to the devil for a few silver coins.
24
"Rubio’s inclusiveness can invite caricature."
Huey Long's stump speech in Louisiana -with its heavily Catholic south, Protestant north - recalled hitching up the horse at 6 a.m. Sundays to take his Catholic grandparents to Mass, then hitching her up again at 10 a.m. to take his Baptist grandparents to church. One admirer said 'I didn't know you had Catholic grandparents,' to which ol' Huey replied, 'we didn't even have a horse.'
But not even Long, or Bill Clinton (the closest thing we've had to Long), could be all things to all people. Nor can Rubio, who clearly lacks the charisma and charm a Long or a Clinton can use to paper over some of the cracks. (In addition to which both Long and Clinton, as governors, and Clinton as president, had solid records of achievement for their constituents. Especially in Long's case this is often overlooked.) At some point Rubio will have to settle into a niche.
That said, I do think Rubio is a very likely compromise candidate - the guy not too many people really, really like, but whom the fewest number really, really hate. With luck, the GOP will let its freak flag fly for VP - the 'Sarah Palin kamikaze' - turning out massive numbers of voters determined NOT to have Cruz or whoever a heartbeat away from the presidency, and saving us from the SCOTUS and cabinet picks of a Pres. Rubio.
To digress, to Rubio and the Hispanic vote: are we not moving past 'identity politics' at all?
Huey Long's stump speech in Louisiana -with its heavily Catholic south, Protestant north - recalled hitching up the horse at 6 a.m. Sundays to take his Catholic grandparents to Mass, then hitching her up again at 10 a.m. to take his Baptist grandparents to church. One admirer said 'I didn't know you had Catholic grandparents,' to which ol' Huey replied, 'we didn't even have a horse.'
But not even Long, or Bill Clinton (the closest thing we've had to Long), could be all things to all people. Nor can Rubio, who clearly lacks the charisma and charm a Long or a Clinton can use to paper over some of the cracks. (In addition to which both Long and Clinton, as governors, and Clinton as president, had solid records of achievement for their constituents. Especially in Long's case this is often overlooked.) At some point Rubio will have to settle into a niche.
That said, I do think Rubio is a very likely compromise candidate - the guy not too many people really, really like, but whom the fewest number really, really hate. With luck, the GOP will let its freak flag fly for VP - the 'Sarah Palin kamikaze' - turning out massive numbers of voters determined NOT to have Cruz or whoever a heartbeat away from the presidency, and saving us from the SCOTUS and cabinet picks of a Pres. Rubio.
To digress, to Rubio and the Hispanic vote: are we not moving past 'identity politics' at all?
5
VP?
These "showmen, surgeons and Senators" wouldn't be good presidents.
Rubio is not going anywhere. Rubio can articulate various phrases, but being the chief executive of the world's biggest economy takes much more than that. I doubt that Rubio could even run the state of Florida as a governor. The Republicans have a few qualified governors that would be credible.
Rubio is not going anywhere. Rubio can articulate various phrases, but being the chief executive of the world's biggest economy takes much more than that. I doubt that Rubio could even run the state of Florida as a governor. The Republicans have a few qualified governors that would be credible.
11
The Republican Party establishment has clearly lost control of this election cycle. Where once it was enough to "elect" a figurehead who would simply represent corporate interests and those of the wealthy (Reagan and Dubya.), now the party establishment can only pray that Rubio hangs around long enough to survive a brokered convention. Trump in not controllable, and Ted Cruz seems to be from another planet.
The rest of the world most likely can't figure out whether to laugh at this or be terrified of it. Most likely it's doing a bit of both. As for me, with the likely candidates being Trump and Hillary - I'm just disgusted and afraid.
The rest of the world most likely can't figure out whether to laugh at this or be terrified of it. Most likely it's doing a bit of both. As for me, with the likely candidates being Trump and Hillary - I'm just disgusted and afraid.
17
I and I feel for you Joel, but it is a despair of your own making. You made it by believing the GOP was a political party rather than a solution to your fears. You made it by accepting that Fox News was indeed a news organization not the propaganda voice of the GOP. You made it when you thought that "I hope he fails" and "let's take our country back" were a fitting responses to the will of the people. Now your tipping point is whether your fear outweighs your disgust. Good luck with that. We the people await your decision. Peace, Out.
1
Most Hispanic people in country do not identify with Cubans. Instead they resent the open arms with which the US has welcomes Cubans but no other Hispanic immigrants. They share Spanish, but not a lot else.
36
Rubio's behavior says he isn't really running for president. The presidency is far too demanding. Instead he is running for publicity and for his next job, a job that pays a whole lot of money and doesn't require much in return. Hmm, a pretty-boy lobbyist, perhaps? Someone to class up a few boards of directors? Head of a right-wing think tank?
172
And could that be why he just might win the nomination?
1
Reading a liberal whine about who the Republican nominee might be is a lot like a diabetic discussing ice cream. Neither is ever going to actually go along with it...so Why debate it?
A wide open field is good for a Democracy. Let the system weed em out!
The author shudders to think trump or Cruz might get the nomination? Why? He'd never vote for either one. So why the angst?
Having the fraudulent wife of a former fraudulent President who has NO competition for her coronation, is fine for this guy, I suppose.
Typical Times birdcage floor material!
A wide open field is good for a Democracy. Let the system weed em out!
The author shudders to think trump or Cruz might get the nomination? Why? He'd never vote for either one. So why the angst?
Having the fraudulent wife of a former fraudulent President who has NO competition for her coronation, is fine for this guy, I suppose.
Typical Times birdcage floor material!
6
Florida? OK. Only in such a sink-hole can Bruni be considered liberal.
2
Hint erecting that you offer zero evidence of anything you say. Hillary is 'fraudulent' - why?
And whie I also have no intention of voting for Rubio, Trump or Cruz (the last one wasn't even born in the US), I feel ashamed, as an American, that the the 'best' our our major parties can come up with.
And I'm happy that the Democrats haven presented anyone better than Hillary I had hoped not to have anyone named Bush or Clinton in this race.
And whie I also have no intention of voting for Rubio, Trump or Cruz (the last one wasn't even born in the US), I feel ashamed, as an American, that the the 'best' our our major parties can come up with.
And I'm happy that the Democrats haven presented anyone better than Hillary I had hoped not to have anyone named Bush or Clinton in this race.
1) Whine? You mean like some kind of petulant sissy-pants? Can you respond to people who express different opinions from your own without sarcastic sneering? Probably not. Their right to express them? Ditto.
2) "The author shudders to think trump or Cruz might get the nomination? Why?" Ummm . . . maybe it's because they might get elected?
3) Spewing insults is not a hallmark of intelligence or maturity. Or clever.
2) "The author shudders to think trump or Cruz might get the nomination? Why?" Ummm . . . maybe it's because they might get elected?
3) Spewing insults is not a hallmark of intelligence or maturity. Or clever.
1
Here we learn, yet again, that Trump "could implode at any moment." Talk about that implosion is reminding me of talk about the Second Coming. Could happen any minute now, but we have been waiting quite a while...
64
I have a suggestion for Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Clinton, and Sanders: talk substantively about your plans for the 99%. Talk about how you plan to help the retirees, the needy, and the hungry. Talk about your plans to improve job creation, how you will rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. How you will improve the care of veterans. It is a long and demanding list.
Switch off your moneyed purchasers and address the needs of the rest of us. Try that on for size. Act like you care about all Americans. I know it's going to be difficult, but try anyway.
And especially don't shut the door in the faces of the elderly. We paid a lot of our wages into SS and with the butchering of our economy, we will continue to need help in the years to come.
Work the 99% why don't you?
Switch off your moneyed purchasers and address the needs of the rest of us. Try that on for size. Act like you care about all Americans. I know it's going to be difficult, but try anyway.
And especially don't shut the door in the faces of the elderly. We paid a lot of our wages into SS and with the butchering of our economy, we will continue to need help in the years to come.
Work the 99% why don't you?
22
Have you listened to Bernie Sanders? This is exactly what he talks about all the time, and his political career supports his actions in favor of democratic populism.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-populist-prophet
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-populist-prophet
Steve, have you listened to Bernie Sanders? He speaks directly to the 99% and only accepts small campaign donations from individuals, NO super pacs or corporate $, he might very well be your guy.
1
Check out Bernie Sanders - he is addressing all your points and vast majority of his donations come from the 99%.
Hillary also addresses many of your issues with substantial ideas.
Don't expect much from the Republican field - to a man and woman, they would end SS, cut taxes for the wealthy and promote policies that would destroy the middle class.
Hillary also addresses many of your issues with substantial ideas.
Don't expect much from the Republican field - to a man and woman, they would end SS, cut taxes for the wealthy and promote policies that would destroy the middle class.
4
Everyone who projects their own personality onto nature has a fundamentally flawed grasp of reality.
Rubio is off the charts delusional.
Rubio is off the charts delusional.
13
While far from a Trump supporter, the Donald is correct when he states that Rubio Sweats, (used as a verb when discussing Rubio). To compare him to Bill Clinton should bring about a laugh. Bill Clinton was a far more intellectual Politician than Rubio could be in the present, nor in the future. The Flag Ranks in the Pentagon, (the Generals and Admirals), along with other Combat Officers, as well as those Civilians who advise those Decision makers would be put off in watching him squirm and sweat at meetings discussing Security issues from day 1 as Commander and Chief, (rightfully so).
Rubio is owned by a very wealthy Auto Dealership/Developer in Florida, and has been owned since he completed College and rose to success through the actions of this Elitist in seeing him rise to the Speaker in the Florida State House. Without the help of this Elitist Rubios finances would still be in chaos as he has little to no knowledge of what being responsible means when seeing to it that ones debts are paid in a timely manner. Rubios wife who had never held a job was hired by the Eltist to head up his Philanthropic Corporate arm which of course contributes heavily to far right Policies in that State. Rubio even uses the Elitists Multi Million dollar Yacht for election parties. It is clear to me that Rubio knows well whom he owes.
Rubio is owned by a very wealthy Auto Dealership/Developer in Florida, and has been owned since he completed College and rose to success through the actions of this Elitist in seeing him rise to the Speaker in the Florida State House. Without the help of this Elitist Rubios finances would still be in chaos as he has little to no knowledge of what being responsible means when seeing to it that ones debts are paid in a timely manner. Rubios wife who had never held a job was hired by the Eltist to head up his Philanthropic Corporate arm which of course contributes heavily to far right Policies in that State. Rubio even uses the Elitists Multi Million dollar Yacht for election parties. It is clear to me that Rubio knows well whom he owes.
25
As opposed to every former (and future) Democrat president who owe their existence to the Arab oil monarchies?
Look at the Clinton foundation finances, who gave that billion dollars?
Look at the Clinton foundation finances, who gave that billion dollars?
2
Could the selection of a presidential candidate fall any lower than this GOP nightmare?
2
this guy is a bum very simple, he has not been doing his job in Florida He is a swindler gets paid for not working a thief who has a no show job in the Senate . The worst voting record ever, doesn't care about Florida How could he care about the Country .. Like I said a BUM
34
The writer starts out the article with evidenced-based skepticism about Rubio's standing in the polls. But, after dilatory comments including a little scandal, the writer suggests that he personally thinks Rubio will somehow overcome all the current skepticism to win the nomination. Then the writer gives additional reasons why Rubio cannot overcome the skepticism. Back-and-forth-and-back-again. This is a great example of illogical writing.
8
Cut to the chase, how much for Rubio?
4
At the GOP Downs:
Marco Nolo
6:1 to win, 4:1 to show, 1:6 to place - barring disqualification.
Marco Nolo
6:1 to win, 4:1 to show, 1:6 to place - barring disqualification.
Political language is the art of speaking in such a way that attendants understand what they wished to understand before going at a political meeting. Politicians who are good at it win.
3
The leading Republican candidates are a clown and a Canadian. Rubio is just the lesser of the evils. God help us.
9
Relax. Not to worry. The media have 24/7/365 sewage pipes to fill, hence the endless deluge of articles re the GOP primary race.
That race is, in fact, meaningless.
The best preparation for 2017 is to practice saying, "Madam President."
May the best Sleazy Old Bag win! Or, as you would say, "God help us."
That race is, in fact, meaningless.
The best preparation for 2017 is to practice saying, "Madam President."
May the best Sleazy Old Bag win! Or, as you would say, "God help us."
1
a short essay on rubio would go like this: "A self-serving hypocrite without core values!"
19
re: "We can’t accept what that would say about America"
Wearing your partisanship on your sleeve Frank? Do you realize Rubio would criminalize your lifestyle if he could?
Wearing your partisanship on your sleeve Frank? Do you realize Rubio would criminalize your lifestyle if he could?
6
@Rich, if you think being gay is a "lifestyle", please tell us what that lifestyle is. And while you're at it maybe you can explain what the straight lifestyle is. Either way, you're going to leave out a lot of gays and straights who don't fit your description.
1
I do not think Mr. Bruni would characterize a fundamental fact of his being as a lifestyle. Other than that rather offensive word, yeah.
2
Mr Bruni does not have a 'lifestyle'. He has a life. Just like you do. We have lives. While sex is a part of it, as it presumably is of your life, genital activity is not the sum total of our identities.
3
I think the two questions we need to ask of any candidate are: 1) What has he done?; 2) what does he stand for? It's clear with (absentee) Senator Rubio that he has done nothing and I'm not sure what he stands for: he's ran away as far as possible from the immigration bill he was championing.
It's instructive to learn that he attends both an evangelical Protestant Church and a Catholic Church. That just says everything about him. Not that he is inclusive, but that he believes in nothing.
Decision making is all about understanding trade-offs between alternatives and having the conviction to make them. The issues the President must confront rarely have an "all of the above" answer. What confidence does Marco provide of his convictions to make difficult decisions?
It's instructive to learn that he attends both an evangelical Protestant Church and a Catholic Church. That just says everything about him. Not that he is inclusive, but that he believes in nothing.
Decision making is all about understanding trade-offs between alternatives and having the conviction to make them. The issues the President must confront rarely have an "all of the above" answer. What confidence does Marco provide of his convictions to make difficult decisions?
119
"I think the two questions we need to ask of any candidate are: 1) What has he done?; 2) what does he stand for?"
It's 2016. How about "1) What has s/he done?; 2) what does s/he stand for?"
It's 2016. How about "1) What has s/he done?; 2) what does s/he stand for?"
1
Who will bother to listen to the candidates for GOP anymore....
The frontrunner Trump is too horrible to contemplate:
The next in line: Cruz, Rubio, Carson....are only a little less horrible to contemplate.
And the rest are like ships passing in the night fog which heretofore was
known as The Republican Party....long gone and drowned in the seas of
GOP history....
Who is a member of the Party that was honored by Abraham Lincoln...
....we have to look into the eel grass...but I am afraid that Citizens United has
drowned them all.
The frontrunner Trump is too horrible to contemplate:
The next in line: Cruz, Rubio, Carson....are only a little less horrible to contemplate.
And the rest are like ships passing in the night fog which heretofore was
known as The Republican Party....long gone and drowned in the seas of
GOP history....
Who is a member of the Party that was honored by Abraham Lincoln...
....we have to look into the eel grass...but I am afraid that Citizens United has
drowned them all.
10
Into the eel grass? Noooo - far too life-sustaining, clean and green.
How about the bilge? Or the head?
How about the bilge? Or the head?
1
It doesn't take math to "get" Rubio. In fairness, the number two does come to mind: that is, it's enough to see Rubio in action only twice. Once might be unfair, but when we see him for the second time giving a major speech, we know he's not ready for the big time. He's not even ready for the Senate, from which he's dropped out. I wonder if he still collects his salary there?
I wonder, too, if this is what we'll get from Bruni this year? A dance with each clown candidate until what...? The clock strikes midnight? Or he finally realizes the futility of trying to assess these GOP candidates? Will he then return to denigrating the only adult in the race?
I wonder, too, if this is what we'll get from Bruni this year? A dance with each clown candidate until what...? The clock strikes midnight? Or he finally realizes the futility of trying to assess these GOP candidates? Will he then return to denigrating the only adult in the race?
3
All of these guys, except perhaps Trump and Cruz, are playing for a deadlocked convention. Being utterly corrupt, they have plenty of money and can hang on the fringes, each hoping to be the Chosen One next summer.
2
Rubio "presents himself as tomorrow, an ambassador for young voters who’ll presumably bring more of them, too, to the Republican camp"
As pointed out by Mr. Bruni, Rubio's majority of supporters are over the age of 65. That may be because his "young" ideas are almost as old as he is, and they only appear innovative to those that have been married to those same ideas for 4 decades.
As for Rubio being "a pile of paradoxes", I suggest there is a more appropriate word that begins with "p" that comes in a pile.
As pointed out by Mr. Bruni, Rubio's majority of supporters are over the age of 65. That may be because his "young" ideas are almost as old as he is, and they only appear innovative to those that have been married to those same ideas for 4 decades.
As for Rubio being "a pile of paradoxes", I suggest there is a more appropriate word that begins with "p" that comes in a pile.
5
...and what did you ever see in him at all? Why is this all rueful about his chances when it's his positions that are so sickening? and how, in the end, are they any different from those of the other Republicans--whom you refer to as We?
3
This column is emblematic of a pervasive problem in today's media. When I read the title and the first sentence of this piece I thought, for once, there might be a serious discussion of a candidate's economic or other policy. (Do any of the Republicans' numbers add up?)
Alas, I was wrong. Just another voyeuristic piece more suited for People Magazine than for the NYT. Really, must we endure yet another sop to politics as a spectator sport? We have this disgusting slate of clowns before us exactly because of coverage like this.
To paraphrase the old 'my mother always told me...' trope, if you can't say something of substance about a politician, please, but please, just don't say anything.
My mother also often said "...just ignore them and they'll go away." Could we try that for a while? Please?
Alas, I was wrong. Just another voyeuristic piece more suited for People Magazine than for the NYT. Really, must we endure yet another sop to politics as a spectator sport? We have this disgusting slate of clowns before us exactly because of coverage like this.
To paraphrase the old 'my mother always told me...' trope, if you can't say something of substance about a politician, please, but please, just don't say anything.
My mother also often said "...just ignore them and they'll go away." Could we try that for a while? Please?
87
Speaking of that slate, my grannie's advice is apt:
"What do you expect from a pig but a grunt?"
"What do you expect from a pig but a grunt?"
1
Does this mean you'll write a new blog about hearing from this Chatty Kathy? Your March reminder that I would hear a lot more about this dude needs to be taken down.
2
Rubio does not appeal to the descendants of the George
Wallace Democrats... ie., the basest Republican base. He's a little bit off color for them.
Wallace Democrats... ie., the basest Republican base. He's a little bit off color for them.
3
Trump will either go to the convention or go third party, he will not implode. He and Cruz are the story. The chattering class has not answered the simple question: How does Donald Trump end his campaign? He has too much ego involved to just walk away. If he doesn't win he'll say he was cheated, using things like the Virginia loyalty oath. Donald on the sidelines? Not Likely. The Rubio lifeboat is full of water and Jeb, in true Bush fashion, is going after the man he thinks betrayed him. It will be a murder/suicide. Trump and Cruz have a deal going. When they reveal it we are all in for trouble.
4
The American electorate's expectations have been lowered to such an extent that any candidate, any candidate, who can formulate three coherent, consecutive sentences is deemed to be an "expert". It's not how you say it, it's what you say that counts. Rubio's fluency in matters of foreign affairs and national defense are mere window-dressing. I've heard experts; he's no expert.
79
With all the tunnel vision and projection in this venue, entertainment is never in short supply; but this comments thread wins the prize.
So many examples to choose from, so little time: hence this random sample of one, which didn't disappoint:
"Marco Rubio is essentially a lazy person who wants a short-cut to the presidency based on his biography, supposed good looks and relative youth. He is also a hollow person with no core, more like an echo chamber where people can hear their own prejudices reflected back at them."
Replace "Marco Rubio" with "Barack Obama," add something about Obama's nasty, hateful prejudicial core – and his delusion, danger and despotism – and the comment is also true, arguably more so.
Eliminate the stuff about good looks and youth, keep the despotism and danger, add something about being a fake feminist and a "congenital liar" (as NYT great, Wm Safire once put it), and you have Hillary Clinton, although her "short-cut to the presidency" – (recall the untalented, unaccomplished dullard rode to notoriety on the backs of her predatory husband and the women they abused) – took several decades owing to her unappealing, corrupt and inept essence.
So many examples to choose from, so little time: hence this random sample of one, which didn't disappoint:
"Marco Rubio is essentially a lazy person who wants a short-cut to the presidency based on his biography, supposed good looks and relative youth. He is also a hollow person with no core, more like an echo chamber where people can hear their own prejudices reflected back at them."
Replace "Marco Rubio" with "Barack Obama," add something about Obama's nasty, hateful prejudicial core – and his delusion, danger and despotism – and the comment is also true, arguably more so.
Eliminate the stuff about good looks and youth, keep the despotism and danger, add something about being a fake feminist and a "congenital liar" (as NYT great, Wm Safire once put it), and you have Hillary Clinton, although her "short-cut to the presidency" – (recall the untalented, unaccomplished dullard rode to notoriety on the backs of her predatory husband and the women they abused) – took several decades owing to her unappealing, corrupt and inept essence.
3
Cruz and Trump have managed to make Mr. Rubio look like a moderate. Rubio is a Tea Party politician with extreme positions.
Rubio is my junior senator. His apparent deftness at debate is a product of a good actor who looks calm and remembers his lines. He has never impressed me as having a deep understanding of anything other than what he is supposed to say. There is no great intellect waiting to emerge. It's just a pretty face.
Rubio is my junior senator. His apparent deftness at debate is a product of a good actor who looks calm and remembers his lines. He has never impressed me as having a deep understanding of anything other than what he is supposed to say. There is no great intellect waiting to emerge. It's just a pretty face.
19
Rubio is also my junior senator. I continue to be amazed by these pundits and armchair critics who comparatively speaking have never accomplished a single thing anywhere close to being a serious candidate for POTUS. Frankly receiving criticism from the NYT is quite the badge of honor.
5
When the GOP and media have exhausted themselves I think it will still be Jeb, who is their best bet to challenge Hillary.
4
Cubans have fast track immigration to citizen status. So why no empathy toward other incoming immigrants. They fled Cuba rather then fight yet Republican Cubans want to send our troops to the ME. IMHO many Republican of Cuban decent are hypocrites. They should respect other ethnic and religious groups right to seek refuge from dictators/tyrants. They should look long and hard and smartly before sending American to foreign soils to fight other civil/religious/ethnic group wars.
4
Maybe Hillary should switch to the Republican party to satisfy the centrist Repubs, then she and Bernie could provide a more fair choice, with some real policy decisions.
5
Bernie would still be unelectable. Count the Electoral College votes.
2
Ever notice that the Republican pundits and establishment compare their wanna be presidential possibilities to Clinton and or Obama? Never W?
I wonder why?
I wonder why?
23
They've also figured out that comparing themselves to Reagan probably won't do them any good, either.
4
Clinton/Obama are the gold standard for polish and packaging over substance, hence the comparison to Rubio who many think has a similar sheen.
Given Rubio's youth and obvious political talent, it's possible he isn't working very hard to win the nomination this time, because the state of the Republican party has left any candidate with very little chance in the general election. He may instead be simply aiming to gain experience and exposure for a 2020 run.
4
Frank, your take away is that Rubio is the least of the evils and we should be happy with that?
I'm older and have some very definite ideas about what is good for me. You are aware, I'm sure, that there is no candidate out there on either side that will completely satisfy me.
That being said, I also am willing to concede that there are things this country, not me, not Marco, not Donald, but the country needs to get back on doing well for it's citizens and the world, all in good ways, not punitive nor opressive ways.
For me to have lived long enough to see the cold war end, the space race put us on the moon and begin the fascinating exploration of the universe, advances in medicine (which will help us all), it is disappointing to see only those who have their own ego and agenda in mind.
There seems to be no candidate in any party who has the depth of knowledge and the talents to lead us during these times. That was Obama's failing too, although you are unlikely to admit that.
The electorate should not be forced to take the best of the average or worse.
Strong personalities are fun in movies and on the stage, but at work, at home and especially in government, a far better leader is one who can tuck his or her own agenda behind while doing what is best for the country and its people.
Please, madame or sir, step forward, and soon, or we'll end up with one of these spooky candidates as the next president.
I'm older and have some very definite ideas about what is good for me. You are aware, I'm sure, that there is no candidate out there on either side that will completely satisfy me.
That being said, I also am willing to concede that there are things this country, not me, not Marco, not Donald, but the country needs to get back on doing well for it's citizens and the world, all in good ways, not punitive nor opressive ways.
For me to have lived long enough to see the cold war end, the space race put us on the moon and begin the fascinating exploration of the universe, advances in medicine (which will help us all), it is disappointing to see only those who have their own ego and agenda in mind.
There seems to be no candidate in any party who has the depth of knowledge and the talents to lead us during these times. That was Obama's failing too, although you are unlikely to admit that.
The electorate should not be forced to take the best of the average or worse.
Strong personalities are fun in movies and on the stage, but at work, at home and especially in government, a far better leader is one who can tuck his or her own agenda behind while doing what is best for the country and its people.
Please, madame or sir, step forward, and soon, or we'll end up with one of these spooky candidates as the next president.
1
Bernie is your man!
4
"Marco Rubio Doesn't Add Up"
When I read this title, I thought I would be reading a piece about how much Rubio is a big zero -- a vacuous and scripted candidate void of substance, creativity or personal conviction.
Macro does "wind up" however, to sound off the bites of today's GOP war-mongering, anti-health care, anti-women, anti immigration, pro-gun, stand-your-ground party line.
When I read this title, I thought I would be reading a piece about how much Rubio is a big zero -- a vacuous and scripted candidate void of substance, creativity or personal conviction.
Macro does "wind up" however, to sound off the bites of today's GOP war-mongering, anti-health care, anti-women, anti immigration, pro-gun, stand-your-ground party line.
9
I still can not fathom why Mr. Bruni remains so completely entrenched in the Republican Party camp when his views align with the moderate Democrats (there is a huge gaping crater of nothingness where the Republican moderates used to be). Unlike you, Frank I have moved to where my vote will be useful, the Democratic Party. Yes I understand that there are somethings I do not agree with the Dems on, such as Government attempting to take care of all of the needs of the disenfranchised and Government overreach, but I refuse to even consider a vote for a candidate who will nominate Supreme Court Justices who would love to join Scalia/Thomas/Alito in overturning Roe v. Wade and Obergefell and continue down the path of making corporations citizens, UGH!! When the Republicans stop kow towing to Religious Conservatives, then I will reconsider my position that The Republican Party=Poison.
23
With a certain Paul Singer Esq. as his patron, does this Friend of the People really need the Tea Party ?
He’s a conservative crusader, happy to carry the banner of the Tea Party. He’s a coolheaded pragmatist, ready to do the bidding of Wall Street donors.
He’s a conservative crusader, happy to carry the banner of the Tea Party. He’s a coolheaded pragmatist, ready to do the bidding of Wall Street donors.
3
My prediction is that Paul Ryan is going to be the Republican Presidential nominee. He will be drafted to save the Republicans from themselves.
3
Sometimes I wonder if a guy like Rubio (maybe Cruz and Christie, as well) is really using this campaign to polish his marketable political skills, in order to be seriously considered as the ticket-mate for the eventual Republican nominee. In that scenario his age is an asset. So he waits for, maybe eight years to campaign for the GOP nomination. That makes him as a 52 year old presidential candidate with the pedigree he wishes he had now.
1
A presidential campaign is an opportunity to churn through many millions of dollars. It is a grand opportunity to conduct patronage and take kickbacks.
3
The reason he doesn't add up is because he is a fraud and a charlatan.
42
Bruni is the proverbial 'stopped clock': He is right this time. Rubio is a shape-shifter. If he's the GOP establishment's last best hope, then they are going the way of the Whigs.
Trump/Cruz will leave him and the rest in their dust. And not a moment too soon.
Trump/Cruz will leave him and the rest in their dust. And not a moment too soon.
6
Dear Mr. Bruni,
I have a suggestion. Since the all important, earth shaking "Iowa Caucus" is only weeks away, why not wait and comment upon a voter generated "front runner" versus a "poll generated' front runner.
It's not that I'm sick of hearing about every poll from "Podunk University" to "Bob's Really Honest Poll Numbers" but, well, yeah, I guess I AM sick of hearing about these numbers that generate tons of copy but NO concrete results (After all, nobody's voted yet).
You media types have been speculating for what seems ages and if it weren't for the "Fool With the Hair", Donald Trump, throwing his hat in the ring, the process would be even duller and more meaningless than it is!
So take a break, smoke 'em if you got 'em and wait until some actual voting/caucusing occurs THEN have a ball!
Otherwise, how's "JEB!" doing?
I have a suggestion. Since the all important, earth shaking "Iowa Caucus" is only weeks away, why not wait and comment upon a voter generated "front runner" versus a "poll generated' front runner.
It's not that I'm sick of hearing about every poll from "Podunk University" to "Bob's Really Honest Poll Numbers" but, well, yeah, I guess I AM sick of hearing about these numbers that generate tons of copy but NO concrete results (After all, nobody's voted yet).
You media types have been speculating for what seems ages and if it weren't for the "Fool With the Hair", Donald Trump, throwing his hat in the ring, the process would be even duller and more meaningless than it is!
So take a break, smoke 'em if you got 'em and wait until some actual voting/caucusing occurs THEN have a ball!
Otherwise, how's "JEB!" doing?
4
Imagine all these evangelicals bent on destroying separation of church and state getting the first cut on potential presidents.
1
Basic math, or adding up, is not a prerequisite for support from the current republican electorate. Paul Ryan, viewed by many as a serious, wonky republican, can't even rely on simple math to justify his budget proposals.
Marco Rubio is appropriately simple-minded, and not as overtly offensive as the slobbering lunatics Trump and Cruz. These are the sole reasons he remains as the potential republican nominee.
God help us.
Marco Rubio is appropriately simple-minded, and not as overtly offensive as the slobbering lunatics Trump and Cruz. These are the sole reasons he remains as the potential republican nominee.
God help us.
29
I am not a republican, but it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that it is the U.S news MEDIA (FOX, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) who are pushing these skewed numbers to make Rubio 'the alleged' front runner in the republican party.
Why?
One main reason is that the two real frontrunners, Trump and Cruz, are an embarrassment to the US outside our borders. People around the world are looking at the US elections process and are saying how these two guys be serious contenders to the most powerful position in the world? Both are woefully ignorant on world affairs, which means that the 'world' has to deal with incompetents should either get into the highest office. Another reason is that the US Media has lost control in disseminating WHAT the American people should hear from Trump and Cruz, but especially Trump. Trump is a billionaire who is NOT beholden to the FOX media propaganda machine, which makes FOX very angry. Trump has the means and the money to get his message out in any form he wishes, and he does, to the detriment of our US image.
It is going to be a very interesting Republican Party race....I think the best we will ever see since the early 1950s Dixiecrats crash in on the Democratic party convention.....
Because Trump and Cruz are so unpalatable to the news media
Why?
One main reason is that the two real frontrunners, Trump and Cruz, are an embarrassment to the US outside our borders. People around the world are looking at the US elections process and are saying how these two guys be serious contenders to the most powerful position in the world? Both are woefully ignorant on world affairs, which means that the 'world' has to deal with incompetents should either get into the highest office. Another reason is that the US Media has lost control in disseminating WHAT the American people should hear from Trump and Cruz, but especially Trump. Trump is a billionaire who is NOT beholden to the FOX media propaganda machine, which makes FOX very angry. Trump has the means and the money to get his message out in any form he wishes, and he does, to the detriment of our US image.
It is going to be a very interesting Republican Party race....I think the best we will ever see since the early 1950s Dixiecrats crash in on the Democratic party convention.....
Because Trump and Cruz are so unpalatable to the news media
6
The media push the candidates who will spend the most money on advertising.
2
Marco Rubio is nothing like Bill Clinton, not in experience, hard work or brains. Clinton was a two time governor and a hard campaigner. Sure he was more moderate than a lot of people on the left would have liked (that is what triangulating really is) but his policies had strong support from the general public.
34
"Being President… is entirely about character."
–Pres. Andrew Shepherd, "The American President"
C-SPAN asked noted presidential historians to rank the US presidents. Clinton emerged as middling in most dimensions; he was surpassed in others by a settled mediocrity, Carter & a putative failure, Nixon.
In moral authority, Clinton was dead last.
Clinton's best scores were in economic management & pursued equal justice. However, both are meaningful only insofar as they redound to moral authority: But they are based on Clinton fraudulence–cooked books & black poses, respectively; & his shameless Rosa Parks eulogy confirmed the insidious brand of Clinton racism is alive & well in these tiptoe yrs of the Clinton interregnum.
20 rank higher than Clinton, 20 lower. But this assumes equal weight for each dimension. & therein lies the flaw. If 9/11 taught us anything, it is that character & moral authority count most. If the variables are properly weighted, Clinton ranks dead last.
SoS Madeleine Albright captured the essence of his dysfunctional presidency best when she explained why Clinton wouldn't go after bin Laden: Kill/capture bin Laden & Clinton could kiss the [sham] ME accord/Peace Prize good-bye. (R Miniter, "Losing Bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror")
“Bin Laden is alive today because Clinton refused to kill him. He had 8–10 chances & he refused to try."
–M Scheuer
CIA Bin Laden tracking unit Chief 96-99, special advisor 9/01-04
–Pres. Andrew Shepherd, "The American President"
C-SPAN asked noted presidential historians to rank the US presidents. Clinton emerged as middling in most dimensions; he was surpassed in others by a settled mediocrity, Carter & a putative failure, Nixon.
In moral authority, Clinton was dead last.
Clinton's best scores were in economic management & pursued equal justice. However, both are meaningful only insofar as they redound to moral authority: But they are based on Clinton fraudulence–cooked books & black poses, respectively; & his shameless Rosa Parks eulogy confirmed the insidious brand of Clinton racism is alive & well in these tiptoe yrs of the Clinton interregnum.
20 rank higher than Clinton, 20 lower. But this assumes equal weight for each dimension. & therein lies the flaw. If 9/11 taught us anything, it is that character & moral authority count most. If the variables are properly weighted, Clinton ranks dead last.
SoS Madeleine Albright captured the essence of his dysfunctional presidency best when she explained why Clinton wouldn't go after bin Laden: Kill/capture bin Laden & Clinton could kiss the [sham] ME accord/Peace Prize good-bye. (R Miniter, "Losing Bin Laden: How Bill Clinton's Failures Unleashed Global Terror")
“Bin Laden is alive today because Clinton refused to kill him. He had 8–10 chances & he refused to try."
–M Scheuer
CIA Bin Laden tracking unit Chief 96-99, special advisor 9/01-04
2
Rubio is the lone hold out for the US Ambassador to Mexico. How can a candidate for President of the United States be so narrow as to hold hostage the benefits of al citizens to a handful of Cubans in Miami? We don't need him for President.
16
Sorry, frank, get over it. Trump will be the nominee. So could sanders. Hillary is not fit for public office... Her ongoing email scandal, Benghazi. which will not go away, the Arab spring, the 20 years of her lies and exaggerations all of which of been exposed… and the "family Clinton foundation" which subject has not yet been on Trump's agenda but when it does, Hillary will implode, explode, and Finally return to private life.
6
Both the email and Benghazi "scandals" are enemy-generated smoke and Republican gasoline...standard political weaponry at work. Best to step back. triangulate, and self-reason before accepting them as fact.
Arab Spring? Better to blame her for global warming. Ooops, did I just start something?
Arab Spring? Better to blame her for global warming. Ooops, did I just start something?
3
What's to add up? Blind, unlimited amoral aspirations to undeserved power and influence should be as simple as 2+2=4 (of course in GOP math, 2+2=22!)
3
An apt description of Pres Obama, running for President since his law school days.
1
The brother-in-law will be a problem.
Not voting, especially for the budget bill, IS a problem.
Two churches? On his way to being a lapsed Catholic?
No announced programs or policies? Just how does he explain his change of thought after the legislation that had his [and Shummer's] name on it?
He may look presidential, but he does not sound presidential.
And although he is a smooth talker -- no ers, ums or ahs -- I doubt he can defeat Hillary or Bernie in a debate. He may have moxie; he just doesn't have the real stuff.
Not voting, especially for the budget bill, IS a problem.
Two churches? On his way to being a lapsed Catholic?
No announced programs or policies? Just how does he explain his change of thought after the legislation that had his [and Shummer's] name on it?
He may look presidential, but he does not sound presidential.
And although he is a smooth talker -- no ers, ums or ahs -- I doubt he can defeat Hillary or Bernie in a debate. He may have moxie; he just doesn't have the real stuff.
14
Come on, Marco's "The Little Man Atop The Wedding Cake." No, he's no Tom Dewey --- Dewey had accomplishments. He's missed many Senate votes, but I assume he's never missed a vote a major contributor was interested in. I further assume that Marco misses those votes because he doesn't want to waste his powerful rhetoric simply doing the peoples' business. He'll save his eloquence for a more important stage -- like K Street.
15
How did Rubio become a millionaire when he never held a job outside of government work.
20
He wrote a book, and was paid a handsome advance. It was nothing like Hillary Clintons 12 million advance, but nobody's perfect...
1
Mr. Bruni - I am confused by your opinion: Are you are still going with the narrative that Trump and Cruz will implode and Rubio will magically win?
Rubio is the liberal hope and fear. Hope - because he seems less scary than alternatives. Fear - because he will beat Sanders or Clinton.
I loathe Ted Cruz, but I think he is the clear favorite and likely winner of the nomination.
I just hope that enough voters in North Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio are sufficiently scared of Cruz to vote for (ugh) Hillary.
Rubio is the liberal hope and fear. Hope - because he seems less scary than alternatives. Fear - because he will beat Sanders or Clinton.
I loathe Ted Cruz, but I think he is the clear favorite and likely winner of the nomination.
I just hope that enough voters in North Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio are sufficiently scared of Cruz to vote for (ugh) Hillary.
4
>
Over the last several months you have soiled each and all of the GOP candidates, and justifiably so I'd add.
But here is the problem with that, at the end of the day one of them has to win the nomination by default if for no other reason.
The GOP is looking for something half way normal for a candidate to run against Hillary. Personally I don't see much of the anchor baby Rubio, but he may be able to take FL. I think the Dems would prefer he went down early too.
I think Christie has the best chance at the Big Blue Wall (BBW). Christie could penetrate the BBW better than any other wannabe. Every state in the BBW has voted for the Democratic candidate for president in each of the past six elections. When you add up the total, you get a whopping 242 Electoral College votes -- which is only 28 votes shy of the 270 needed to win the presidency. The BBW is all that stands between us and complete GOP domination.
Never forget the Democrats are perfectly capable of shooting themselves in the foot in an election they should win handily.
Over the last several months you have soiled each and all of the GOP candidates, and justifiably so I'd add.
But here is the problem with that, at the end of the day one of them has to win the nomination by default if for no other reason.
The GOP is looking for something half way normal for a candidate to run against Hillary. Personally I don't see much of the anchor baby Rubio, but he may be able to take FL. I think the Dems would prefer he went down early too.
I think Christie has the best chance at the Big Blue Wall (BBW). Christie could penetrate the BBW better than any other wannabe. Every state in the BBW has voted for the Democratic candidate for president in each of the past six elections. When you add up the total, you get a whopping 242 Electoral College votes -- which is only 28 votes shy of the 270 needed to win the presidency. The BBW is all that stands between us and complete GOP domination.
Never forget the Democrats are perfectly capable of shooting themselves in the foot in an election they should win handily.
2
"His promise seems to lie instead in his biography..., in his good looks, ...in the nimbleness with which he debates."
With one exception, if this commentary had been written 8 years ago it would have described Barack Obama. The exception is that instead of contradictions, there was the almost total absence of any specific positions by Obama. Remember the guy who voted "present" on many of his votes in the Illinois legislature?
With one exception, if this commentary had been written 8 years ago it would have described Barack Obama. The exception is that instead of contradictions, there was the almost total absence of any specific positions by Obama. Remember the guy who voted "present" on many of his votes in the Illinois legislature?
4
Exactly right
A pity that when faced with today's roster of Republican presidential candidates one can't vote for "none of the above." It is sad to contemplate that either Trump, Cruz or Rubio could become a president of the United States. As for the remaining "candidates", (including Jeb who?) what is to choose from? Mediocrity triumps, ignorance wins and America loses.
93
Re-read the first line of the 13th paragraph in this column:
And in this: Reasonable people can’t stomach the thought of Trump or Cruz as the nominee.
The entire premise of this column - indeed the premise of every prayer Reince Priebus offers to whatever deity he prays to - is that "reasonable people" will somehow, in some way, re-take control of the out-of-control Republican Party and end this danse macabre with Ted Cruz or, worse, Donald Trump.
Trump?!?
Cruz?!?
Why, one can almost hear the collective "pshaw" from grey-haired "establishment" types who still think they control the GOP.
Memo to "establishment types:"
You don't.
In fact, you could assemble all the "reasonable people" circa paragraph 13 in the smoking room of one of your high-brow Manhattan mens' clubs.
And it's YOUR FAULT.
You marginalized minorities, ignored women, destroyed the middle class, and effectively turned control over to the arriviste - namely Trump and Cruz.
"Reasonable" Republicans are in very short supply.
The Grand ol' Party ain't so grand any more.
So grab your checkbooks, $15 cigars, and pack your bags for what could be a long, hotter-than-usual week in Cleveland.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans refer to their arch-rival Cleveland Browns as "the mistake on the lake."
Prophetic, perhaps, for the results of the Republican gathering come July.
And in this: Reasonable people can’t stomach the thought of Trump or Cruz as the nominee.
The entire premise of this column - indeed the premise of every prayer Reince Priebus offers to whatever deity he prays to - is that "reasonable people" will somehow, in some way, re-take control of the out-of-control Republican Party and end this danse macabre with Ted Cruz or, worse, Donald Trump.
Trump?!?
Cruz?!?
Why, one can almost hear the collective "pshaw" from grey-haired "establishment" types who still think they control the GOP.
Memo to "establishment types:"
You don't.
In fact, you could assemble all the "reasonable people" circa paragraph 13 in the smoking room of one of your high-brow Manhattan mens' clubs.
And it's YOUR FAULT.
You marginalized minorities, ignored women, destroyed the middle class, and effectively turned control over to the arriviste - namely Trump and Cruz.
"Reasonable" Republicans are in very short supply.
The Grand ol' Party ain't so grand any more.
So grab your checkbooks, $15 cigars, and pack your bags for what could be a long, hotter-than-usual week in Cleveland.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans refer to their arch-rival Cleveland Browns as "the mistake on the lake."
Prophetic, perhaps, for the results of the Republican gathering come July.
9
Pundits keep talking about Rubio being Latino, as if that is some monolithic group. It's not. Rubio is Cubano. That is 3% of Latinos, and probably important in Florida, less so in the midwest, west, and southwest. Most Latinos in America are Mexican American and they trend Democratic. He will not attract those voters, as his immigration policy does nothing to stop "Wet Foot/Dry Foot policies that favor Cubanos, and the current policy to deport Mexicans. Yep, the numbers don't add up.
13
I was at a Rubio rally yesterday. There were many Latinos & millenials there. Well over 20% of the crowd. Many folks were camped out at 7 am for a n afternoon rally. His momentum is on the upswing. When the GOP field narrows as it must after NH, Rubio will prove the odds makers right and defeat Hillary.
1
The Dominicans and Puerto Ricans do not like him either.
2
And Tubio is the only candidate of either party that speaks Spanish as a native tongue. This is very important when dealing with Jorge Ramos...
In debates and interviews what I notice most about Rubio is that he is a speed talker. He talks faster than any other Republican (or Democrat for that matter). The rate of words per minute that he spills out is impressive. I think his supporters are favorably impressed by this man's speeding train of verbiage, by which they infer intelligence. But, the words fly by so fast that it is hard to keep up with the meaning of what he has said. And there in lies the rub. When you take the time to digest his words, you get an understanding of how shallow his thinking actually is. He is a man who speaks before he thinks and he depends upon his flood of words numbing your senses to both his meaninglessness, and his fluctuating principles and ideas.
16
When Rubio talks he is spouting the same old failed ideas of the past not new ideas. It is why I call him Mr. Cliche.
10
The more I read about and listen to this group of republican presidential candidates the more confidence I have in Hillary. I do wish, in truth, that Bernie were 10 years younger.
6
Another lying Republican crypto fascist opportunist with no morals or values other than taking power on behalf of his donor puppet masters. Not as creepy as Cruz, who gets the Creepy Award, but a creep nonetheless. Nothing to see here, except another slick Republican bigot and mysogynist.
7
Mr Rubio's narrative has always been questionable. His Family is no more political refugees than I am. They left Cuba in 1956, they fled the Batista regime, not Castro. His calendar is faulty but the triangulation works for his message. And I've always believed that to suggest that a Cuban, with all of the immediate benefits they received simply by landing on dry U S soil, is a true Latino, is like saying that a Swiss is an Italian. If mr. Rubio is somehow representative of "tomorrow, give me "yesterday."
184
Is that all Cuban refugees? Or only the ones who came after the "wet foot - dry foot" policy was implemented in 1966?
His body may be young, but his message is old.
The Cuban-American power groups have always resented the term "Latino" being ascribed to them. They worked very hard to delineate themselves from the other Spanish speaking immigrants. It has tempered a bit with the younger native born Cuban-Americans, but it will take much longer for the other Latino communities to forget the slights.
The "wet foot/dry foot" immigration exclusivity also offends these communities, as it should all Americans interested in fairness. "Latino" might be a mantle Rubio is currently accepting while running for president, but the Latino vote is not buying it.
The "wet foot/dry foot" immigration exclusivity also offends these communities, as it should all Americans interested in fairness. "Latino" might be a mantle Rubio is currently accepting while running for president, but the Latino vote is not buying it.
1
Rubio is a snarky brat. Trump and Cruz are caricatures of the ugly American. Sanders is a good guy but just a one trick pony. Hillary is the only one qualified to be president.
14
Thank you Mr. Bruni, for helping to clarify Rubio.
He's equally for X and just as equally for Y, the ideological opposite of X, and he is in the corner for A, as well as for B, also ideologically opposed.
He's mainly for being the son of immigrants--YEA! And he is VERY happy to be young, too young for a pres.--BOO!
He's also a not Trump and a not Cruz, who are Mussleleanknees.
He's equally for X and just as equally for Y, the ideological opposite of X, and he is in the corner for A, as well as for B, also ideologically opposed.
He's mainly for being the son of immigrants--YEA! And he is VERY happy to be young, too young for a pres.--BOO!
He's also a not Trump and a not Cruz, who are Mussleleanknees.
The political press and punditry that holds as gospel that Latinos surely will vote for Rubio--because he is Hispanic--is as deluded as those who believe that Hillary has a lock on women's votes, solely because she is a female.
The fact of the matter is at least half of the women voters I know are actively supporting Bernie--because to them, voting for (or against) someone solely because of their gender is the very definition of "sexism"--and the Senator's positions on issues of interest to them align better than the Secretary's.
By the same measure, among Hispanic voters I know, the Republican Party's virulent, vocal and highly visible anti-immigrant posturing makes candidate running for the party's nomination too toxic to vote for--no matter what his/her heritage is.
As one friend of mine put it "Why should I vote for Rubio--as a "Hispanic" acheivement--when his party wants to push most of us out of the country?"
Seriously...casting Hillary's gender or Marco's ancestry as political advantages seems at least a little akin to saying Governor Christie should be considered a formidable candidate because obesity is such a widespread problem in the United States.
The fact of the matter is at least half of the women voters I know are actively supporting Bernie--because to them, voting for (or against) someone solely because of their gender is the very definition of "sexism"--and the Senator's positions on issues of interest to them align better than the Secretary's.
By the same measure, among Hispanic voters I know, the Republican Party's virulent, vocal and highly visible anti-immigrant posturing makes candidate running for the party's nomination too toxic to vote for--no matter what his/her heritage is.
As one friend of mine put it "Why should I vote for Rubio--as a "Hispanic" acheivement--when his party wants to push most of us out of the country?"
Seriously...casting Hillary's gender or Marco's ancestry as political advantages seems at least a little akin to saying Governor Christie should be considered a formidable candidate because obesity is such a widespread problem in the United States.
8
Only in a state like Florida could Rubio be a no show Senator. After all we elected a Medicare scammer as Governor.
15
Aside from his many other faults, and his willingness to change positions on a dime, the story about his brother in law shows the unbridled hypocrisy of the GOP.
Imagine if Barack Obama's brother in law had been a convicted big time coke dealer, and Obama had written a letter of support on official government stationary?
Think the press (led by Fox) would not have been all over that?
Think Obama would have ever gotten the nomination?
Imagine if Barack Obama's brother in law had been a convicted big time coke dealer, and Obama had written a letter of support on official government stationary?
Think the press (led by Fox) would not have been all over that?
Think Obama would have ever gotten the nomination?
35
Marco Rubio in 2016.
1
perish the thought
6
I have long wondered why we are allowed to choose from such a amateur slate of candidates, when it would be so easy to manufacture them without flaws. An attractive multi-cultural child could be chosen, much like the Dalai Lama or Harry Potter, and then educated carefully and guided through early career to have a flawless background, smooth pleasant delivery of message, firmly but invisibly beholden to their handlers. Someone who knows not to have detectable affairs at inconvenient times, who attends the right churches, who has no relatives to be embarrassed by. Who knows how to align with the right issues, and to deftly side-step the wrong ones. Someone well-trained so their primary talent is making their handlers' agenda authentically and confidently seem their own. This isn't rocket science, and it would be far less expensive as working with the current crop of warty lumps of soggy clay.
24
Your error, Frank — you failed to include the following in your calculations:
CLINTON MATH
Bill minus Hillary
Zero difference
2 women abusers
Cosby conscience.
Bill plus Hillary
Corrupt synergy
Bill plus Hillary
RICO conspiracy.
Hillary minus Bill
Zero charisma
Hillary minus Bill
Endless miasma
(3rd-term Obama.)
Hillary to Bill power
Terrorists exponential
Hillary to Bill power
Security differential
(WWIII consequential.
Crooks quintessential
Is zero presidential.
Bernie preferential
Make Hillary nonessential!)
CLINTON MATH
Bill minus Hillary
Zero difference
2 women abusers
Cosby conscience.
Bill plus Hillary
Corrupt synergy
Bill plus Hillary
RICO conspiracy.
Hillary minus Bill
Zero charisma
Hillary minus Bill
Endless miasma
(3rd-term Obama.)
Hillary to Bill power
Terrorists exponential
Hillary to Bill power
Security differential
(WWIII consequential.
Crooks quintessential
Is zero presidential.
Bernie preferential
Make Hillary nonessential!)
4
why not put your talents to use in a positive way?
5
Typical political campaign bashing of the one Republican Candidate who polls favorably against Princess Hillary (she is not a Queen yet!). Marco Rubio is not a flamboyant in-your-face person like Trump or Cruz. I hope the Republican Center (if there is such a thing any more) gets it together and nominates this worth individual. The critical thing is to win the Presidency and roll back the extremes of the Obama Administration. Let's WIN Republicans.
3
Marco Rubio is about manipulation not preparation .The Florida Speakership, because of strict term limits, was preparation to run for the Senate.The Senate, as his absences suggest, was a prelude to running for Presidency. When he was in debt and needed money he found a benefactor in millionaire Norman Braman, now employs his wife. He used his influence as Florida Speaker to lobby for his cocaine trafficking brother-in-law's real estate license never mentioning his conviction.When Marco Rubio eagerly grabbed for the water bottle during his Republican response to President Obama's the State of the Union Speech, he was unwittingly giving us the perfect metaphor for the way he moves in the world. When he wants something he grabs for it and style points don't matter. His medieval opposition to abortion in cases of rape or incest renders him unelectable in the general election. The perfect metaphor for his Cold War interventionist foreign policy is a 50's American Classic in old HAVANA. He is charismatic and forceful and manages to memorize enough talking points to appear knowledgeable.He is a master at self promotion and seizing the opportunity, but lacks the intellectual depth and nuance needed for the Oval Office.
16
Hm, "intellectual depth and nuance needed for the Oval Office." George W Bush? Ronald Reagan? Rubio may have more of a chance than you think!
4
RG, You are making a false assumption.When I say "needed", I deliberately did not say "had", or "have", and definitely not the two you mentioned, who are who dwarfed by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
2
So can "reasonable people" stomach the thought of Hilary Clinton for President? Somebody who the vast majority of Americans find untrustworthy?
Doesn't sound so "reasonable" to elect someone who is trusted by nobody. But then again, with NYT pundits, anyone who shares their political views is "reasonable". That is the only litmus test applied by partisanship.
Doesn't sound so "reasonable" to elect someone who is trusted by nobody. But then again, with NYT pundits, anyone who shares their political views is "reasonable". That is the only litmus test applied by partisanship.
6
Hillary Clinton, accomplished woman on her own merit, scares the angry old white men, doesnt she....your vast majority statement is nonsense and so is Marco Rubio, Mr Big Gulp himself
5
There are many petty comments about Marco Rubio in response to Mr. Bruni's column. Many of the left wing faithful are concerned about the possibility of Hillary Clinton facing Marco Rubio in the general election.
The big deal made about Rubio's assistance to his convicted felon brother in law in obtaining a real estate license is laughable when compared to the January 2001 pardon scandal of the Clinton Administration. Several of those pardons, or commutations of prison sentences were specifically granted to assist Hillary Clinton's US Senate campaign. Mr. Bruni is also concerned about the churches that Marco Rubio attends? I do not remember any editorial comment by the NY Times about Bill Clinton's five pound Bible that was conspicuously carried to church services by Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky crisis. As hard as the left may try, they will never be able to find any scandals in Marco Rubio's past that will come anywhere close to the Clinton's scandals, past, present and future.
The big deal made about Rubio's assistance to his convicted felon brother in law in obtaining a real estate license is laughable when compared to the January 2001 pardon scandal of the Clinton Administration. Several of those pardons, or commutations of prison sentences were specifically granted to assist Hillary Clinton's US Senate campaign. Mr. Bruni is also concerned about the churches that Marco Rubio attends? I do not remember any editorial comment by the NY Times about Bill Clinton's five pound Bible that was conspicuously carried to church services by Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky crisis. As hard as the left may try, they will never be able to find any scandals in Marco Rubio's past that will come anywhere close to the Clinton's scandals, past, present and future.
12
"As hard as the left may try, they will never be able to find any scandals in Marco Rubio's past that will come anywhere close to the Clinton's scandals, past, present and future"
That's a decent platform, I guess I will vote for him.
That's a decent platform, I guess I will vote for him.
1
Deflection is a poor debate technique. And using Clinton morality as a standard of character only lowers the bar... which Rubio clearly meets.
3
John,
along with Clinton scandals the economy grew, taxes were fairer, wars were essentially non-existent, the country was in much better shape. The Clintons worked hard and Bill has an economic track record to tout. What does Rubio have? You fail to look at both sides of the coin.
along with Clinton scandals the economy grew, taxes were fairer, wars were essentially non-existent, the country was in much better shape. The Clintons worked hard and Bill has an economic track record to tout. What does Rubio have? You fail to look at both sides of the coin.
3
If Bush is low energy with his speeches than Rubio is strangely low energy on both the campaign trail and in the Senate. Perhaps this is why Adelson has not committed to him yet. Rubio's positions of being pro Israel, hawkish in the Mid East, and moderate on immigration seem like a perfect fit for the billionaire casino magnate. Addison will not waste his money on a passionless candidate. Rubio apparently has no fire in the belly for the campaign trail. To compare him to Clinton makes no sense. Was there anyplace else Clinton wanted more to be to be than inside a crowd interacting with people. Rubio's most recognizable trait is that he seems detached.
4
You have to remember a lot of press commentary comes out of the political machines who provide journalists with the fodder they transmute into "Informed comment." The Republican establishment faced with a fading Bush and the horror of Trump and Cruz are talking up little Mario.
11
The discussion about Rubio is just more of the same lunacy and dysfunction that has overcome the Republican Party. If not for the inexplicable horror of Trump and Cruz polling as well as they do, no one would be talking about Rubio.
18
Another issue that he is out of step with millennials and the majority of the country is abortion. He is against abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Second, the man is an empty suit. There is simply no there there. You can have all the smooth rhetoric in the world, what difference does it make if it has no content and there is no intellect behind it?
19
The fact that Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, ringmaster of the House Permanent Kangaroo Court on Beating a Dead Horse About Benghazi, has endorsed Rubio speaks volumes about the bottom-feeding political support that the novice senator is attracting.
No word about 2016 yet from Forrest Gump of Alabama, but he's already on the record as saying, "Stupid is as stupid does."
No word about 2016 yet from Forrest Gump of Alabama, but he's already on the record as saying, "Stupid is as stupid does."
20
When I read the headline for this column I hoped Mr. Bruni might apply his admittedly limited math skills to examining Mr. Rubio's economic package. Instead, we have more math on how much candidates are accumulating in donations and what their prospects are for winning early primaries. Would someone PLEASE use the op ed page to run a substantive analysis of each candidates (and each party's) proposals for taxes and spending! We should be basing our votes on mathematical realities and not on who can deliver a hopeful message.
29
Other columnists (e.g. Krugman) and reporters have examined the tax proposals of Republicans. They're easy to summarize: they are fantasy, and Rubio's is no exception. They give huge cuts to high earners and would cause huge deficits. Of course Bruni might have mentioned this, but if you're a Republican - as Bruni apparently is - there is little to choose from among your candidates.
3
The Republican slate is a Lazy Susan of unacceptable choices, and columnists are doomed to turn it round and round to consider each little pot of misery until the primaries and election finally bring them blessed relief as the voters finally choose.
And voters have a responsibility to choose. The more that a majority of voters choose not to choose (as evidenced by horrible voter turnout in American elections), the worse the choices become with each election cycle. That is the story of Tea Party 'success.' There is a connection between consistently low voter turnout and the dismal worsening of choices available to us, particularly on the Republican side.
And voters have a responsibility to choose. The more that a majority of voters choose not to choose (as evidenced by horrible voter turnout in American elections), the worse the choices become with each election cycle. That is the story of Tea Party 'success.' There is a connection between consistently low voter turnout and the dismal worsening of choices available to us, particularly on the Republican side.
20
If Senstor Rubio were to catch fire it would be a methane explosion of sorts. He's not anointed and his Cubano roots makes him loco about new Cuba. His Miami neighborhood taught him to be brash without being bold. His urban organizational skills includes counting and collecting hubcaps and hotel towels and large paperweights to hold down overweight expense accounts. And, sadly, he's far too short and no one makes silk American Flags small enough to make him appear tall. Lastly, he shines his hair with bootblack to leave an appearance of going fast as he's always tarried, lags, late and last.
7
Methinks thou doth protest too much. What are you afraid of, or what is HRC afraid of, that you would write this article. Hmmmmmmmm
1
And people still wonder what the appeal of trump is. He at least says what's really on his mind. I can't see a genuine human in the entire lot. Hillary still comes across as a dishonest, evasive, opportunist, but compared to these guys she may finally be in a group she can look presidential in.
320 million people and this is the best we've got? Ridiculous.
320 million people and this is the best we've got? Ridiculous.
9
DT "says what's really on his mind" – sure, but that can change from day to day.
Perhaps you saw the article fact-checking various quotes from politicians and current candidates. DT has told by far the most whoppers, with HRC toward the bottom of the list.
Perhaps you saw the article fact-checking various quotes from politicians and current candidates. DT has told by far the most whoppers, with HRC toward the bottom of the list.
2
True
Hillary will not usually be pinned down on anything specific. Avoiding any statement that you can be quoted on is the new standard in politics. Mr hope and change said nothing more specific except he'd get us out of Iraq and close guitmo. Of course he did neither.
Saying nothing substantive may get you a ways in this country, but it's not leadership.
Hillary will not usually be pinned down on anything specific. Avoiding any statement that you can be quoted on is the new standard in politics. Mr hope and change said nothing more specific except he'd get us out of Iraq and close guitmo. Of course he did neither.
Saying nothing substantive may get you a ways in this country, but it's not leadership.
I can't wait to see what very rational, nonpartisan PPfA says about the three leaders. Judging from recent analyses, Christie is the sleeper that will ride in on the white horse to prevent the Republican train wreck. (Sorry. Some mixed metaphors are just too gra[hic to resist.) See https://presidentialpoliticsblog.wordpress.com .
He is not among the very short list of candidates I feel I could vote for right now, but he is closer than most for whom I would not. If he is the nominee, and who knows - where was Obama at this time in 2007? - he could change my mind in either direction. I still think any candidate who is not pro-same-sex marriage and abortion (though he accepts the law on both), affirmatively believes in both global warming and evolution (however irrelevant the latter), will have great difficulty winning a general election.
1
Believing in evolution as the path this world has taken is an indicator of being able to look at facts and make a decision. A valuable asset in someone who will sit in the oval office.
To believe, based on no facts and only what your folks raised you to chant, that the earth is 60oo years old or that evolution isn't happening (despite facts to the contrary) is telling about your reasoning and rational skills.
He's still a clown and an empty airbag, but to at least let women be in control of their own bodies and to realize that religion beyond the Golden Rule belongs at home and not the office you work in, is a start.
To believe, based on no facts and only what your folks raised you to chant, that the earth is 60oo years old or that evolution isn't happening (despite facts to the contrary) is telling about your reasoning and rational skills.
He's still a clown and an empty airbag, but to at least let women be in control of their own bodies and to realize that religion beyond the Golden Rule belongs at home and not the office you work in, is a start.
2
Dale - I believe in evolution as the best theory I know of to explain certain things. But, I do not look down on the intelligence of those who don't believe in it, realizing that they often have emotional reasons, largely religious, why they don't. Justice Scalia seems to believe the earth is thousands of years old. You might disagree with his politics or jurisprudence, but if you think he's stupid or a clown too, I guess you understand why some people who disagree with Pres. Obama think he is stupid. The reason that I think believe in evolution figures in electability is that in my limited personal experience independents will tend to feel at least somewhat like you do. And as in the last few elections, at least, that group will likely determine our next president. I may not want Rubio for president, but I don't think he's a clown and his unwillingness to state his belief in evolution, or even a stated disbelief, wouldn't deter me if I wanted to vote for him, anymore than his belief in God would deter me, so long as he recognizes rule of law as paramount, which he does.
1
For the past two or three months, it has seemed clear that Marco Rubio will be the chosen one of the Republican Party. We can wonder why that inevitability looms, but suffice to say it is some sort of an amalgam of respectability and win ability.
Rubio displays significant political skills, but none more helpful than his shiftiness. He manages to leave his options open on any issue.
Whenever a politician is difficult to trap in a ‘gotcha’ moment, voters should realize that this is because the candidate believes in nothing other than himself. Marco Rubio is hoping that between his boyish good looks, the autobiographical narrative he has constructed and his glib tongue, the voters will not notice.
Rubio displays significant political skills, but none more helpful than his shiftiness. He manages to leave his options open on any issue.
Whenever a politician is difficult to trap in a ‘gotcha’ moment, voters should realize that this is because the candidate believes in nothing other than himself. Marco Rubio is hoping that between his boyish good looks, the autobiographical narrative he has constructed and his glib tongue, the voters will not notice.
15
Bruni pontificating on a Republican is rather like a wolf ruminating on a buffalo. He find him nominally appetizing but too big to devour. He fits well with Times' partisan agenda.
I never paid much attention to him until I listened to his news conference right after Cuban-American relations were opened by the president. I heard a spoiled brat who wanted to take all the marbles and go home. He probably realized at that moment he wasn't going to be the one to bring about a new relationship with Cuba and that history just passed him by.
19
In the case of Rubio the term 'better politician' tends to show up regularly. As far as I can tell it merely means that he does not actively irritate people in public. It does not mean that he makes better solutions since he doesn't show up for work, nor does it mean that he finds and builds useful coalitions since he seeks to divide the country over climate change, same sex marriage, etc and so forth. His tax proposal is as bad as anyone's; doesn't balance, doesn't work, and leaves the government unable to do its work (which is of course the point). He claims foreign policy experience but hasn't travelled very much, doesn't seem to know many foreign leaders, and doesn't seem to care about much except South Florida.
He's been lazy all along--taking money from his sugar daddy, and not paying his bills.
He's been lazy all along--taking money from his sugar daddy, and not paying his bills.
21
Big Sugar? The people who fought against the restoration of the Everglades.
1
Europeans will never understand why Americans agonize for over a year about candidates and when the election finally occurs, agonize again over the outcome.
In Europe, the whole miserable process is over in a couple of months, not even long enough to be distracted from more productive pursuits......like living.
In Europe, the whole miserable process is over in a couple of months, not even long enough to be distracted from more productive pursuits......like living.
25
I think the election campaigning in the UK is a mere three weeks.
1
Katharyn......in the UK, voters elect a party, not the candidate...the party selects the prime minister out of their shadow government waiting in the wings....the members of the shadow government are ready to start work the day their party is elected....a very efficient government system...American founding fathers did not want a British parliamentary system because they feared it was too weak...they preferred a head of state they hoped would not become a king or dictator.
2
Rubio scares me far more than Trump does. Have you noticed his foreign policy, his hive of neocon advisers from the GWB and Reagan administrations, the fact that he has sold his middle east policy to billionaire donors eager to expand the Israeli occupation and bomb Iran, his insistence on a larger military than the bloated one we have now? Trump opposed the Iraq war, seems to like the idea of diplomatic deal making, didn't urge the Iran agreement be scrapped, likes single-payer health care systems, and is far more critical of the Bush-Cheney war policy than any other Republican besides Rand Paul (also more critical than Hilary). Yes, he's obnoxious, sexist, narcissistic, and uninformed, but he can't get his immigration policy passed, and the rest isn't as bad as the slicker fellows on that side. Maybe peaceniks and single-payer fans should hold their noses and abandon the "anybody but Trump" bandwagon.
10
Sure Marco doesn't add up to be the GOP presidential pick. The sum of his parts don't equal that whole. But he adds up perfectly as someone's VP pick - presumably whomever is left standing. Being VP-in-waiting at this point doesn't require great effort or attendance. And as such, Marco can be a better-mannered assistant to any of the leading R heavies (more so a Trump....less so a Jeb!). He stands ready for action as the well-behaved pet Hispanic, lending credence to the ongoing GOP Horatio Alger narrative. Who better to deliver a tough message on immigrants? Who better to assuage whatever Hispanic voters are stupid enough to support the GOPs this cycle? Who else comes from a critical swing state? He only has to duck and dodge the big issues and remain just a little viable. This is what adds up for Marco.
6
At least he'd be out of the way. Let's all hope for the candidness and vernacular that Biden has shown through BO's time in office, via open microphones.
"How he behaves when he thinks no one is watching is the true character of a man."
"How he behaves when he thinks no one is watching is the true character of a man."
Democrats criticize Marco Rubio for being in the pocket of wealthy donors. Donald Trump accuses Marco Rubio of being a "puppet" for the same reason.
Trump is the only Republican candidate who shares any common ideals with Democrats. If he gets the nomination and modifies his comments on Mexicans and Muslims, his independence will make him a formidable opponent for either Hilary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
Marco Rubio likes to present himself as the Republican whom the Democrats would less like to face. In reality, that Republican is Donald Trump, who will have a Reagan like ability to convert Democrats to Republicans in the voting booth.
Trump is the only Republican candidate who shares any common ideals with Democrats. If he gets the nomination and modifies his comments on Mexicans and Muslims, his independence will make him a formidable opponent for either Hilary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
Marco Rubio likes to present himself as the Republican whom the Democrats would less like to face. In reality, that Republican is Donald Trump, who will have a Reagan like ability to convert Democrats to Republicans in the voting booth.
3
Unless one wants Hillary in the White House, Rubio is the only choice. Not a good choice but the best choice. He could win. She is the media, Hollywood, Academic, Intelligentsia candidate so it's going to be difficult. The media except for Fox is in the tank for her. Utterly. The email episode typifies her invincibility amongst those groups. She should probably be out on bail. Which wouldn't make her unelectable in what passes for a major political party, the Democrats.
Perversely, she is also a lap dog of Wall Street and of the many loathsome countries who have contributed to the Clinton "charity". She is Nixon without the talent.
Perversely, she is also a lap dog of Wall Street and of the many loathsome countries who have contributed to the Clinton "charity". She is Nixon without the talent.
2
I counted 6 headlines about Trump, only one about Bernie Sanders regarding his impressive fundraising, and then the demeaning comment in Frank's piece about Bernie.
When.will you guys/gals actually start to notice that Bernie is the only grown up in the room, who actually has a plan to improve the country?
When.will you guys/gals actually start to notice that Bernie is the only grown up in the room, who actually has a plan to improve the country?
68
In our polarized politics, it's difficult, if not impossible, to find bipartisan consensus on much of anything, let alone who should be the next leader of the free world. But let's try to find a little common ground presidentially by at least agreeing on this: The callow first-term senator model doesn't work.
4
Rubio maybe ahead in the odds makers calculations because he appears to be the “least objectionable program”. But Marco Rubio has no élan and voters sense that. He changes direction like a weather vane. Here is a candidate Marco Rubio who walked away from plan to help legalize immigrants when he realized it would not play well with the hard right wing. Here is the man Rubio who opposes abortion even in case of rape, incest, or risk to the mother's life. Here is a man, Marco, who cannot keep his finances straight. He has the highest missed voting record in the Senate. He broadcasts his lack of knowledge, experience and commitment like “tells” in a poker game. Voters have him doped out, the odds makers - not so much.
9
Trump, Cruz, Christie, Carson and that "attractive" shape shifter" Marco Rubio as front runners for the nomination. How low has the GOP has sunk when being the lesser of all these evils qualifies you to be candidate for President?
18
Rubio might end up close to the nomination because he's the 'least worst'. Rational reasonable conservatives, who don't want anything to do with Trump, and fear that Ted Cruz has a bit too much demagoge in his basic personality will end up going over to Rubio by default. They'd take Jeb! except for the baggage of the brother's legacy... they don't want another Bush Middle East war, and Jeb!'s foreign policy team looks very much like George's team, minus Cheney. Thank God for little things, I guess. My problem with Rubio is that there's no 'there' there. What does he really stand for - has he seen the latest polls yet? Where is the 'moderate-conservative' candidate who has his own ideas, and isn't afraid to promote them in the face of Trump's insanity and Cruz's Trumpian sycophancy? The race to the right that has so far marked this Republican field has left the moderate, thinking, yet still conservative voters holding their noses seeking a 'least worst' alternative, and Rubio might just contend because of that.
2
"We can’t accept what that would say about America"
The GOP is the only major party "in the advanced world" that denies climate change is caused by human activity. It's nominee will campaign on that position. What does that say about America?
The GOP is the only major party "in the advanced world" that denies climate change is caused by human activity. It's nominee will campaign on that position. What does that say about America?
11
If Rubio does well in Iowa and NH...remember the name Orlando Cicilia. Because you will be hearing it a lot more often after that.
When Univsion started investigating what role Rubio had in his brother-in-law's parole hearing/release, all the records of it in both Florida and Atlanta were destroyed just days before the FOIA request was required to be acted upon. Rubio then launched a scorched earth policy against Univision, escalating it all the way up to the RNC, demanding that they pull the 2012 debate from them. Which they did, and they still cannot repair that bridge today largely because of Rubio.
Cicillia was not just a one time smuggler who made a bad decision. He was one of the big time early Cocaine Cowboys and a top lieutenant in one of the most violent Cuban drug rings in Florida. This will not play well in NH which has been plagued by the heroin epidemic. It won't play well in Evangelical Iowa either. People, particularly Republicans, can forgive a person for being an addict, but there's very little sympathy for a reformed drug dealer.
Also, Trump is probably going to have a field day with this one. It ties in quite beautifully with his campaign kick off comments about immigration and brown people bringing in drugs. It allows him to dog whistle Rubio's ethnicity and hit someone who he's been previously unable to land a punch.
When Univsion started investigating what role Rubio had in his brother-in-law's parole hearing/release, all the records of it in both Florida and Atlanta were destroyed just days before the FOIA request was required to be acted upon. Rubio then launched a scorched earth policy against Univision, escalating it all the way up to the RNC, demanding that they pull the 2012 debate from them. Which they did, and they still cannot repair that bridge today largely because of Rubio.
Cicillia was not just a one time smuggler who made a bad decision. He was one of the big time early Cocaine Cowboys and a top lieutenant in one of the most violent Cuban drug rings in Florida. This will not play well in NH which has been plagued by the heroin epidemic. It won't play well in Evangelical Iowa either. People, particularly Republicans, can forgive a person for being an addict, but there's very little sympathy for a reformed drug dealer.
Also, Trump is probably going to have a field day with this one. It ties in quite beautifully with his campaign kick off comments about immigration and brown people bringing in drugs. It allows him to dog whistle Rubio's ethnicity and hit someone who he's been previously unable to land a punch.
12
"Lo siento mucho," but MR's connection to a "cocaine cowboy" will have no bearing on his chances of becoming President. On the contrary, it will enhance his candidacy. People admire the man outside the law, always have and always will. Remember the adulation that Al Capone enjoyed during his lifetime as one of America's most notorious criminals, or more recently John GOTTO, the "Teflon Don."Mr. Cicillia, especially if he has given back part of his "magot" to help others, can be portrayed as a folk desperado,and MR will be admired for his "derring do," his familial loyalty, and for going out on a limb to help his "cunado."Take it from one who writes "en connaissance de cause," who has spent years interviewing ex OAS gunmen and bombers, in prison and out, as well as the "perdistas" in Argentina,"veterans of the Unseen War now serving life sentences in Marco Paz. This revelation will be the lift that the Rubio campaign needs. DT would be advised to be chary of using it to attack Rubio. Recommend commenters read Eric Hobsbawm's BANDITS for background on folk heroes.
Marco Rubio doesn't add up? None of the Republicans currently in the Presidential beauty contest add up...
14
Rubio is a lightweight with huge baggage and no experience. He rises to the top by not insulting anyone directly and looking pretty. Also he is from Florida and some GOP operatives seem to think that he will carry the state of nominated. They forget that Al Gore lost Tenessee.
If Republicans nominate him he will lose. Faute de mieux is just a plain faute.
If Republicans nominate him he will lose. Faute de mieux is just a plain faute.
5
Rubio was the one I thought would get the Republican nomination too, and was the one I was most worried about a Democrat facing. But Christie is turning out to be the most mainstream of the Republican batch, and would also be hard to beat (depending on how much voters become informed about his scandals and poor record in New Jersey).
3
Actually his record in New Jersey is pretty good, particularly when you consider that the NJ Statehouse is solidly Blue.
As far as the "scandal" goes I assume you are talking about "Bridgegate". Please........you think that's any more real than Bengazi or Emailgate?
Christie is one of the few candidates on either side that is moderate. Remember, he is a Republican Governor from a solidly Democratic state, elected twice.
As far as the "scandal" goes I assume you are talking about "Bridgegate". Please........you think that's any more real than Bengazi or Emailgate?
Christie is one of the few candidates on either side that is moderate. Remember, he is a Republican Governor from a solidly Democratic state, elected twice.
1
I dunno ... Mr. Christie's poll numbers in NJ are rattling around at the bottom of the barrel. It looks like the folks who elected him twice are now regretting their choice. Look at the NJ economy and you'll see why.
2
Maybe it is his"triangulation" , his fuzziness and morph-ability that put him in target sight of his billionaire , Florida real estate backer / handler.
2
Now there's a really big insult:
"“He’s the Republican Bill Clinton,” the strategist said,..."
"“He’s the Republican Bill Clinton,” the strategist said,..."
Want endless war in the Middle East? Go for Rubio. His early, big bankroll comes from the likes of Paul Singer. Get ready to have money for Social Security, Medicare, infrastructure and the rest thrown down that drain.
11
So instead of a carnival barker - or loose cannon - he offers the prospect of leadership by a used car salesman.
6
But he can vouch for you, if you have problems with cocaine!
3
When I saw the headline that "Rubio's numbers don't add up" I thought the column would be an analysis of economic policy. Silly me.
8
"Rubio will be the nominee."
I wouldn't have said that 6 months ago, but it sure looks correct now. Like it or not, Rubio's probably going to get the nod.
I wouldn't have said that 6 months ago, but it sure looks correct now. Like it or not, Rubio's probably going to get the nod.
1
It is impossible to see any one of the current crop as POTUS. The Republican Party keeps trying to figure out how to "appeal" to this voting block or that. The truth is, to vote Republican is to vote against your interests, unless you happen to be a member of the 1%. "It's your policies, stupid." I have more faith in the American electorate than to think we would ever be so foolish.
5
Maybe it's just me, but doesn't the fact that Rubio takes credit for being a creationist disqualify him for any public office, let alone the POTUS.
17
Unless you are being sarcastic, perhaps you need to be reminded that in America we are permitted our own opinions.
If you are being sarcastic, your comment is quite funny.
If you are being sarcastic, your comment is quite funny.
1
Read the recent New Yorker article about climate-change flooding "The Siege of Miami." Affluent Miami Beach and Key Biscayne residents repeatedly wake to flooded streets and think it's another broken water main. But the flooding is salt water - rising sea levels pushing salt water up through Miami's limestone floor into affluent beach neighborhoods. Scientists predict parts of Miami are becoming uninhabitable and the wealthy face flooded mansions.
Surely Marco Rubio, lifelong Miami resident and politician, is aware of this, even as he mocks climate change. Smug disingenuousness, this.
It might be that Rubio's goal in this campaign endeavor is actually personal wealth - future million $ speeches and corporate boards. Rubio's lived beyond his means his entire adult life - luxury purchases as properties were foreclosed, cashing out a retirement account, never being the primary support of his wife and children - his lifestyle subsidized for a decade by Miami billionaire sugar daddy Norman Bramen.
Rubio's never had a real job except the 'law professorship' Bramen endowed for him and elected office. Now Rubio is brushing off both his Senate votes and his campaign obligations.
If his campaign doesn't work out, Rubio might have to (gasp) get a real job. Awful though they are, Trump and Cruz are working hard for the nomination. But to all appearances, Rubio believes the nomination is going to be handed to him. Looks like Norman Bramen has ruined him.....
Surely Marco Rubio, lifelong Miami resident and politician, is aware of this, even as he mocks climate change. Smug disingenuousness, this.
It might be that Rubio's goal in this campaign endeavor is actually personal wealth - future million $ speeches and corporate boards. Rubio's lived beyond his means his entire adult life - luxury purchases as properties were foreclosed, cashing out a retirement account, never being the primary support of his wife and children - his lifestyle subsidized for a decade by Miami billionaire sugar daddy Norman Bramen.
Rubio's never had a real job except the 'law professorship' Bramen endowed for him and elected office. Now Rubio is brushing off both his Senate votes and his campaign obligations.
If his campaign doesn't work out, Rubio might have to (gasp) get a real job. Awful though they are, Trump and Cruz are working hard for the nomination. But to all appearances, Rubio believes the nomination is going to be handed to him. Looks like Norman Bramen has ruined him.....
11
From Bruni's headline, I was sure this was a review of Rubio's inability to repay student loans, choosing to buy a speedboat, using party credit cards for personal expenses. You know, the real things that don't "add up". Back in June, the Times was publishing these types of details:
"A review of the Rubio family’s finances — including many new documents — reveals a series of decisions over the past 15 years that experts called imprudent: significant debts; a penchant to spend heavily on luxury items like the boat and the lease of a $50,000 2015 Audi Q7; a strikingly low savings rate, even when Mr. Rubio was earning large sums; and inattentive accounting that led to years of unpaid local government fees."
I think Bruni's better off dealing with the documented sleaze instead of redacting fantasy polling....
"A review of the Rubio family’s finances — including many new documents — reveals a series of decisions over the past 15 years that experts called imprudent: significant debts; a penchant to spend heavily on luxury items like the boat and the lease of a $50,000 2015 Audi Q7; a strikingly low savings rate, even when Mr. Rubio was earning large sums; and inattentive accounting that led to years of unpaid local government fees."
I think Bruni's better off dealing with the documented sleaze instead of redacting fantasy polling....
5
Additional evidence of Rubio’s “shift[ing] shapes” that Bruni’s piece overlooks is that in prior campaigns (and on an early version of his bio on the U.S. Senate website) Rubio presented his family’s story as leaving Cuba following Castro’s takeover (in 1959). That was directed at the Cuban-American voters of South Florida. However, investigative reporting and documents demonstrated that his parents chose to leave Cuba in 1956 – well before Castro came to power -- and most likely for economic purposes. Rubio subsequently acknowledged some of these facts – his current Senate website bio acknowledges his parents left Cuba in 1956 -- and tried to finesse others. As reported, for example in: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubios-compelling-family-s...
7
Of course Rubio doesn't add up....because all the people you know that are telling you that "he's the guy"...are on the Left. They aren't even voting for him; all they re doing is telegraphing *their* wishes for the GOP candidate.
1
Clinton lost Iowa because because Sen Tom Harkin was from there and had a big home state advantage. Young Bill only ended up with 2.8 percent of the caucus vote. Paul Tsongas won New Hampshire but didn't have Slick Willie's charisma and golden tongue to hold on for the long haul. But back in 1992 things were different and there wasn't someone like The Donald lurking in the dark corner of the men's room on the side of town where the demagogues congregate. So yes, Rubio could lose in Iowa and New Hampshire but how do you solve a problem like Maria?
5
Until I see votes to back up Trump's poll numbers I remain skeptical.
So we have an agreement,Rubio doesn't add up. I am just curious about something,if he doesn't show up for votes,and he doesn't get out on the campaign trail,just what does he fill his time with. I just feel that the Republican candidates are running strange campaigns,what are they in the race for? I find the vast majority are in it for their ego. They all speak as if they are Moses ,tablets in hand, passing more judgement & less policy.
5
Comparing Rubio to Bill Clinton is laughable. The latter has forgotten more about politics, government, and policy making than the former will ever know or bother to attempt to learn.
30
Marco Gangofeight Rubio has no more chance at winning a single primary than Jeb Amnesty Bush. There are a lot of citizens who wonder when these guys decided that they could give away American to foreigners.
2
Why is it so easy to imagine Marco Rubio as a bewildered child not knowing what to say at his first international diplomatic event? Is this fellow REALLY able to represent 320 million of us intelligently? I don't think so.
18
Has everyone forgotten that Rubio's life story is a lie? He claims that he never knew that his parents had immigrated from Cuba BEFORE Castro came to power. He has always made himself out to be the first generation son of parents who had fled from communism. His entire career has been built on this lie.
28
Marco Rubio is essentially a lazy person who wants a short-cut to the presidency based on his biography, supposed good looks and relative youth. He is also a hollow person with no core, more like an echo chamber where people can hear their own prejudices reflected back at them. He is also the Republican candidate most likely to win the general election. But it is probably too late for him to gain momentum now and Trump's juggernaut will roll over him. Besides he cannot compete with a man who, though older, has a much higher energy level, does not sweat, does not urinate and probably considers himself much more handsome than Rubio.
13
Trump looks like an adult. Rubio looks like a teenager.
2
Allow me to help you understand Rubio's primary obstacle: We, as Americans––and, speaking for myself, as conservatives––will not elect another neoconservative to the presidency. The virulent neocon strain had its opportunity, an ample one, and in going to Iraq, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, squandered it in the most catastrophic manner possible. In Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, et al., the ideology now returns, wondering why America is no longer interested in letting it guide us into a familiar abyss. Go away.
The Republican base may not fully understand the phenomenon that is, and was, neoconservatism, but they feel it, and can sense the effort of a virulent strain to reassert itself in Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. They may not express their frustration . he Republican base may not as vehemently express their frustration, and enormous sadness, with Iraq we A neoconservative has as much chance of getting elected to teh presidency in 2016. The neoconservatives ascended, claimed the moment, then proceeded to destroy the world. Since the establishment finds this all very hard to follow, try imagining this an NFL team division championship, getting creamed 47-3, then going to
The republican base may not know in full the The phenomenon that is Donald Trump––and prior to that, The Tea Party––represents a rejection. We would be thrilled to elect your The cThe republican base may not. Here's something that the myopic establishment will not The low-information
The Republican base may not fully understand the phenomenon that is, and was, neoconservatism, but they feel it, and can sense the effort of a virulent strain to reassert itself in Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. They may not express their frustration . he Republican base may not as vehemently express their frustration, and enormous sadness, with Iraq we A neoconservative has as much chance of getting elected to teh presidency in 2016. The neoconservatives ascended, claimed the moment, then proceeded to destroy the world. Since the establishment finds this all very hard to follow, try imagining this an NFL team division championship, getting creamed 47-3, then going to
The republican base may not know in full the The phenomenon that is Donald Trump––and prior to that, The Tea Party––represents a rejection. We would be thrilled to elect your The cThe republican base may not. Here's something that the myopic establishment will not The low-information
Huh?
4
Marco Rubio will do as he is told. Most Reublicans would rather vote for the 1% directly - Donald Trump.
Marco Rubio is not presidential. He reminds of a ever smiling, subservient Fountainebleau cabana boy hoping for a big tip.
Marco Rubio is not presidential. He reminds of a ever smiling, subservient Fountainebleau cabana boy hoping for a big tip.
28
They wouldn't hire him at the Fountainbleau, the Doral or the Eden Roc and he couldn't get a job at the old Americana in Bal Harbour. Rubio's strictly SOBE wannabe.
1
I agree with most of what you say, except I would say you are much too hard on President Clinton, who presided over a mostly peaceful and prosperous term.
That said, I'm rooting for Rubio. He'd be the easiest for Hillary to beat (in spite of his pretty young face).
1) As you mentioned there's the Mafia connected brother-in-law whom he helped to get a real estate license.
2)There's his Sugar Daddy automobile dealer.
3) There's the fact that he mixed his personal finances with that of the GOP.
4) There's that lie he told about his parents escaping Castro, when they were actually economic refugees searching for work in Vegas.
Rubio will fold as soon as Hillary breathes on him.
That said, I'm rooting for Rubio. He'd be the easiest for Hillary to beat (in spite of his pretty young face).
1) As you mentioned there's the Mafia connected brother-in-law whom he helped to get a real estate license.
2)There's his Sugar Daddy automobile dealer.
3) There's the fact that he mixed his personal finances with that of the GOP.
4) There's that lie he told about his parents escaping Castro, when they were actually economic refugees searching for work in Vegas.
Rubio will fold as soon as Hillary breathes on him.
12
Maybe if Hillary tells the truth for a change, but she would need to be coached.
Watch. It's going to be Hilary v Jeb. ZZZZZzzzzz
Marco sold his soul when he repudiated his Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill. Now he stands for nothing other than ambition. He makes Romney look principled.
The party may yet turn to him to carry their banner, but it will be clear if they do that the party stands for nothing except the smell of money.
The party may yet turn to him to carry their banner, but it will be clear if they do that the party stands for nothing except the smell of money.
20
Trump is Franco and Cruz the anti-Christ. The bar is closing, all the other candidates look better to anyone with an ounce of reason. The problem is the base of that party loves fascists and people who still claim a bearded old man in the sky and his instruction manual tell them what to do.
At least the Democrats have the decency to not talk about it.
Maybe my children will some day live in a world where magic isn't driving the bus. I've given up that dream. God, guns and religion...
At least the Democrats have the decency to not talk about it.
Maybe my children will some day live in a world where magic isn't driving the bus. I've given up that dream. God, guns and religion...
11
Cruz is the reincarnation of Joseph McCarthy. It's on a website about others and him having lived before and now returned.
"the nimbleness with which he debates" - Really? Are we talking about the same Marco "I'm not a climate scientist" Rubio? Or maybe he just appears nimble in comparison to his other republican colleagues on the stage.
13
Frank,
You danced all around this point: Rubio simply IS NOT Presidential. Can you imagine Rubio negotiating with Vladamir? No, neither can I. The GOP should be, but isn't, embarrassed. GOPers should be, but so far aren't, jumping off of bridges. A Confederacy of Dunces. Wasn't that the title?
You danced all around this point: Rubio simply IS NOT Presidential. Can you imagine Rubio negotiating with Vladamir? No, neither can I. The GOP should be, but isn't, embarrassed. GOPers should be, but so far aren't, jumping off of bridges. A Confederacy of Dunces. Wasn't that the title?
15
Rubio is what he has been: the most reliable reflection of the collective preferences of the Republican donor class. Since those preferences are self-contradictory, so too is the candidate.
I think the Clinton and Obama comparisons have some validity--mostly in that all three are/were ambitious and presumptuous even by the standards of politicians on the national stage. But with Clinton, you never doubted his energy for campaigning and genuine interest in people (for better and for worse). With Obama, his powerful intellect, sense of self, and vision for the country all were clear. Rubio does not seem particularly interested in people or ideas--only power and, perhaps, its perquisites.
I think the Clinton and Obama comparisons have some validity--mostly in that all three are/were ambitious and presumptuous even by the standards of politicians on the national stage. But with Clinton, you never doubted his energy for campaigning and genuine interest in people (for better and for worse). With Obama, his powerful intellect, sense of self, and vision for the country all were clear. Rubio does not seem particularly interested in people or ideas--only power and, perhaps, its perquisites.
17
Is Rubio actually out of high school?
15
Yes, he is the young son of immigrants--how about that?
1
Just remember - Rubio's parents came to the US to escape Castro's Cuba. On the second thought, that was just another blatant lie by another presidential candidate who thinks "Muricans" are suckers.
6
I used to make a living reviewing resumes and other info of people in line for a profession requiring excellent judgement and integrity. Several months ago, the NYT published a story about Rubio's financial history. I remember thinking,"If I saw this credit report, he'd go straight to the reject pile. No question."
I can't imagine that he's still being considered.
I can't imagine that he's still being considered.
47
It is a good thing your not in charge, Harry Truman's Bankruptcy would have disqualified him.
3
Rubio's extreme youth is a challenge to his bill paying ability.Are you suprised he wants to get rid of SS, i.e. to privatize it.
Republicans have already privatized 2/3 of what was once public, free or low cost, so he is consistent with the Republican drive to take jobs from Americans to give to H-1B visa holders.
Republicans have already privatized 2/3 of what was once public, free or low cost, so he is consistent with the Republican drive to take jobs from Americans to give to H-1B visa holders.
1
Many things we used to find hard to imagine are no longer such.
Remember the short-lived recognition that pols lie to us and have been found not to care...Perhaps many people do not any longer care. i remember a Republican congressman saying he didn't care what the facts waere, it was what he believed that mattered to him!
I saw it live, on TV. That incident did not get much coverage.. And how many remember it today.
Remember the short-lived recognition that pols lie to us and have been found not to care...Perhaps many people do not any longer care. i remember a Republican congressman saying he didn't care what the facts waere, it was what he believed that mattered to him!
I saw it live, on TV. That incident did not get much coverage.. And how many remember it today.
1
How much ink is just spilt on catching ethereal numbers! Impatient to wait for the initial votes and the demographic who actually pulls a lever or hangs a chad?
1
On the one-hand, I feel so ashamed of America for having such stupid Republican candidates, but on the other-hand, I feel proud of America that anyone can run for president and that we're not bounded to a limited few who are dictators, like what is happening in Hong Kong.
5
Anyone can run is good for a laugh, unless an Anyone gets elected.
Anyway , you can't run Dolly, nor can I...unless we are attached to millions of bucks.
Anyway , you can't run Dolly, nor can I...unless we are attached to millions of bucks.
1
Rubio is the very definition of unctuous. He's not fit, nor have the energy, to be elected dog-catcher, much less anything else.
8
Thanks for putting the perfect word to him, W. I was in an inchoate state before you gave us "unctuous."
I look out my south facing window at a country whose greatest fear is an economy that holds no promise of a better tomorrow.
I would say for most Americans tomorrow is looking downright frightening.
Marco Rubio offers nothing to dispel those fears in fact as bad as things may look, to many Rubio looks by his own financial record to make things a whole lot worse.
Who made Rubio a front runner? Certainly not the 90% who will decide the next election.
I would say for most Americans tomorrow is looking downright frightening.
Marco Rubio offers nothing to dispel those fears in fact as bad as things may look, to many Rubio looks by his own financial record to make things a whole lot worse.
Who made Rubio a front runner? Certainly not the 90% who will decide the next election.
11
After listening to endless Rubio ads on Iowa television I have concluded that there is no "there" there. Rubio is a completely vapid personality who assumes that being president would be no more taxing than his half-baked efforts at being a Senator have been. The only theme appears to be chest-thumping about believing in the greatness of America, whatever that means.
15
Maybe it's just me, but I never understood the hoopla around Rubio. He brings nothing of substance to the table. Just like Christie, Fiorina, Cruz, Trump, etc., all smoke and no fire. Being able to debate well is a plus, but with Rubio, it's the only attribute he possesses. An empty suit, if I've ever seen one!
14
Attending both an evangelical Protestant church and a Roman Catholic mass at the same time shows the flexibility of his convictions. Wasn't he briefly Mormon too?
4
Slick Marco will fall sooner that The Smarter Bush, perhaps leaving no one left standing.
Who knows? Maybe Romney will be anointed by acclamation at a raucous, nihilistic convention.
Or maybe Herman Cain of 777 fame -- or Laura Ingraham -- as the party descends into madness.
Who knows? Maybe Romney will be anointed by acclamation at a raucous, nihilistic convention.
Or maybe Herman Cain of 777 fame -- or Laura Ingraham -- as the party descends into madness.
8
This cycle smarmy lawyers like Rubio (and Cruz, Christie...and Clinton) will never get traction against an alpha outsider like Trump. Trump refuses to get on his knees and pray to the golden calf that is political correctness, even with the entire media standing over him with virtual swords of vitriolic and vehement negative rhetoric. He champions what a clear majority of Americans want: illegal immigrants actually being treated, well, like they were doing something illegal. What I suppose has given the left more than one sleepless night is that some of the things he says — e.g. outright derision for the political "establishment," calling lobbyists "bloodsuckers," hatred of Wall Street "paper pushers" — are exactly the kinds of things the left would cheer raucously for, if it were ever to come out of Hillary's mouth (which it never, ever, will).
You know what really ends this thing? Trump luring Romney in as his VP.
You know what really ends this thing? Trump luring Romney in as his VP.
4
A Trump-Romney ticket? "Earth to EV . . . Earth to EV...."
3
Good looks? Said only by people who think DC is Hollywood.
6
Handsome... seriously? Rubio looks like a half-baked doughboy and I challenge you, Frank, to find another gay man or straight woman who finds him "attractive".
8
In all fairness, he's running against the likes of Cruz, Christie, and Trump. It's a fairly low bar to clear.
5
If "reasonable people can't stomach the thought of Trump or Cruz as the nominee", they won't be able to stomach anyone else in the Republican Party. They are all the same.
8
Rand Paul is different than the rest. On the other hand, the other candidates all poke fun at him, like he's the crazy one.
1
I remain at a loss as to what the punditry sees in Rubio. Yes, he is sometimes more articulate and polished in his speech than other candidates. But, this year when alpha voices rule... Rubio seems lazy, lackluster, unattractive, sweaty. I know. Not nice. Just cannot see him giving the State of the Union in his fleece.
11
You nailed it. He's the most overrated politician of the year, but I think one Republican may well beat Hillary, if the media can convince enough people she is the Wicked Witch of the West...Her Wall Street ties?
Yes, but I think there is a dimes worth of difference between Hillary and any Republican running--definitely a dime, just not a dollar's worth.
Yes, but I think there is a dimes worth of difference between Hillary and any Republican running--definitely a dime, just not a dollar's worth.
Your title says it all. Marco Rubio doesn't add up.
And if he isn't showing up for his day job and voting on legislation, and he isn't showing up at many campaign rallies, what is he doing? You want to be president? You gotta show up somewhere! KA
And if he isn't showing up for his day job and voting on legislation, and he isn't showing up at many campaign rallies, what is he doing? You want to be president? You gotta show up somewhere! KA
5
He's scary for just this reason: He is the son of working class immigrants, but he used Federal subsidized student loans, went to government run higher education (University of Florida) and then claims to have been able to "make it" -- although I'm not sure how getting elected to office means you've really accomplished anything. The sad part is, he fights against policies that help the middle and working class -- Obamacare -- which he claimed would "bankrupt the country" -- has done nothing of that sort. He was lucky his father bartender never got cancer from 2nd hand smoke (before Florida became an indoor clean air state -- government again!) and had to quit working or face the loose stopgaps of healthcare for the poor in which -- uniquely to this country -- can still bankrupt you for getting ill. At least Clinton talked the talk but did a bit of walking too.
6
Fact check: Rubio did not UF! Otherwise, spot on!
Rubio has said we can't do anything about gun violence, or about climate change, so we're left to wonder why he wants to become president at all. Does he simply want a four-year vacation at the taxpayers' expense?
5
Despite the appalling roster of GOP candidates, I don't believe it really matters which empty suit is nominated; the Republican convention is now almost guaranteed to be brokered, most likely by Big Money picking the non-Trump, non-Cruz candidate.
As far as I can see, securing the nomination in this manner is the Quayle-like Rubio's only realistic option. Perhaps that's why he's taking his time, merely keeping his ante on the table until he gets the nod as least objectionable to the billionaires.
In the long run, we know in advance that the sore losers, utterly devoid of any personal grace or basic loyalty to the party, will storm out of the convention in righteous indignation, hopelessly splitting the party and thus dooming its chances in November. This is where the telegenic Rubio might shine: he'll look great as the young martyr pushing the imploded remains up an unending, unforgiving hill.
As far as I can see, securing the nomination in this manner is the Quayle-like Rubio's only realistic option. Perhaps that's why he's taking his time, merely keeping his ante on the table until he gets the nod as least objectionable to the billionaires.
In the long run, we know in advance that the sore losers, utterly devoid of any personal grace or basic loyalty to the party, will storm out of the convention in righteous indignation, hopelessly splitting the party and thus dooming its chances in November. This is where the telegenic Rubio might shine: he'll look great as the young martyr pushing the imploded remains up an unending, unforgiving hill.
4
Nice Quayle comparison, and I believe Rubio is really looking to be Vice President, a cushy job for which he's uniquely suited, and one that lets you pipe up and look good without actually having going to the trouble of doing anything (my apologies to Biden, one of few VP's who've served his President well).
1
Marco Rubio is certainly not the "rickety life boat" I would ever cling to. He is immature, he cannot even handle his own personal finances, and his views are no different from the same ones the other Republicans have been espousing for what seems like forever, and he whines. He blames his financial irresponsibility on the fact that he didn't inherit money. What kind of excuse is that for someone who wants to be the leader of this country? Why would anyone want to vote for this man? Just because he isn't the other Republicans running in the upcoming election? Because the Tea Party wants him to be "the one"? That alone disqualifies him in my eyes. The Republican candidates this time around are the worst ever - every single one of them is reprehensible. None have constructive suggestions about how to solve the problems plaguing this country.
We still need to address our infrastructure. The Middle Class is still struggling. The world is grappling with the problem of persons displaced by wars that we provoked. The list goes on and on. The Republicans fix for everything is more tax cuts for the wealthy, repeal Obamacare, make sure women have no control over their bodies, and give vouchers for Social Security, Medicare, and education. All the Republican candidates sing this same tired song, including Marco Rubio.
As far as comparing him to President Obama or Bill Clinton? The comparisons are laughable. He is no match when it comes to either man's cool intellect.
We still need to address our infrastructure. The Middle Class is still struggling. The world is grappling with the problem of persons displaced by wars that we provoked. The list goes on and on. The Republicans fix for everything is more tax cuts for the wealthy, repeal Obamacare, make sure women have no control over their bodies, and give vouchers for Social Security, Medicare, and education. All the Republican candidates sing this same tired song, including Marco Rubio.
As far as comparing him to President Obama or Bill Clinton? The comparisons are laughable. He is no match when it comes to either man's cool intellect.
17
@Mark Thomason. Agreed that Hillary is running tactically, and probably holds far more Republican-type views on Social Security (and practically everything else) than she will say as long as Bernie is nipping at her heels. Which leaves Democrats who depend on Social Security for their survival in a quandary if Hillary gets the Democratic nomination: their safest bet then would be to vote for Donald Trump, who has rightly said it's not an entitlement, it's honoring a deal, and does not want to cut benefits.
The only way to avoid being in that horrible position is to make sure Bernie gets the nomination.
The only way to avoid being in that horrible position is to make sure Bernie gets the nomination.
1
How could anyone vote for a guy for President who can't tell a MasterCard from an American Express?
6
I think the most likely scenario is that Rubio is the v.p. nominee for whomever finally gets the GOP nomination. For the GOP to win (which I hope they don't), they need Florida and Ohio.
Even if the GOP loses, I'm afraid that we here in Florida will get stuck with Rubio as governor.
Even if the GOP loses, I'm afraid that we here in Florida will get stuck with Rubio as governor.
3
So - Rubio is "reasonable?" In what universe?
He's all but promised to start WWIII. He'd let women die before granting them an abortion and his attitudes about the environment are both dangerous and absurd as well as short-sighted.
Perhaps, Mr. Bruni hasn't really been listening to the debates?
He's all but promised to start WWIII. He'd let women die before granting them an abortion and his attitudes about the environment are both dangerous and absurd as well as short-sighted.
Perhaps, Mr. Bruni hasn't really been listening to the debates?
20
Yes, Marco Rubio doesn't add up. Most of the candidates on either side do not. The New York Times continues to publish the non solution candidates while essentially ignoring the one that does offer solutions, Bernie Sanders. He has platforms worth discussing, but instead the paper covers Republican candidates lavishly and acts as if the only opposition is Hiliary Clinton! Clinton copies Sanders in very obvious ways, with her finger in the wind. Too late now, with the Middle East in disarray because of her vote and others to invade Iraq. Too late now with her embrace of the Marriage Act and her campaign contributions from private prison industry, Wall Street Bankers, etc. Yes, Iowa is less then a month away. But the NYTimes instead of making itself relevant, allows the internet and social media to upstage itself. Meanwhile, the victory belongs to the masses of people who have contributed millions in small contributions to Sander's campaign. No other candidate is doing this! Now this is worth talking about in the columnists pages. Why talk about Rubio when he's so far behind? Better than talking about Sanders? Why doesn't the NYTimes like Sanders? Used to be its the economy stupid..now it's the inequality stupid!
13
Don't just hold the MSM responsible. Put the lion's share of the blame where it belongs, on DNC Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz. She has deliberately kept the Democratic nominating process out of the press as much as possible in an inane attempt to "protect" Hillary Clinton and shut down Bernie Sanders. Not once has she realized that the more Clinton and Sanders debate in public, the more attention BOTH get, and the Party gets, and the more interest it generates, no matter which of them takes the nomination.
Instead, she has squandered opportunity after opportunity to put the Democrats' far more sensible, sane, grown-up and competent candidates forward into the public's eye.
Instead, she has squandered opportunity after opportunity to put the Democrats' far more sensible, sane, grown-up and competent candidates forward into the public's eye.
1
It's great fun to point out to Republican friends that they're hypocrites -- finding it outrageous that Dems would support a freshman Senator in 2008 but insisting now that it's not outrageous for Republicans to support a freshman Senator in 2016. "Principles? We don't need no stinkin' principles!"
2
Rubio is like Obama? Thanks for the laugh!
1
Rubio plays the smart brat that no one likes after a while. Coached up, probably, to refute lots of what others might say, but in the end no substance in terms of energizing the country to solve problems. Not that the GOP has any plans on doing any of that. They're just fine with the lame production that the McConnell and Boehner "led" the Congress has resolved is ok. Only now that Ryan is in charge, they have to try to make it look like they're doing something for the next election cycle.
Remember, it's all about the 0.01% and getting the deal sealed in a way that will ultimately be the end of this country as we once knew it for the GOP. They will settle for nothing less, so it's going to be a very long year in politics.
Remember, it's all about the 0.01% and getting the deal sealed in a way that will ultimately be the end of this country as we once knew it for the GOP. They will settle for nothing less, so it's going to be a very long year in politics.
3
If Marco Rubio does manage to win the Republican nomination because Christie, Carson, Bush, Fiorina and the other second-tier candidates drop out and because voters finally come to their senses about what a Trump or Cruz presidency would mean for America and its place in the world, Republican voters, especially those who are poor or middle class, should ask themselves this: Will this slick, young politician with a questionable work ethic and disastrous personal money-management skills care about the things that matter to me--will he work for me and my family-or will he do the bidding of a billionaire patron who has kept him and his family afloat financially for much of his career? In this respect, Rubio is no different from any other presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat, but those who see him as the future of the Republican party would do well to dig deeper into his character and allegiances.
4
He does not project sincerity and offers nothing appealing to an increasingly radicalized Republican electorate. During the debates, no matter what question he is asked, he compliments the moderator for the "excellent question" and then goes on to talk about whatever subject he feels comfortable with. He's memorized a lot of facts, and he dutifully regurgitates them in a robotic way that completely loses the audience's interest. He is an extreme hawk and usually justifies his positions by explaining that the US needs to bomb half of the Middle East for the sake of Israel. Whenever confronted with a question about the economy, he responds by criticizing the government. He is one of those politicians who has spent his entire professional life working for the government and yet believes the government to be utterly useless. At this point, his "base" is the donor class, and it is not clear that the donors will be able to bring their voters to heel.
11
It's amazing to me that such a lightweight as Rubio has gained the attention he has. His handling of his personal finances is deeply disturbing and his outlaw in-laws equally distressing. There is nothing about this candidate that would appeal to true conservatives. He's all slick with no substance. Get the hook! Like it or not, Cruz will win the nomination.
6
Elizabeth Williamson's editorial on the inadequacy of polls at this stage of the campaign casts doubt on the factual basis of much of this speculation. How representative are the views of the small slice of the electorate tracked by these polls? How much of Trump's support stems from the fact that he enjoys greater name recognition among the public than his rivals?
Only the primary elections, themselves, can provide answers to such questions. The determination of candidates such as Huckabee and Santorum, whom the polls give no chance of winning, to hang tough through the early primaries suggests they also have little faith in the accuracy of the early surveys.
With respect to Rubio, his indistinct image makes it harder to target his unpopular policy positions and may enable him to remain competitive until the early primaries signal more clearly the concerns and biases of the Republican electorate. The very fuzziness of his views could encourage voters who dislike the other candidates to project on to him the values they cherish.
As a compromise candidate, Rubio would pose a much greater threat to the Democrats than Trump or Cruz, because the apparent moderation of his views would give him a better chance to unify rather than split the party.
I can't imagine Trump or Cruz beating a Democratic nominee in the the general election, but I can see Rubio doing so. For this reason, he worries me far more than either of these outliers.
Only the primary elections, themselves, can provide answers to such questions. The determination of candidates such as Huckabee and Santorum, whom the polls give no chance of winning, to hang tough through the early primaries suggests they also have little faith in the accuracy of the early surveys.
With respect to Rubio, his indistinct image makes it harder to target his unpopular policy positions and may enable him to remain competitive until the early primaries signal more clearly the concerns and biases of the Republican electorate. The very fuzziness of his views could encourage voters who dislike the other candidates to project on to him the values they cherish.
As a compromise candidate, Rubio would pose a much greater threat to the Democrats than Trump or Cruz, because the apparent moderation of his views would give him a better chance to unify rather than split the party.
I can't imagine Trump or Cruz beating a Democratic nominee in the the general election, but I can see Rubio doing so. For this reason, he worries me far more than either of these outliers.
6
Senator Rubio bio, particularly his most recent time and attention in US Senate, suggest he is closer to being another Bush II or Reagan presidency, if one remembers; the former took more than eight-hundred vacation days and Reagan half of that.
My real concern, however, for future of our country's already declining unity, is he will first satisfy debts to his foreign policy backers by getting us deeper into another Middle East entanglements.
The price we Americans continually pay, unnecessarily, could be obviated to some degree by the so called enlightened national media's reporting rather than just polling.
My real concern, however, for future of our country's already declining unity, is he will first satisfy debts to his foreign policy backers by getting us deeper into another Middle East entanglements.
The price we Americans continually pay, unnecessarily, could be obviated to some degree by the so called enlightened national media's reporting rather than just polling.
7
After 9 years writing 4,000 comments, I am now persuaded speech existed long before the discovery the human voice could be represented by symbols. Hear ye, Marco, Cruz, Trump, Carly, Ben, John, John, Chris, Rick, and Mike. (Oh, Jeb!) The eloquence of Shakespeare speaks to the maudlin gonging of old mantras of insufficiency to be solved by the insufficient who promise even greater eras of insufficiency--I can't spell but I do know the difference between surfeit and sparse.
The surplus has gone to the rich! Will one of the GOP candidates reach across to agree with Bernie--or is wealth more toxic than immigration? The rumble is about terrorism--but don't workers lives matter? Aren't cuts to healthcare as deadly as hollow point bullets?
And what did Marco say? No, to Cuba, based on a 50 year old grudge. Yes and no to immigration, a wash. Yes to friends' political requests. For him, limited government seems to mean limiting benefits to benefactors and family.
It is the season of much ado. And:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. . .
It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
The surplus has gone to the rich! Will one of the GOP candidates reach across to agree with Bernie--or is wealth more toxic than immigration? The rumble is about terrorism--but don't workers lives matter? Aren't cuts to healthcare as deadly as hollow point bullets?
And what did Marco say? No, to Cuba, based on a 50 year old grudge. Yes and no to immigration, a wash. Yes to friends' political requests. For him, limited government seems to mean limiting benefits to benefactors and family.
It is the season of much ado. And:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. . .
It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
30
Rubio is not presidential; he is barely senatorial. He is, and it's probably the reason for the speculative talk of him getting the nomination, the billionaire's Manchurian Candidate. The war hero (McCain) and the actual uber wealthy guy (Romney) did not work out, so maybe the working class kid's story will sell?
However, I must disagree with the premise about too over-hyped attributes: 1) his good looks -- he looks like an adolescent, or when he is confused (not an infrequent occurrence) a dear in the headlights.
2) the polish of his oratory -- he does not give a good speech; he reads and sounds rehearsed. Also it sounds as though he is not fluent in the material; he lacks sophistication, poise and presence. He is not auditioning for the Senior play. He wants to be president, and he is woefully unqualified.
The sooner this man departs poltics, the better we will be. Hopefully, Norman Braman, his first sugar daddy, can give him a job at one his dealerships.
However, I must disagree with the premise about too over-hyped attributes: 1) his good looks -- he looks like an adolescent, or when he is confused (not an infrequent occurrence) a dear in the headlights.
2) the polish of his oratory -- he does not give a good speech; he reads and sounds rehearsed. Also it sounds as though he is not fluent in the material; he lacks sophistication, poise and presence. He is not auditioning for the Senior play. He wants to be president, and he is woefully unqualified.
The sooner this man departs poltics, the better we will be. Hopefully, Norman Braman, his first sugar daddy, can give him a job at one his dealerships.
175
Your opening perfectly describes Mr. Obama's situation in 2008. He showed up at the Senate a mere 153 days because he campaigned for the next office before he even started getting paid for ''service'' as a Senator.
But the Dems figured the novelty of B. Hussein's outside was much more important than the paucity of his preparation and the insanity of his intentions.
But the Dems figured the novelty of B. Hussein's outside was much more important than the paucity of his preparation and the insanity of his intentions.
4
@mike
Thank you for this superficial appraisal.
"...a dear in the headlights..."
Is that a reference to his sexuality?
Thank you for this superficial appraisal.
"...a dear in the headlights..."
Is that a reference to his sexuality?
1
A lot of the goodwill people feel for Rubio, despite his trailing in the polls, is a conviction that history is prelude. Trump and Cruz have defied much of the historical trends of primary politics and at some point, as most of the observers have posited, those laws of gravity will kick in and we'll go back to the way things were. Rubio represents that safe path the pundits expect the GOP will take. And maybe they will. Then again, this may be an election like no other in history. And ain't it a hoot to get a front seat?
4
Frank, Marco Rubio will go down in history as the Republican Party's 21st century version of the Democratic Party's 20th century Adlai Stevenson. He has an aura about him in the present, and an apparently promising future of admirable service ahead. But just not as President, regardless of how often and how ardently he runs.
The big question is, will he accept this destiny with dignity and, as Mr Stevenson did in the end, serve this country faithfully and well across a spectrum of positions of responsibility. Or will he, as Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz will most assuredly will do when they find themselves on the short end of the voters' stick, resort to denial, sulking and blaming everyone but themselves.
The big question is, will he accept this destiny with dignity and, as Mr Stevenson did in the end, serve this country faithfully and well across a spectrum of positions of responsibility. Or will he, as Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz will most assuredly will do when they find themselves on the short end of the voters' stick, resort to denial, sulking and blaming everyone but themselves.
4
If he gets too far down the road, expect some pretty seamy stuff. Here's a hint: You'll never have to worry about him selling you a used car; Braman only gives him new ones.
6
The experience that sums up Rubio, in my opinion, is #gulpgate. It's the water bottle event that happened during his GOP response to President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address. It happened when out of the blue he became thirsty yet the nearest drink was a bottle of water located on a stool distinctly out of reach. Nonetheless, he awkwardly leans over, grabs the bottle, takes a sip, and returns the bottle all the while keeping his eyes locked on the camera as if hoping no one noticed.
Hoping no one notices seems to be a metaphor for other of Rubio's behaviors. For example, his self-serving shifts in policy (immigration etc.), his failure to show up for Senate votes, and despite his clear attempts at appearing cool and collected, his apparent lack of maturity which renders him not quite ready to become president and leader of the free world.
Hoping no one notices seems to be a metaphor for other of Rubio's behaviors. For example, his self-serving shifts in policy (immigration etc.), his failure to show up for Senate votes, and despite his clear attempts at appearing cool and collected, his apparent lack of maturity which renders him not quite ready to become president and leader of the free world.
11
Right! Dead right! Because his chances of being the Republican Nominee is - A Gleam of Hope. Unless Trump is struck by lightening or Cruz bitten by a rattle-snake, a Rubio Candidacy seems totally improbable. And the clean, scrubbed young Rubios seem to have many bones in the family closet.A $400,000 cotton candy from his billionaire godfather seemed... just sugar. But a brother-in-law who is a felon being helped by the young Senator's Office - now that is a big No-No on the way to the Office of the President. 2016 - The year of Tabloid News from serious newspapers.
7
I'm not sure why I keep reading that Rubio is a talented politician. Doesn't it take more than a great smile and a nice head of hair to succeed in politics? So what if he's glib? He's also lazy and hasn't shown any real interest in his current job. Being the alternative to Trump and Cruz is all there is to Rubio. That doesn't translate to "gifted politician" in my book.
20
reSUSANPIPER:Actually, Marco Rubio's hair is thinning, and I have a hunch that in a few years he will have what the French delicately call, "les cheveux clairsemes." No cure for that. Hair frames the face, without it one's physiognomy takes on a hard look: end of Mr. Baby Face.So, this may be MR's one and only chance to become chief of state, while he still has a head of hair left, although kept in place with ample amounts of gel. And looks count in a presidential candidate. How many voters in 1948 were turned off by Dewey's mustache? Would JFK and RFK had been elected if they looked like Jacob Javits,good senator but bald as a cue ball?
Ho hum. Who cares which of these fools wins? Whoever does will get blasted by Clinton. I'm not voting for any of them, Clinton included, because they are all a mess, as most of the American people realize.
6
Yes, everyone in America should sit back and wait until the two parties come up with a stellar candidate, a philosopher king, who is worthy of their vote. Because that's how elections work.
No, the point of an election is to choose. And the more we participate in choosing, the better the choices become over time. In the absence of choosing, we get nightmares like Kentucky's Matt Bevin. Not to mention Tea Party wannabes like the current crop.
Being an american citizen carries responsibilities. Voting is one of them.
No, the point of an election is to choose. And the more we participate in choosing, the better the choices become over time. In the absence of choosing, we get nightmares like Kentucky's Matt Bevin. Not to mention Tea Party wannabes like the current crop.
Being an american citizen carries responsibilities. Voting is one of them.
4
With you not voting you should not complain when the next financial crisis comes and the Republican White House will look exactly as Marco does in times of stress--a deer in the headlights. Then when your savings, your house and your job vanish whom will you have to blame?
2
Calling Rubio the “Republican Obama” is nuts!
Rubio goes to two junior colleges, then graduates in political science from the Florida and law degree from Miami-(Party Central--Playboy named Florida and Miami two of its top ten party schools--again), now an assistant instructor in undergrad political science at FIU.
Hardly Columbia, Harvard Law and Law Editor...and professor at the University of Chicago Law School in Constitutional Law. My former classmate is the president at Florida International University but he hasn’t brought Rubio into FIU’s law school as a prof.
Obama is an adult. No drama Obama has changed his position on high level policies (sending troops back into Iraq and Afghanistan, re-thinking same sex marriage) and I have respect for politicians who incorporate new ideas and change policies. After all the only people who never change their minds are dead men or fools. Obama has remained centrist in his last 7 years...though some of us are hoping for a few more progressive policies this last year.
But Rubio? Good God he calls himself a Catholic yet goes to an evangelical Protestant service on Saturdays and then Catholic Mass on Sundays!! Rubio an “anchor baby” (neither parent was a US citizen when Marco was born in Miami, FL) was originally one of the eight legislators who wrote a comprehensive immigration bill--a bill DESPERATELY needed and wanted by the majority of Americans--yet now he has flipped 180 degrees and refuses even the Dreamers!
Rubio goes to two junior colleges, then graduates in political science from the Florida and law degree from Miami-(Party Central--Playboy named Florida and Miami two of its top ten party schools--again), now an assistant instructor in undergrad political science at FIU.
Hardly Columbia, Harvard Law and Law Editor...and professor at the University of Chicago Law School in Constitutional Law. My former classmate is the president at Florida International University but he hasn’t brought Rubio into FIU’s law school as a prof.
Obama is an adult. No drama Obama has changed his position on high level policies (sending troops back into Iraq and Afghanistan, re-thinking same sex marriage) and I have respect for politicians who incorporate new ideas and change policies. After all the only people who never change their minds are dead men or fools. Obama has remained centrist in his last 7 years...though some of us are hoping for a few more progressive policies this last year.
But Rubio? Good God he calls himself a Catholic yet goes to an evangelical Protestant service on Saturdays and then Catholic Mass on Sundays!! Rubio an “anchor baby” (neither parent was a US citizen when Marco was born in Miami, FL) was originally one of the eight legislators who wrote a comprehensive immigration bill--a bill DESPERATELY needed and wanted by the majority of Americans--yet now he has flipped 180 degrees and refuses even the Dreamers!
32
Obama is a joke, a Poser. Just as Rubio thinks that because he is in U.S. Senate, he can quit, like Obama did and run for POTUS. Didn't work for Obama, he handed ACA to Pelosi to screw up, yanked troops out of Iraq without a plan, created instability in Egypt, Lybia, Iraq and Syria. The IRS, Benghazi, Red lines, importing illegals, and maybe worst of all, trashing the US Constitution he claims to be an expert on. He only changed his view on marriage because his VP busted his balls on it. He was, is and will always be only about him. PERIOD
reNUSCHLER: We will never know whether Obama's achievements are based on merit,or due to more subjective factors. We do know that he has seldom been anything but deceitful with the American people, whether the subject is ACA, shovel ready jobs, or border security, which is so languid it is laughable. Ask any Honduran who has walked across w/o so much as a bye-your leave.We also know that Obama has never come clean re his relationship with Anthony RESKO, the convicted mobster and the sale for a pittance of that choice parcel of land to Obamawithin the city of Chicago. Rubio may not be your ideal candidate,nor mine, but I don't think he would use his ethnic background as a way of shielding himself from criticism, or make speeches denigrating rural whites as is the case with Obama. O was elected to unite the nation--"No blue states, no red states, but the United States"--and we are facing more turmoil than ever. All of the merciless criticism of MR makes me almost sympathetic to him. Finally, later with the name dropping, if you please.
This election, Republicans will not vote for paradoxes, they will vote for true believers --- sorry Marco..
5
When asked about climate change, Rubio famously refused to comment saying, "I am not a scientist." Well, he is not a diplomat, doctor, economist, mathematician, garbage collector, farmer, policeman, social worker, soldier, engineer, fireman, nurse, builder, businessman, accountant, architect, factory worker, plumber, secretary, file clerk, sociologist, logician (obviously), painter, etc., etc., etc.
Sounds like an ideal Republican candidate for President!
Sounds like an ideal Republican candidate for President!
33
Yes, he is definitely triangulating. He will try one angle or another.
Yes, he is young. Optimism is often a companion. If he loses, he will return. He will continue to kowtow to the guys with the big bucks. That seems to be his greatest strength. He's a politician's politician nothing more.
Yes, he is young. Optimism is often a companion. If he loses, he will return. He will continue to kowtow to the guys with the big bucks. That seems to be his greatest strength. He's a politician's politician nothing more.
8
Frank.
At what point do you and the Democrats address the fact that Hillary very well may have compromised national security when she sent and received confidential and top secret emails over her private server? That doesn't rise to the level of importance but this column does?? I don't have a problem with you and the Times only examining our candidates. It's what I expect and I certainly don't expect an objective analysis. But to ignore the obvious does not mean it was suddenly it doesn't become a factor because in the general election it will be a focal point.
Hillary also is not the champion of the middle class despite what her team says I don't know of any other candidates who made $25.3 million during 2013-2015 making speeches. She's as beholden to her fat cats from Wall Street as anyone.
She took foreign money from governments in violation the agreement she signed with Obama
If Hillary is willing to defy Obama what else is she willing to do?
And the State Department is trying to protect her as well. They had to comply with turing over emails not because they wanted to but because of FOI lawsuits.And they turned the last batch at 4pm on Christmas Eve Now that's pathetic.
I don't get real interested until after South Carolina, By then Kasich, Gilmore Paul and Santrorum hopefully will have folded their tents. and
Democrats can mock our candidates every day but the fact is they're up on the stage and you're not Reality is what it is.
At what point do you and the Democrats address the fact that Hillary very well may have compromised national security when she sent and received confidential and top secret emails over her private server? That doesn't rise to the level of importance but this column does?? I don't have a problem with you and the Times only examining our candidates. It's what I expect and I certainly don't expect an objective analysis. But to ignore the obvious does not mean it was suddenly it doesn't become a factor because in the general election it will be a focal point.
Hillary also is not the champion of the middle class despite what her team says I don't know of any other candidates who made $25.3 million during 2013-2015 making speeches. She's as beholden to her fat cats from Wall Street as anyone.
She took foreign money from governments in violation the agreement she signed with Obama
If Hillary is willing to defy Obama what else is she willing to do?
And the State Department is trying to protect her as well. They had to comply with turing over emails not because they wanted to but because of FOI lawsuits.And they turned the last batch at 4pm on Christmas Eve Now that's pathetic.
I don't get real interested until after South Carolina, By then Kasich, Gilmore Paul and Santrorum hopefully will have folded their tents. and
Democrats can mock our candidates every day but the fact is they're up on the stage and you're not Reality is what it is.
2
Because for some unknown reason Hillary is already crowned Queen of the US by the Times. Most Democrats (and most Democratic women, as well,) are not even happy with this.
1
Well Healed, did you notice that Petraeus got a wrist slap for actually passing top secret material to his paramour. I never heard Fox News screaming about that, did you? Violating security as Dick Cheney did when he outed Vakerie Plame p[utting all her field contacts in mortal danger was brushed off. It's all OK when the right wing does it, right?
8
These observations about Clinton are accurate, but Rubio is just another ABBT or ABBC hope of the GOP and the media. Rubio is a flip flopper, not because he's rethought his position, but because he's been told to change his position to garner more support. In short, he is not principled in his positions or the evolution of his principles.
2
I've often wondered why the Clinton campaign has leaked that their biggest fear is Marco Rubio as the Republican nominee. The man oozes unctuousness. Pay off a college loan? Nah. I'll buy a new boat. Ex-con brother-in-law needs a real estate license? What the hell, I'll use government sponsored stationary - the people's stationary - to write a letter persuading the FL real estate licensing board that a coke dealer has turned his life around (but I won't let felons every vote in my state again.) Immigration reform? Well, I was for it before I was against it.
The man is Gordian knot of contradictons and I think the Clinton team needs to worry less about potential Republican nominees and start thinking about their left flank in the form of Bernie Sanders. After all, as the paper of record noted today, "The campaign said more than one million individual donors had made more than 2.5 million contributions, passing President Obama’s previous record of about 2.2 million for the number of individual donations, which was set at the end of 2011."
The man is Gordian knot of contradictons and I think the Clinton team needs to worry less about potential Republican nominees and start thinking about their left flank in the form of Bernie Sanders. After all, as the paper of record noted today, "The campaign said more than one million individual donors had made more than 2.5 million contributions, passing President Obama’s previous record of about 2.2 million for the number of individual donations, which was set at the end of 2011."
4
That Rubio guy! We were dead broke when we left WH, Relative gets mining contract in Haiti while Sec. State, son in law apparently got some perks as well, Iraq Invasion, for it before I was against it; Russia reset, Lybia and Benghazi. That's why HRC doesn't deserve to be POTUS, she like President Obama doesn't know what the truth is. Period...
The Clinton campaign needs to worry about the insincerity of Clinton.
Marco Rubio is posere. He stands for nothing except himself. He will not win the presidential tour of duty and he will be lucky to keep his seat in the senate. Guess he can always go to work for his used car sugar daddy.
4
Maybe "Trump could implode," at any moment anyway, as Mr. Bruni suggests. If so, after his frequent, loud excesses at self-implosion that moment might be is cause for great curiosity. Perhaps he'll self-implode himself all the way to the GOP nomination.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
6
Sounds like Bruni just took his opportunity to knock Rubio more out of fear that he beats Hillary in head-to-head than any sincere interest in the Republican primary.
It's true that he's not leading in any of the first three primaries. But two of those three (IO, SC) are more conservative than the GOP primary as a whole. People forget (though NYT Nate Cohn pointed it out) that more than 40% of the delegates come from blue states like NY and CA that Republicans would never win in the general.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/upshot/the-surprising-power-of-blue-st...
Regarding NH, the moderates like Rubio are actually dominating the far-right. However, this support is simply divided among too many candidates to be effective - Christie, Rubio, Kasich, Bush, etc.
When Bruni says this - "Rubio can’t claim a singularly formidable campaign organization, with a remarkably robust platoon of ground troops." - he forgets about the 4th (and maybe most important) early primary - NV. Rubio grew up in NV and has an established infrastructure there.
Lastly, one of the most important thing in politics is expectations. It's one lesson that Trump hasn't learned. If he loses in IO (to Cruz), his whole aura of invincibility may come crashing down. By contrast, Rubio has set relatively low expectations and will have an easier time surpassing them.
It's true that he's not leading in any of the first three primaries. But two of those three (IO, SC) are more conservative than the GOP primary as a whole. People forget (though NYT Nate Cohn pointed it out) that more than 40% of the delegates come from blue states like NY and CA that Republicans would never win in the general.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/upshot/the-surprising-power-of-blue-st...
Regarding NH, the moderates like Rubio are actually dominating the far-right. However, this support is simply divided among too many candidates to be effective - Christie, Rubio, Kasich, Bush, etc.
When Bruni says this - "Rubio can’t claim a singularly formidable campaign organization, with a remarkably robust platoon of ground troops." - he forgets about the 4th (and maybe most important) early primary - NV. Rubio grew up in NV and has an established infrastructure there.
Lastly, one of the most important thing in politics is expectations. It's one lesson that Trump hasn't learned. If he loses in IO (to Cruz), his whole aura of invincibility may come crashing down. By contrast, Rubio has set relatively low expectations and will have an easier time surpassing them.
1
Very hard to be a grown-up and understand how the republican party can offer ANY of the current candidates as reasonable presidential timber, To me, it like seeing a half-dozen ersatz Sara Palins declaiming mindlessly on subjects for which they are eminently unsuited and unqualified to pronounce upon.
The fact that I am completely unable to understand how a single one of the republican offerings could ever be considered qualified to be president worries me. It makes me think I am missing something very important--or perhaps it is the republican electorate that is missing something?
Yes, Hillary can be icky and Bernie seems like an old lefty but both are serious and cogent. How sad that the process we have created (interminable, bloated and vicious) has scared away all but these characters from wanting to serve. Where's Bloomberg or Gates?
Shame on us.
The fact that I am completely unable to understand how a single one of the republican offerings could ever be considered qualified to be president worries me. It makes me think I am missing something very important--or perhaps it is the republican electorate that is missing something?
Yes, Hillary can be icky and Bernie seems like an old lefty but both are serious and cogent. How sad that the process we have created (interminable, bloated and vicious) has scared away all but these characters from wanting to serve. Where's Bloomberg or Gates?
Shame on us.
4
This guy is another GWB: an empty suit. "There is no there there" should have been written to describe certain politicians, not Oakland, where there is lots of there.
"Could he burn out before he ever catches fire?"
One can only hope.
"Could he burn out before he ever catches fire?"
One can only hope.
5
Bruni tries to mar Rubio with the taint of scandal by noting that Rubio wrote a letter, for a relative, in support of the relative's application for a license to sell real estate. The relative had been found guilty of trading cocaine.
Bruni is just plain wrong. One can commit a crime and still be able and suitable for a particular position. After one has atoned for his crime, or suffered the imposition of a criminal penalty, one should be able to get a job or a license to earn a livelihood (Unless we want all ex cons to subsist on the dole)
Bruni is just plain wrong. One can commit a crime and still be able and suitable for a particular position. After one has atoned for his crime, or suffered the imposition of a criminal penalty, one should be able to get a job or a license to earn a livelihood (Unless we want all ex cons to subsist on the dole)
1
Though I could name myriad other disqualifiers for Rubio, all quite serious and concerning, the clearest lately is his utter reticence to take a stand or act with conviction. He has little interest in what goes on in Washington, else he would be there, making the necessary noise to attract attention. He clearly does not want to be encumbered by a record. He is more than lazy; he is a place-holder. He has no ambition other than doing the bidding for a power group who will see to it that he's well fixed for his after-presidency.
6
There are many reasons why it could be Rubio! And not Jeb!, especially the Not-Trump reasons, but I don't understand why being "attractive" is on this list. Collins mentioned the same thing recently.
In which part of the country is Rubio! considered attractive? Doesn't his comb-over say a lot about his self-delusion, and also put him out of the "attractive" category?
In which part of the country is Rubio! considered attractive? Doesn't his comb-over say a lot about his self-delusion, and also put him out of the "attractive" category?
5
Rubio has had the same part in his hair since he was a kid. Check out the Time article showing pics throughout his life. Discussions re his looks are not substantive. I see a lot of comments on his hair rather than his positions,which tells me you are grasping at straws.
1
We who know about this guy here in Florida vote him off our soon-to-be-island! He is so dishonest. He can't even balance his own accounts, borrows from very shady characters, and, of course, is being paid to be our senator with a no-show record that would, were he really working somewhere, put him on the unemployed roll. He is one sick puppy! And he is soooo not the GOP version of Obama. Or maybe he is since the GOP has decided that they don't want anyone who is actually honest and is actualy presidential.
1
He's too establishment for white folks Frank and GOP primary voters are white folks . They've gone off the reservation. They don't like the de-industrialization of the country that bipartisan trade bills brought us. They're tired of seeing their children come home damaged or dead from useless and poorly executed wars green lighted by Hillary Clinton and her fellow hawks across the aisle. They're frightened by the heroin epidemic and they think no one cares. They're tired of being the assigned oppressor for every victim group in the country.
White folks are not playing their assigned role anymore and it's messing everything up. They don't want to date the the nice boys their elders picked out for them. Why can't they be more reasonable? Jeb and Marco are such nice boys honey. They won't upset the apple cart.
White folks are not playing their assigned role anymore and it's messing everything up. They don't want to date the the nice boys their elders picked out for them. Why can't they be more reasonable? Jeb and Marco are such nice boys honey. They won't upset the apple cart.
3
Marco Rubio has to be the laziest presidential candidate in our entire history. He's not working for the people of Florida in the US Senate, we all know that. If I lived in Florida, I'd demand he quit so that someone else could represent me. He and Christie are perfect examples of why one who already holds an elected office should quit if they want to run for president (since our POTUS elections run two years or more). Christie is stealing tax dollars from the people of NJ and Rubio from Floridians. There has to be a better way.
Marco has appealing looks. That's it. If that's how we judge our presidents, then I hope we just hurry up, elect him and completely fail as a functioning democracy
Marco has appealing looks. That's it. If that's how we judge our presidents, then I hope we just hurry up, elect him and completely fail as a functioning democracy
6
@sofia and others." Lazy" could be construed as a racial slur. Is that what you intended?
1
This reads like Mr. Bruni is the one who's triangulating.
2
Scientists believe that much of pancake-flat Florida will be underwater in a few decades. Or less. Already parts of Florida are prone to flooding coming up through the sewer systems. And what brave forward-thinker did the Floridians elect to lead them in the fight against this disastrous catastrophe? Why, they voted for climate-denier Marco "I'm Not A Scientist" Rubio, of course. Let's hope the people of United States are not as stupid as the voters in Florida.
22
This columnist really has a soft spot in his heart -- and his thinking -- for Rubio. Rubio is as far-right as Cruz, as mean-spirited in his policies, and in his proudly proclaimed ignorance about global warming. He opposes abortion even when an underaged girl is raped by her father or brother. Or when any woman is raped. Except for zombie Republicans, and lots of old white guys (part of the former category), does anyone think his abortion positions will be popular with female voters. He is corrupt and lazy, for good measure. Bored with his current job, he doesn't show up. He and his wife amass mountains of speeding tickets -- no problem. He "helps" a relative who currently lives with this mother, and who socked away $15 million in heroin profits -- no problem. This guy should be at 1% in the polls, and Bruni is still pulling for him. The fact is, he is no Obama or Clinton: he is intellectually flaccid, a liar, and a truant. How on earth is he in any way to be considered ready for the presidency by serious people? He is flyweight who is deft at evading questions and lying outright. If columnists like this one put in some solid time investigating this guy, they could retain some degree of respect. It is a disgrace that the press is giving a con man like Rubio such an easy ride. Add to all this the fact that, like the other so-called contenders in the Republican Party, he doesn't have the guts to call out Trump on his bigotry and racism. Some Latino champion.
42
'The nimbleness with which (Rubio) debates' can be explained by the fact that he isn't impeded by evidence. Anyone could be a great debater if allowed to simply make stuff up. I recall one of the debates during which he argued for beefing up our already bloated military. He basically declaimed (to great applause) that he for one felt more secure with a US military second to none. Had I been one of the moderators, I would have asked him how having the most expensive military of all helped us in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Yes, it's easy to make rousing speeches which are informed by passion if not by analytical thought.
When questioned about climate change, he claims not to be a scientist. He might be more honest by admitting an aversion to thinking issues through before taking impassioned stances on them.
When questioned about climate change, he claims not to be a scientist. He might be more honest by admitting an aversion to thinking issues through before taking impassioned stances on them.
20
"Had I been one of the moderators, I would have asked him how having the most expensive military of all helped us in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan"
An unfair question. These "wars" are more about containment than winning. You could have also mentioned Korea where we still have troops after 60 years of a "truce".
Wars must be fought to the point of unconditional surrender. We didn't worry about public opinion in WW2 as we carpet bombed our way across Europe and reduced cities like Dresden to ashes. Other than a few bleeding hearts who concerns themselves with Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Without the will to win we will be stuck in these swamps and deserts forever, never gaining and never losing until the American people pressure the government to end the charade and stop wasting American lives and treasure.
An unfair question. These "wars" are more about containment than winning. You could have also mentioned Korea where we still have troops after 60 years of a "truce".
Wars must be fought to the point of unconditional surrender. We didn't worry about public opinion in WW2 as we carpet bombed our way across Europe and reduced cities like Dresden to ashes. Other than a few bleeding hearts who concerns themselves with Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Without the will to win we will be stuck in these swamps and deserts forever, never gaining and never losing until the American people pressure the government to end the charade and stop wasting American lives and treasure.
Comparing Rubio with either Clinton or Obama, even with the slightest suggestion that he might be an equivalent in some fashion, omits consideration of what at least some Americans consider important: sheer brainpower. In a debate with either he'd be an unarmed opponent, stuck polishing the Admiralty doorknob. In an actual administration, he'd be at least as helpless as W.
7
RE: Just last week, The Washington Post reported that in 2002, when he was the majority whip in the Florida House of Representatives, he used statehouse stationery to write a letter in support of a real estate license for his sister’s husband, who had served 12 years in federal prison for distributing $15 million worth of cocaine.
Going to bat for family or in-laws no matter how odious is hardly a fault. Gosh compare this to all the Clintons have done. This is nothing.
Going to bat for family or in-laws no matter how odious is hardly a fault. Gosh compare this to all the Clintons have done. This is nothing.
1
Bruni says that Rubio is "smoother" than the rest. I say that he's "slick". Slick to "triangulate" his views, which is another term for him to say whatever is convenient at the moment.
The fact that he attends two churches is a perfect example of him pandering to evangelical conservatives while still being slick enough to run and duck for cover when it suits him.
He's a slick talker and debater, I'll give him that, but parsed words and views only leave the door open to say what is convenient when the time comes later.
He's as slick as a slippery eel, wriggling enough so that he wont be pinned down.
Is his ability to bring some Latino's to the GOP enough to qualify him for the White House?
Absolutely not! At least an eel has some substance.
The fact that he attends two churches is a perfect example of him pandering to evangelical conservatives while still being slick enough to run and duck for cover when it suits him.
He's a slick talker and debater, I'll give him that, but parsed words and views only leave the door open to say what is convenient when the time comes later.
He's as slick as a slippery eel, wriggling enough so that he wont be pinned down.
Is his ability to bring some Latino's to the GOP enough to qualify him for the White House?
Absolutely not! At least an eel has some substance.
3
Why has Frank Bruni's blog continued to be a Rubio advertisement for months and months on the NYTimes Opinion page?
7
I think that Marco Rubio definitely has the oratory and political skills to get the nomination. He also has a very strong story. His student loans and the story of his father definitely can resonate with many people. As someone with student loans after graduate school, I can definitely understand where he is coming from. I think Trump and Cruz have an audience, but Rubio has a strong chance of swaying the moderates and possibly even taking some votes from the Cruz and Trump crowd. If Rubio seizes the nomination, I could see a Rubio/Kasich ticket for 2016.
1
" If Rubio seizes the nomination, I could see a Rubio/Kasich ticket for 2016.
Only a Democrat or RINO could hold to such an opinion.
In the last election four million Conservatives stayed home. They will get the candidate of their choice or the Republicans will go the way of the Whigs.
Only a Democrat or RINO could hold to such an opinion.
In the last election four million Conservatives stayed home. They will get the candidate of their choice or the Republicans will go the way of the Whigs.
1
Rubio's background is crumbling in the light of day. Perhaps that is the reason we do not see Mr. Rubio that much anymore. Sad that this marginal candidate is the hope of the Republican establishment.
2
At this moment, yes, by removing the "unthinkable" candidates like Trump and Cruz, by process of elimination and current polling data logically you arrive at Rubio.
A man who stands for nothing except naked ambition.
At least we know Cruz "wants" to find out if he can make sand glow in the dark and eliminate the IRS. With Rubio, it's impossible to know what he really stands for, because he doesn't "stand" for anything except what he feels will get him the nomination.
If the GOP had any sense at all, they would nominate Kasich, who is the only sane, plausibly competent candidate they have that could beat Hillary Clinton.
Kasich is the one guy who could give democratic operatives sleepless nights, he's got to be the nightmare scenario.
Which is kind of funny, because one would think the GOP would like to get behind a candidate who could win, and Kasich is about a minute away from being out of the race.
That's what happens when at least half of your party thinks electing a president is really just a non stop reality tv show.
A man who stands for nothing except naked ambition.
At least we know Cruz "wants" to find out if he can make sand glow in the dark and eliminate the IRS. With Rubio, it's impossible to know what he really stands for, because he doesn't "stand" for anything except what he feels will get him the nomination.
If the GOP had any sense at all, they would nominate Kasich, who is the only sane, plausibly competent candidate they have that could beat Hillary Clinton.
Kasich is the one guy who could give democratic operatives sleepless nights, he's got to be the nightmare scenario.
Which is kind of funny, because one would think the GOP would like to get behind a candidate who could win, and Kasich is about a minute away from being out of the race.
That's what happens when at least half of your party thinks electing a president is really just a non stop reality tv show.
3
Huntsman would be a better choice -- Kasich is just another ALEC/Koch brothers droid.
1
Agreed, but they already ran him out of town.
That old cliche about the "inmates running the asylum" could not be more appropriate for the state of GOP presidential politics.
For this cycle, Kasich is their best shot. He could be a nightmare in the swing states like Ohio, Colorado, PA, FL and VA that the dems. have come to rely on in the last two elections.
That old cliche about the "inmates running the asylum" could not be more appropriate for the state of GOP presidential politics.
For this cycle, Kasich is their best shot. He could be a nightmare in the swing states like Ohio, Colorado, PA, FL and VA that the dems. have come to rely on in the last two elections.
1
I call Rubio the Georgie Porgie candidate. He was instrumental in getting the Immigration Bill passed by the Senate. But when the critics (Limbaugh, Hannitty etc.) started going after him crying amnesty, he hurredly backed down. When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away!
If he can't stand up to Limbaugh et al, how is he going to stand up to Putin?
If he can't stand up to Limbaugh et al, how is he going to stand up to Putin?
5
He strikes me as a Republican Frank Underwood.
The shallowness of American politics is reflected on the fact that, if he were not young, handsome and spoke well... he would be relegated to the also-ran pile.
Think back for a moment:
1. Caught red handed in his misuse of the RNC credit card. He of course when through the required "oh my god it's a mistake" retraction. But, wink wink, we all know he would have never paid anything back if a newspaper had not called him out.
2. Almost-foreclosed house in Tallhassee.
3. Used his political influence to directly benefit an inlaw, getting a real estate license to a convicted drug trafficker just because he's family
4. Caught lying about his parents, calling them refugees when they had, in fact, left Cuba way before Castro.
The guy is just a politician for hire.
Think back for a moment:
1. Caught red handed in his misuse of the RNC credit card. He of course when through the required "oh my god it's a mistake" retraction. But, wink wink, we all know he would have never paid anything back if a newspaper had not called him out.
2. Almost-foreclosed house in Tallhassee.
3. Used his political influence to directly benefit an inlaw, getting a real estate license to a convicted drug trafficker just because he's family
4. Caught lying about his parents, calling them refugees when they had, in fact, left Cuba way before Castro.
The guy is just a politician for hire.
8
"He’s frequently been called the Republican Obama..."says it all, a zero.
1
Zero + zero='s what? We as common American's are hoping and praying that a: Lincoln or Washington is out there somewhere? Mythical hopes transform into listening to political rhetoric on the political trail of lies. Both parties which includes the, left wing Republican I label as the, "Tea Party," are struggling for concrete problems for the next decade and have a very big lack of solutions.Take the example of Trump, build a wall to stop illegals, while the most notorious criminal escaped via under ground tunnels. Solutions are usually predicated on the ability to solve a problem, not create a bigger one. Pollution, population control, using the earth's natural resources without totally destroying it, creating solutions not bigger problems should be a think tank of ideas spewing from the political forums, not personal political attacks on each politician, that detracts away from the real issues. Issues like job creativity etc,. Solutions the private sector can build off of and the country prospers from. Where are you Abe Lincolns of the country, please step up on the political scene for, "THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE." Now I must wake up from my dream.
3
I am at a loss as to another column about Rubio. I guess speeding tickets and student loans weren't enough
Is Rubio flawed? Of course he is. If he wasn't he wouldn't be human. But polls can be wrong and often are. I recall the Chicago Tribune had a picture of a guy holding a paper with the heading "Truman Wins" And when he declared did anyone give Obama a chance? Yet he made history. Polls are often misleading.
You can talk about his lack of voting but Obama missed 134 votes not including the times he voted "present" Obama had less than 3 years in the Senate when he declared. Why does no one talk about that?
Hillary only sponsored one bill and co sponsored 3 while in the Senate. To say her record was not earth shattering is putting it mildly.
I am not voting for Rubio. He clearly memorizes his remarks for the debates and it just seems too scripted. He's just too cocky for me.
But what is clear is Bruni is not interested in policy discusssions but he's trying to avoid talking about the elephant in the room. The FBI investigation of Hillary's emails This is not a partisan action so you can't go there like you did Benghazi. Why can't we have an honest discussion about this? Democrats had a field day mocking Gowdy after she testified. But I don't hear any of you wanting crow about this. Why?
Micro analyzing personalities does not win elections and no matter how many columns are written they will have little or no impact on the outcome. Leave attacks out of it. It's juvenile
Is Rubio flawed? Of course he is. If he wasn't he wouldn't be human. But polls can be wrong and often are. I recall the Chicago Tribune had a picture of a guy holding a paper with the heading "Truman Wins" And when he declared did anyone give Obama a chance? Yet he made history. Polls are often misleading.
You can talk about his lack of voting but Obama missed 134 votes not including the times he voted "present" Obama had less than 3 years in the Senate when he declared. Why does no one talk about that?
Hillary only sponsored one bill and co sponsored 3 while in the Senate. To say her record was not earth shattering is putting it mildly.
I am not voting for Rubio. He clearly memorizes his remarks for the debates and it just seems too scripted. He's just too cocky for me.
But what is clear is Bruni is not interested in policy discusssions but he's trying to avoid talking about the elephant in the room. The FBI investigation of Hillary's emails This is not a partisan action so you can't go there like you did Benghazi. Why can't we have an honest discussion about this? Democrats had a field day mocking Gowdy after she testified. But I don't hear any of you wanting crow about this. Why?
Micro analyzing personalities does not win elections and no matter how many columns are written they will have little or no impact on the outcome. Leave attacks out of it. It's juvenile
2
This is only an elephant in the room for partisan Republicans desperate to knock Hillary out. There hasn't been an intelligent conversation since Republicans took over the House.
1
Mr. Rubio (and I believe all incumbents pr professional politicians) offers just more of the same that has totally bankrupted our nation and created a government rife with corruption.
We let this happen. We let these "representatives" get away with this behavior and we are now paying a HUGE price.
I have but a single vote and will, in the primaries and the general election, NOT vote for any incumbent or "professional politician". I will vote against them all until we turn our nation around.
We let this happen. We let these "representatives" get away with this behavior and we are now paying a HUGE price.
I have but a single vote and will, in the primaries and the general election, NOT vote for any incumbent or "professional politician". I will vote against them all until we turn our nation around.
2
"In fact the rap on Rubio is that he counts too much on them and spends too little time on the trail. "
He's not on the campaign trail, he just missed another of many Senate votes. What DOES he do? Just take money and orders from Norman Braman and Sheldon Adelson?
Incurious, not hard working...sounds like the last nightmare the Republicans gave us as President.
He's not on the campaign trail, he just missed another of many Senate votes. What DOES he do? Just take money and orders from Norman Braman and Sheldon Adelson?
Incurious, not hard working...sounds like the last nightmare the Republicans gave us as President.
13
Marco Rubio is not "poised for victory" any more than is The Donald. Slick as Bill Clinton? Never. Marco is a 44 year old GOP Florida shape-shifter, a chimera, a "teetering stack of paradoxes". With the plethora of negatives against him, I can't figure why you, Frank, still buy the argument that "he's the one to watch". Are you trying to make good on your words, reproduced daily here in the Opinion Section - under "Latest from the Opinion Blogs"- that we have read every single day since you posted it on 11 March 2015, at 10:20 a.m. - that your readers have seen here on the Opinion Page for the past 11 months: "You ill be hearing a lot more about Marco Rubio." Is that daily reminder meant to frighten us? How about a public editor at the Times deleting your daily words of wisdom that appear to be graven in stone, but that aren't worth reading any longer? That don't mean diddly. The Millenials are looking at Bernie Sanders - a white-haired dude old eough to be Marco's Daddy. but young in his values that appeal to America's youngest voters this year. Rubio is Waldo, and everyone is asking "where's Waldo?" Where's Rubio, Frank?
12
You really don't understand ?
Uhh ... the other Republican candidates, maybe.
Uhh ... the other Republican candidates, maybe.
2
Once before, a new face arrived to save the Republicans from an epidemic of banality: Dwight Eisenhower. Unfortunately, Rubio not only is no Eisenhower, he isn't even Col. Klink.
8
There is no front-runner. The Republican Primary and Party is a ship of fools riding against a tide of common sense that will one day make this country great without them.
12
If you want to know about M. R. read the Miami Herald Newspaper (political columnists) for the last four years or more. Check with all the political writers of the Miami Herald. Read their columns. A person to check also is former US. Congressmen Rivera, M.R's good friend.
Anthony.
Anthony.
2
From everything I can tell, Rubio's simply not that invested in the hard work involved in a presidential campaign. As he also seems to think his current Senate job is not the worth the effort either, a more complete picture of him beyond the hype and media puffing is becoming clearer.
One wonders if many if not all of the Republican presidential candidates are like the proverbial dog who chases cars - what would he do if he were ever to catch one?
One wonders if many if not all of the Republican presidential candidates are like the proverbial dog who chases cars - what would he do if he were ever to catch one?
8
Mr. Rubio is too slick by half. He is not a pragmatist but rather a consummate opportunist. He says whatever is necessary to get through the next interview. He stands for nothing.
His well rehearsed narrative of his background has grown long in the tooth. His dissing of his mentor, Mr. Bush, speaks volumes about his trustworthiness.
All of the Republican candidates have their flaws but each can speak to their accomplishments or their positions on key issues.
Mr. Rubio can point to no such achievements, changes his stance all too often, and does not even bother to show up for important votes. Just memorizing applause lines over & over is not a ticket to the top.
Another fresh young face with an interesting ethnic twist that adds up to nothing more than a naive novice swinging for the fences way before his time.
How about rolling up your sleeves, do the job you were elected to do, and come back and see us in eight or twelve years.
His well rehearsed narrative of his background has grown long in the tooth. His dissing of his mentor, Mr. Bush, speaks volumes about his trustworthiness.
All of the Republican candidates have their flaws but each can speak to their accomplishments or their positions on key issues.
Mr. Rubio can point to no such achievements, changes his stance all too often, and does not even bother to show up for important votes. Just memorizing applause lines over & over is not a ticket to the top.
Another fresh young face with an interesting ethnic twist that adds up to nothing more than a naive novice swinging for the fences way before his time.
How about rolling up your sleeves, do the job you were elected to do, and come back and see us in eight or twelve years.
10
"By dint of his heritage, he’s supposed to represent a much-needed Republican bridge to Latinos. But many of his positions impede that, and several recent polls raise doubts about the strength of his appeal to Latino voters."
Who are "Latino voters?" Cuban-Americans in Miami have little in common with Mexican-Americans in Laredo or Puerto Ricans in New York or immigrants from various Central American countries living in Los Angeles. It is myopic to presume that because someone speaks Spanish (or perhaps that one's parents speak Spanish) that fact would be sufficient to motivate a vote for Rubio. There were 35 million Mexican immigrants living in the US in 2013 according to Pew compared to just two million Cubans. (http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/09/15/the-impact-of-slowing-immigration-... Cuban immigrants have enjoyed a privileged status in the US since the fall of Batista, an experience not share with the rest of Hispanic-speaking community within the US.
Who are "Latino voters?" Cuban-Americans in Miami have little in common with Mexican-Americans in Laredo or Puerto Ricans in New York or immigrants from various Central American countries living in Los Angeles. It is myopic to presume that because someone speaks Spanish (or perhaps that one's parents speak Spanish) that fact would be sufficient to motivate a vote for Rubio. There were 35 million Mexican immigrants living in the US in 2013 according to Pew compared to just two million Cubans. (http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/09/15/the-impact-of-slowing-immigration-... Cuban immigrants have enjoyed a privileged status in the US since the fall of Batista, an experience not share with the rest of Hispanic-speaking community within the US.
20
It seems his strongest suit is that he's not as bad as others.
But he's nauseating.
But he's nauseating.
30
On this page, the Times laughably has a section headed "Latest From the Opinion Blogs."
Was this column making good on your promise of March, 11, 2014, that "You Will Be Hearing a Lot More About Marco Rubio?" Astonishingly, it's not the oldest entry in the "latest." It's a year and a day since Joe (no longer even ON the Opinion Page) Nocera pimped his appearance "Joe on WNYC's 'Money Talking.'"
Was this column making good on your promise of March, 11, 2014, that "You Will Be Hearing a Lot More About Marco Rubio?" Astonishingly, it's not the oldest entry in the "latest." It's a year and a day since Joe (no longer even ON the Opinion Page) Nocera pimped his appearance "Joe on WNYC's 'Money Talking.'"
2
Why does Marco Rubio always make me think of Gertrude Stein's "there is no there there" quote? I guess that's better than thinking about an empty suit.
15
Rubio doesn't have the Trump/Cruz neo-fascist chops so beloved of a portion of the Republican primary electorate, but he is numero uno in the "empty suit" sweepstakes. He's a Latino but sold his natural Latino constituency down the river by backing away from immigration reform when the going got a litlte rough (worth a chapter in my new book "Profiles in Cowardice"). He's a young man but has the ideas of an old man (anti-same sex marriage; global climate change denier; even still carrying an outmoded vendetta against Cuba - young Cuban-Americans are done with that!). He claims to have a compellling personal story, but it's really his PARENTS' story that's compelling -- Marco is little more than an errand boy for Norman Braman. A ticket of Rubio/Kasich might be strong in that they come from important swing states, but maybe that ticket needs to be reversed so Marco can practice at being VP. No comparison to the young senator from Illinois who became President -- Marco is an intellectual midget compared to Barack Obama.
135
Everyone seems to be dancing around the word: Rubio is lazy. If he ever got it together, he might make a decent candidate (not for me, of course, but for some). But no signs of that yet.
11
Rubio is slick but he's lazy. There are others out there that want it more. He'll need a lot of luck to win the nomination.
9
Rubio is the Republican answer to Obama. He's another political neophyte who is simply using the Senate as a stepping stone to the White House. Obama set a really bad precedent in 2008. Why be a dull boring Senator when being president is where the action is.
PS -- does America want a president who bears a strange resemblance to Ricky Ricardo.
PS -- does America want a president who bears a strange resemblance to Ricky Ricardo.
2
Can he sing Babalu?
1
If it would help him get more votes Rubio would play the conga drum and sing Babalu.
2
My family and I will all be voting for Trump, along with many people I know who voted for Obama last election.
WHY????, Simple, he will protect our 2A rights, may secure the border, may do something with ISIS, may control the EPA, and he is:
1. NOT a bible thumper
2. He will not mess with woman and their private medical decisions (abortion)
3. He will not mess with gays
4. He will NOT mess with marijuana users
5. He IS a true small government person, unlike the rest of the bible thumping GOP nuts, who want to use the government to IMPOSE their views on the rest of us. My family will make their OWN decisions, and that includes my daughter
WHY????, Simple, he will protect our 2A rights, may secure the border, may do something with ISIS, may control the EPA, and he is:
1. NOT a bible thumper
2. He will not mess with woman and their private medical decisions (abortion)
3. He will not mess with gays
4. He will NOT mess with marijuana users
5. He IS a true small government person, unlike the rest of the bible thumping GOP nuts, who want to use the government to IMPOSE their views on the rest of us. My family will make their OWN decisions, and that includes my daughter
6
A Republican, I agree with Trump who said of the Iraq War:
We've spent $4 trillion trying to topple various people that, frankly, if they were there and if we could have spent that $4 trillion in the United States to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems — our
airports and all the other problems we have — we would have been a lot better off, I can tell you that right now.
Trump is with the Democrats on this issue, and I will listen to him and vote Democrat for the first time in years.
I thank Donald Trump for showing me the trillion dollar incompetence of the Republican party and will vote for Hillary Clinton, who we has supported for many years, even having them at his very private wedding. He likes them very much and trusts them with America.
We've spent $4 trillion trying to topple various people that, frankly, if they were there and if we could have spent that $4 trillion in the United States to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems — our
airports and all the other problems we have — we would have been a lot better off, I can tell you that right now.
Trump is with the Democrats on this issue, and I will listen to him and vote Democrat for the first time in years.
I thank Donald Trump for showing me the trillion dollar incompetence of the Republican party and will vote for Hillary Clinton, who we has supported for many years, even having them at his very private wedding. He likes them very much and trusts them with America.
2
When Senator Rubio declared that, in so many words, he was not enthralled with the job of representing the entire state of Florida as a Senator in the United States Congress, I lost interest in taking his candidacy with any serious thought. Obviously, if he does not like being a Senator, why in the world would he ever want to be President? His remarks about his elected position, and others, have shocked me enough. No exemption for abortion in case of rape? He has daughters, for goodness sake, and so do most Americans.
44
Marco Rubio is "a trailblazing minority."???? Mr. Bruni, the sometime senator from Florida is a fraud. He's no such thing. He runs from his Latino heritage like a rabbit runs from a fox. As many have noted almost ad nauseum, Rubio claims to be what he never was: the son of Cuban refugees who fought heroically against the nascent Castro regime, then ran down the runway of a country airfield to catch the last liftoff from Red Cuba, hundreds of freedom fighters' bodies littering Cuban jungles, fields and beaches. Rubio is a chameleon, that explains his opaqueness. He's bought, signed, sealed and delivered (thank you, Stevie Wonder), a paid pretty boy of former Philadelphia Eagles owner Norman Braman, the billionaire auto dealer. Rubio stands for nothing and no one but himself, that's why he's dangerous. He mirrors the GOP. His numbers don't add up because he doesn't.
133
Frank I think you've nailed it. I much wanted Rubio to come on strong and free the GOP from Trump and Cruz; but "where is Marco?" is the question. Trump and Cruz have been piling it on here in South Carolina - while Rubio is AWOL.
Meanwhile he continues to miss senate votes. "Is Marco serious?" - is starting to become a serious question. As Bruni observes - Rubio cannot stop Trump and Cruz simply on his debate merits. While they work to build the of so important momentum - Rubio needs to get it on as is said in the fight game - down and dirty - slap the palms - kiss the babies - work the crowd; I have to admit Trump and Cruz are masters of this stuff; they are especially skilled at delivering a crowd thumping speech.
"Could he burn out before he ever catches fire?" Sadly - it does appear so.
Meanwhile he continues to miss senate votes. "Is Marco serious?" - is starting to become a serious question. As Bruni observes - Rubio cannot stop Trump and Cruz simply on his debate merits. While they work to build the of so important momentum - Rubio needs to get it on as is said in the fight game - down and dirty - slap the palms - kiss the babies - work the crowd; I have to admit Trump and Cruz are masters of this stuff; they are especially skilled at delivering a crowd thumping speech.
"Could he burn out before he ever catches fire?" Sadly - it does appear so.
2
Maybe it's his raging lack of sincerity, or his having an excuse for everything - a college graduate who claims he can't tell one credit card from another...his wavering opinions - Folks, Hamlet is running for president!
12
@delee: Rubio doesn't have Hamlet's depth.
4
Given that Slick Marco is being criticized both for spending too little time on the campaign trail and, simultaneously, too much time away from the Senate, the chance he might "burn out" hardly seems likely. But it does leave open the question of where he's spending most of his time.
Nevertheless, hapless JebExclamationPoint is the one forced to wrestle with the "low energy" albatross plopped around his neck by The Donald. Indeed, life is unfair, even in the clown car.
Triangulation is another kettle of fish altogether. No one in either party can outtriangulate or outpander Mrs. Clinton or her husband, who patented the process, so Sen. Rubio's White House calculus is largely based on the bet that all of his opponents will self-destruct.
Not exactly what most people define as leadership.
Nevertheless, hapless JebExclamationPoint is the one forced to wrestle with the "low energy" albatross plopped around his neck by The Donald. Indeed, life is unfair, even in the clown car.
Triangulation is another kettle of fish altogether. No one in either party can outtriangulate or outpander Mrs. Clinton or her husband, who patented the process, so Sen. Rubio's White House calculus is largely based on the bet that all of his opponents will self-destruct.
Not exactly what most people define as leadership.
8
Just Google "Rubio Nelson State of the Union" and you'll be rewarded with photos of Rubio sitting next to Bill Nelson, Florida's senior senator, looking like he's four years old and just been told to eat his peas or he'll get no dessert.
Marco Rubio has the character of a spoiled child. He's played very loosely with his personal finances and generally disdains rules - like the one that says you don't use somebody else's credit card to buy stuff for yourself.
He comes from a Republican Party culture in Florida that chooses its House Speaker Designate four election cycles in advance, so confident of their lock on power despite there being half a million more Democrats than Republicans in the state.
He found the mother of all sweet spots when, fresh out of the Florida House, he chose to run for US Senate in the Tea Party wave year of 2010 - when Republican Governor Charlie Crist decided to also go for the Senate, failed to get the Republican nomination, switched to an Independent, and divided the non-Tea Party votes.
Now Rubio sees destiny in the mirror every morning. He's proposed a Constitutional Convention under Article V to rewrite our founding document - and the commentators call him a "moderate". Unbelievable!
For Republicans pining for a Rubio nomination, I say watch out what you wish for. Character is everything in a presidential election, and Rubio's air of entitlement and abrasiveness will shine through in the campaign.
Marco Rubio has the character of a spoiled child. He's played very loosely with his personal finances and generally disdains rules - like the one that says you don't use somebody else's credit card to buy stuff for yourself.
He comes from a Republican Party culture in Florida that chooses its House Speaker Designate four election cycles in advance, so confident of their lock on power despite there being half a million more Democrats than Republicans in the state.
He found the mother of all sweet spots when, fresh out of the Florida House, he chose to run for US Senate in the Tea Party wave year of 2010 - when Republican Governor Charlie Crist decided to also go for the Senate, failed to get the Republican nomination, switched to an Independent, and divided the non-Tea Party votes.
Now Rubio sees destiny in the mirror every morning. He's proposed a Constitutional Convention under Article V to rewrite our founding document - and the commentators call him a "moderate". Unbelievable!
For Republicans pining for a Rubio nomination, I say watch out what you wish for. Character is everything in a presidential election, and Rubio's air of entitlement and abrasiveness will shine through in the campaign.
25
Frank, I think you are on to something significant. What's that? No politician will ever add up. Why? Basically they always are telling you something you know is not true, and at a personal level you always know and feel that is so. Take Mr. Hope and Change. People knew it was not true but somehow they wanted to believe it. So how did he get elected? Clearly the answer was, and is, the stupidity of the American Electorate. So, where does that leave us? Doomed, at least politically. The is the paradox of American political life. I'll be staying home until I sort it all out. .
2
If things are so bad, you should take the advice of the Republican party and take some personal responsibility.
More Americans are working than ever before, and the value of American business is also near an all time high.
The country is doing fine, if you feel left behind, get off of these comment boards and start contributing.
More Americans are working than ever before, and the value of American business is also near an all time high.
The country is doing fine, if you feel left behind, get off of these comment boards and start contributing.
4
No, he got elected because of the failed policies of the previous Republican administration, the poor campaign of John McCain who went from a reasonable moderate to a conservative running around like a chicken with his head cut off during the financial breakdown, espousing very reasonable policies like health care for all. He was reelected because he did a good job and was running against the empty suit Romney who betrayed his moderate background espousing dumb conservative ideas.
3
Frank, don't insult the intelligence of your readers. Anyone with a pinch of intelligence knows that MIKE HUCKABEE won Iowa in 2008 and RICK SANTORUM in 2012 so you'll have to do a whole lot better than you did in this editorial to prove your points regarding Rubio. I'm not saying his strength is broad enough to win anything but that's not my point in citing your facts to support your thesis. Intelligent people don't care one bit about what happens in Iowa because it has never demonstrated any ability to predict a winner. On the contrary, those that win the GOP nod in that state seemed doomed to failure.
7
He's as shallow as slick on concrete. Take it from a Floridian. He's "out there, riding on a smile and a shoeshine." He'll go nowhere.
3
The fact that Rubio looks appealing speaks not to his candidacy but to the abysmal collection of GOP candidates by comparison. I believe the Republican suits at the end of the day will muster all their efforts to get him the nomination because they know he is the only one of the lot capable of giving Hillary rather substantial opposition in a general election in which extremism is "trumped" by centrism.
5
Marco Rubio is attractive to people who like to go to Chamber of Commerce luncheons.
27
And eat at Appleby's.
2
Hey, Mr. Predjudice, I'm a liberal Democrat, a Bernie backer, and I eat at Applebee's.
1
Only in this present crew of candidates would Rubio be considered mainstream.
He doesn't believe in climate change; he's against abortion even in cases of rape or incest; he's against any change in the failed, decades-old Cuba policy and is single-handedly holding up the appointment of a qualified Ambassador to Mexico out of spite...and of course, he's against Obamacare.
And there's more. He has a history of not handling his own finances well, and he (and his wife) are overly dependent on one wealthy donor.
If this is the best the Republicans are selling, I'm not buying.
He doesn't believe in climate change; he's against abortion even in cases of rape or incest; he's against any change in the failed, decades-old Cuba policy and is single-handedly holding up the appointment of a qualified Ambassador to Mexico out of spite...and of course, he's against Obamacare.
And there's more. He has a history of not handling his own finances well, and he (and his wife) are overly dependent on one wealthy donor.
If this is the best the Republicans are selling, I'm not buying.
37
How can Rubio represent his base? They hate immigrants. They hate Spanish speaking and Latinos more. They hate Washington politicians. They like blondes better than brunette. He is an equivocating Christian who can't make money and keep it.
6
Remember back in high school when we all first heard of Occam’s Razor? It is the principal attributed to William of Occam in which when faced with competing explanations for a phenomenon, one should logically select the simplest and most parsimonious explanation. In the case of Marco Rubio Occam’s Razor suggests that one not dig too deeply for complex explanations of Rubio’s persona but just take him at face value – a young, callow, opportunistic, but not very smart pol who has already been purchased by a billionaire sugar daddy. Ambition without substance has created a human mirror that merely reflect the positions of people who want to give Rubio money or votes. Rather than trying to figure out the paradoxes that make Rubio look complex, one simply needs to consider that there is “no there, there” and accept that Rubio is essentially a self-absorbed nihilist whose “principles” are for sale. Boom. End of conundrum.
458
The only thing differentiating Rubio from every other Republican screwball thinking they can win the presidency is that he is very well scripted. An Obama he isnt- Obama can think on his feet without reciting something pre-programmed. Rubios handlers are to be commended for their tireless debate practicing, but the obstructionist that is Marco Rubio has nothing to offer this country.
171
I don't really understand why anyone could consider Rubio viable. He is obviously lazy. His statements about hating the Senate work and his attendance at crucial votes demonstrates this. His history is full of lies from those in his personal life to those in his limited voting life.
I am very concerned about his ties to the drug cartel. And, also worried about his greed for money and inability to manage his own personal finances.
I am very concerned about his ties to the drug cartel. And, also worried about his greed for money and inability to manage his own personal finances.
19
The Republican establishment types keep pointing out that if Trump is the nominee than Hillary will "Mop the floor with him". But if Trump is so easy to destroy why is it that the rest of the Republican field(and that includes Rubio)cannot take Trump down. Rubio and Cruz and Carson and Bush need to prove they have what it takes to beat Hillary by first of all beating Trump. That does not seem to be happening. Frank Bruni is right Marco Rubio does not add up neither does the rest of the also ran Republican field.
42
Easy. Right now Trump is on top because he is facing other talentless and clueless Republican candidates, and it seems that a lot of Republican voters adore him. In a general election, all people, including Democrats and Independents get to vote. Those are the smarter people who realize that Trump would be detrimental to the U.S. Few of those would vote for a candidate whose claim to fame is a loud mouth that spouts ignorance and hate every time is is opened.
I'm assuming you also thought Santorum was going to be the Republican nominee in 2012 when he was crushing it in the first few primaries. But of course it's much more complicated than that. Best analysis on this comes from 538 and RedState - for anyone who's interested in understanding why Rubio does add up.
10
To zero.
3
Let's not forget that Santorum's opponent in 2012, Mitt Romney, had one of the best organizations ever seen in the Republican primaries. Organization was his strong suit.
According to this op-ed piece, Marco Rubio has no such campaign organization.
As for personal finances, Mr. Romney did not take a salary while he was Governor of Massachussets. Contrast this with Mr. Rubio's track record.
Whoever cruises through Iowa and NH, would much rather meet Marco Rubio than Mitt Romney in the match ups in the other states.
According to this op-ed piece, Marco Rubio has no such campaign organization.
As for personal finances, Mr. Romney did not take a salary while he was Governor of Massachussets. Contrast this with Mr. Rubio's track record.
Whoever cruises through Iowa and NH, would much rather meet Marco Rubio than Mitt Romney in the match ups in the other states.
2
I have always believed Santorum was the Republican's man.
Marco Rubio does not 'debate with nimbleness;' rather, he has had opponents and debate moderators too limp to follow-up on his own lame statements. The Rubio debate statement which I especially wish he had been taken to task for was his unequivocal opposition to abortion, saying that he would oppose it, as taking a life, even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the woman's life. Rubio should have been asked, "What if that was your wife? What if she had been raped, or was told a pregnancy threatened her life? Would you nonchalantly talk about your beliefs that life begins at conception without a thought to her immediate situation? And if not, why are you so nonchalant about other women?"
This is taken, of course, from the debate question which Michael Dukakis never recovered from - how his opposition to the death penalty would play out if his own wife had been raped and murdered. Dukakis never lived down nonchalantly repeating his opposition to capital punishment as taking a life. Why is Rubio's absolutist platform not held to the same standard?
This is taken, of course, from the debate question which Michael Dukakis never recovered from - how his opposition to the death penalty would play out if his own wife had been raped and murdered. Dukakis never lived down nonchalantly repeating his opposition to capital punishment as taking a life. Why is Rubio's absolutist platform not held to the same standard?
19
MARCO RUBIO:
He doesn't show up for casting his votes.
His finances are a mess.
He can't pick a church - or an abortion stance - and stick to it.
What he does say is fast and muddled, stirring cliches that profess nothing when you look them over in a transcript.
And his "good looks" are no more impressive than a million other healthy, well-fed, had access to a dentist for all his life, young men. But he needs to watch it, for in 10 years those looks are going to tend to fat and his hair will thin out.
And, as for his "hard-working parents": they aren't running for President.
He is.
And he seems to be extraordinarily lazy about how he gets there.
He's air. A piece of puffery.
Yes, take a long studied look at him: where he spends his time, who he spends it with, for he strikes me as another Paul Ryan, another Republican Boy who is paper thin when you exclude all of the contradictions and evasions.
But whatever you do, don't present him as a viable candidate simply because Trump and Cruz are so odious.
Follow him around for a month and find out for us just exactly what it is he does with him time, because everything I've read so far is just hinky.
"Marco? Marco? Where's Rubio?"
You'd better find out.
He doesn't show up for casting his votes.
His finances are a mess.
He can't pick a church - or an abortion stance - and stick to it.
What he does say is fast and muddled, stirring cliches that profess nothing when you look them over in a transcript.
And his "good looks" are no more impressive than a million other healthy, well-fed, had access to a dentist for all his life, young men. But he needs to watch it, for in 10 years those looks are going to tend to fat and his hair will thin out.
And, as for his "hard-working parents": they aren't running for President.
He is.
And he seems to be extraordinarily lazy about how he gets there.
He's air. A piece of puffery.
Yes, take a long studied look at him: where he spends his time, who he spends it with, for he strikes me as another Paul Ryan, another Republican Boy who is paper thin when you exclude all of the contradictions and evasions.
But whatever you do, don't present him as a viable candidate simply because Trump and Cruz are so odious.
Follow him around for a month and find out for us just exactly what it is he does with him time, because everything I've read so far is just hinky.
"Marco? Marco? Where's Rubio?"
You'd better find out.
41
Rubio is a generational choice? He doesn't represent the millenniums they are in student loan debt up to their necks, and generation Xs are very busy earning a declining income and trying to support a family without billionaires buying them, baby boomers -no. The only thing Rubio represents is a solid wall of billionaire's money attempting to buy the Presidency.
38
The biographical comparisons between Rubio and either Clinton or Obama are glib and, upon a moment's reflection, ridiculous. Bill Clinton, who went on to become a Rhodes Scholar from a poor broken home in rural Arkansas, and who was more articulate than any politician in the last half century. Except possibly for Barack Obama, who was raised by a struggling single mother to become editor of Harvard Law Review and Professor of constitutional law at one of the nation's top law schools. Rubio has childhood struggles (though one senses he's exaggerating these....perhaps the press should dig here), but he hasn't stood out as either an academic superstar, as a standout policy wonk, or as somebody with a deep understanding of American society and politics, on the level of Clinton or Obama. All we get from Rubio is overspending on a speedboat, cashing out his retirement early, and possible credit card fraud.
232
bruce - Well, there's actually a little bit more on the list than the speedboat and cashing out his retirement:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-drug-smuggling-ring-that-bro...
No need to leave anything out, is there :)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-drug-smuggling-ring-that-bro...
No need to leave anything out, is there :)
4
Frank Bruni, I really enjoy your columns. The only Times columnists who appeals to me as a Democrat moderate. Clear thinking and clear writing, without demagoguery. thank you.
As a Democrat who tires of the Clinton machine, I also have been "watching" Marco Rubio.
I am also wondering what is up with his campaign. I don't mind the "shape-shifting" because a real politician must present the appearnace of flexibility on issues to graner the independent and centrist voters. And after all, who can shape shift better than Bill and Hillary?
But Marco better have a breakout moment soon. He did give a poignant interview to Atlantic in which he expressed some empathy for some of the experiences underlying the Black Lives Matters movement. That is more than any other Republican and it came across as sincere, especially the feelings of wrongful stops by the police.
I think Marco wants to be an inclusive candidate, but has to whether the redest of primaries first. It does not yet add up, but then I go back to Bill giving speeches to foreign groups for large fees, whose issues were simultaneously before the State Department and Hillary, and my head starts to hurt again.
As a Democrat who tires of the Clinton machine, I also have been "watching" Marco Rubio.
I am also wondering what is up with his campaign. I don't mind the "shape-shifting" because a real politician must present the appearnace of flexibility on issues to graner the independent and centrist voters. And after all, who can shape shift better than Bill and Hillary?
But Marco better have a breakout moment soon. He did give a poignant interview to Atlantic in which he expressed some empathy for some of the experiences underlying the Black Lives Matters movement. That is more than any other Republican and it came across as sincere, especially the feelings of wrongful stops by the police.
I think Marco wants to be an inclusive candidate, but has to whether the redest of primaries first. It does not yet add up, but then I go back to Bill giving speeches to foreign groups for large fees, whose issues were simultaneously before the State Department and Hillary, and my head starts to hurt again.
8
The idea that a centrist Democrat would be considering Rubio is what doesn't add up.
6
Attends a Catholic and Protestant services? What's the point in that but to suck up to people? If that isn't obvious pandering, I don't know what is. Of course, the be a politician is to be a panderer to some degree.
11
I agree like the Democratic Party did with Black Lives Matter? They weren't. as you say, sucking up? And what business is it of yours why he goes to church? I guess that online mind reading course really paid off didn't it.
.
.
Agreed. It's rather like a certain GOP candidate who rooted for Iowa in the Rose Bowl over her very own alma mater, Stanford.
4
Attends a Catholic and Protestant ( which is reformed Catholicism) services? He could show that he was truly serious about campaigning, like Bill Clinton who attended Pentecostal services in Memphis, Tn. during 1992 and 1996.
1
"wizened, white-tufted Bernie Sanders" There you go again NYT. His grass roots campaign must be scaring the bejesus out of the limousine liberals. Does any NYT columnist dare write about the real issues and the consistently positive things that Sanders is proposing to start to right this great country?
299
Seriously? I think you must be terrified someone else might succeed. How thin-skinned can you possibly be? Bernie Sanders is 74 and his hair is ridiculous.
Which poison to pick? That's the choice GOP voters face, for there are no Doles, Romneys, or their ilk, running.
The way it looks now, it appears GOP voters are going for the highly toxic Trump and equally toxic, albeit sans the Trump snarl, Cruz. The others, Rubio inlcuded, are not toxic enough.
The question comes down to which of those two, i.e. Trump and Cruz, the GOP voters hate the least. Boy, do they have it tough! I guess we'll see after Iowa and NH.
The way it looks now, it appears GOP voters are going for the highly toxic Trump and equally toxic, albeit sans the Trump snarl, Cruz. The others, Rubio inlcuded, are not toxic enough.
The question comes down to which of those two, i.e. Trump and Cruz, the GOP voters hate the least. Boy, do they have it tough! I guess we'll see after Iowa and NH.
6
Tbere is less to Rubio than meets the eye. He is hostile to facts,
science and math. His budget plan is a joke and he does not think
there should be any exceptions for abortion. So Ladies, if you die
you die.
Look at his eyes. They are dead. There is nothing behind them.
science and math. His budget plan is a joke and he does not think
there should be any exceptions for abortion. So Ladies, if you die
you die.
Look at his eyes. They are dead. There is nothing behind them.
25
Mr. Rothstein is correct. There is nothing new about Rubio, though he is young. He's a lightweight, has no substance and is not terribly bright. The Republican batch of candidates is horrifying. God help,us if Hillary doesn't win.
9
Agreed. Is there anything more pathetic than a young Republican?
2
What's with these comparisons to Obama and Clinton, the man is, obviously, a latino Dan Quail.
38
Robert Reich, in a column posted on Facebook, quotes an unnamed Republican elder as suggesting that the GOP ditch Trump and Cruz as nominees, even if they emerge as victors in the primaries. The possibility of a brokered Republican convention gives Bush or Rubio a heightened chance of emerging as the nominee.
While I'm not tremendously impressed with Rubio-- he has done little of note on the national stage and has already announced his intent to leave the Senate-- he's a marginally more attractive candidate than the bombastic Trump or the slippery Cruz.
With Trump and Cruz as front runners, I can understand the touting of Rubio and the interest in a brokered Republican convention.
While I'm not tremendously impressed with Rubio-- he has done little of note on the national stage and has already announced his intent to leave the Senate-- he's a marginally more attractive candidate than the bombastic Trump or the slippery Cruz.
With Trump and Cruz as front runners, I can understand the touting of Rubio and the interest in a brokered Republican convention.
3
Rubio is just the pretty face for the third George W Bush term. Because he has no experience governing, he'll rely on W's advisors for both foreign and economic policy. (Obama, similarly inexperienced, kept Bush's defense secy and the establishment money guys, Geithner and Summers, but Obama at least was a smart fact-based guy, which Rubio does not appear to be.) Rubio is, as Trump described him, a "lightweight."
240
Frank, of course Rubio doesn't add up. He's a candidate in the recent Republican tradition of "all hat, no cattle" - especially when it comes to war.
But it's good to know that Rubio has such a strong connection to family that he is even willing to use a government position to pull strings for in-laws attempting to get out of the cocaine business. If only the plot of Scarface had allowed Tony Montana to marry his sister off to a Florida Republican...
But it's good to know that Rubio has such a strong connection to family that he is even willing to use a government position to pull strings for in-laws attempting to get out of the cocaine business. If only the plot of Scarface had allowed Tony Montana to marry his sister off to a Florida Republican...
212
Trump and Cruz do embody rank and file Republicans this season. Their styles are different but their positions are similar. Trump, who is less ideological, could conceivably be a better President because of that. As a businessman, he would revert to a pragmatic style of negotiation with both parties in Congress. The "establishment" candidates like Rubio have not accomplished what the Republican base craves, a return to the 1920s, thus they cannot gain traction running on their records.
56
Except that Trump is a serial liar. Did you know that there were millions of Jews cheering on the tops of buildings on the West Side when the USS Liberty was sunk?
8
Come home Mitt Romney, all is forgiven! This clown car would actually look better if it had a dog on the roof!
477
Plus, Marco is wet behind the ears. And his earlobes are too long.
2
Jack Chicago, KUDOS and thank you for the hearty laugh. CLASSIC!
1
At a seasoned 68 years of age, with a vice presidential resume on his record to boot, Dan Quayle's actually starting to look like a savior for Republicans in a brokered convention. Plus, he's the only living ex-Republican vice president who hasn't had five open heart surgeries.
If Republicans thought he was presidential enough to put on the ticket in 1988, why not now? At long last, our potatoe famine could finally be ending!
If Republicans thought he was presidential enough to put on the ticket in 1988, why not now? At long last, our potatoe famine could finally be ending!
3
"Reasonable people can’t stomach the thought of Trump or Cruz as the nominee. We can’t accept"
That is really all Rubio has. Everything else is just another way of saying that.
That he'll win once others don't, that he'll survive losing key elections because he "must," that his talents are so great that he'll catch fire later when he hasn't yet, all are ways of saying that what is not somehow must be anyway. Why? Because it must.
It is the Sherlock Holmes version of politics: once all other options are eliminated, what is left must be. And Trump must fail, Cruz must fail, right?
That is really all Rubio has. Everything else is just another way of saying that.
That he'll win once others don't, that he'll survive losing key elections because he "must," that his talents are so great that he'll catch fire later when he hasn't yet, all are ways of saying that what is not somehow must be anyway. Why? Because it must.
It is the Sherlock Holmes version of politics: once all other options are eliminated, what is left must be. And Trump must fail, Cruz must fail, right?
152
Yes, indeed. And his policy positions are, in fact, no less scary than theirs either.
1
And what happens if Hillary get's indicted? Seems to me you've put all your eggs in the basket of someone who has repeatedly lied and could have compromised national security.with her blatant disregard of protocol or the rules.
HealedByGod -- I do not support Hillary. I've made that clear many times.
My objections to her are not the Republican ones you cite. My objection is that she is Republican-Lite, and won't do what needs to be done.
Bernie.
My objections to her are not the Republican ones you cite. My objection is that she is Republican-Lite, and won't do what needs to be done.
Bernie.
10
As I read I was looking forward to apologizing for commenting Bruni would never man up and diss Rubio, but ultimately he doesn't, he does horse race gossip analysis, with this tell:
"He’s a smoother salesman and more talented politician than most of his Republican rivals. That’s why I still buy the argument that he’s the one to watch, especially given his party’s long history of selecting less provocative candidates over firebrands."
In short, yeah, Rubio's qualified to be president, he is a
Talented
Politician.
Man up? Hehehehe.
"He’s a smoother salesman and more talented politician than most of his Republican rivals. That’s why I still buy the argument that he’s the one to watch, especially given his party’s long history of selecting less provocative candidates over firebrands."
In short, yeah, Rubio's qualified to be president, he is a
Talented
Politician.
Man up? Hehehehe.
55
Rich for Bruni was a really bad trade here, though Rich has done squat for the New Yorker... page needs a makeover outside a few
Someone quite famous once commented on the different skills required to campaign successfully and govern successfully. Here is a hint, they are somewhat mutually exclusive.
2
Actually, he does add up. Rubio is yet another corporate puppet, rolling in money from oil companies, defense contractors, and oceanfront developers in Florida, and his policy positions reflect that perfectly.
Thanks to our supine press, nobody really challenges him on his global warming denial, since all of the Republican candidates follow the Old Testament here, and he's treated as if he were some sort of reasonable candidate more because of his personality than his far right stances. Maybe he telegraphs moderation with his personality, at least- Rubio is not a lunatic like Trump, and is not bizarre, like Cruz. We do know that Marco is lazy and opportunistic, but that doesn't seem to matter these days.
It's a strange election season when a violent and corrupt bully like Chris Christie seems normal and honest by comparison.
Here's the really bad news: Cruz and Rubio are running neck and neck against Hillary. Meanwhile, Bernie, per neutral tabulations, is being boycotted by the TV networks, who would rather focus on Donald, then give us the bait and switch to Cruz, Rubio, or Hillary.
We need a free press and publicly financed elections. Otherwise, we are going down, and taking the whole world with us.
Thanks to our supine press, nobody really challenges him on his global warming denial, since all of the Republican candidates follow the Old Testament here, and he's treated as if he were some sort of reasonable candidate more because of his personality than his far right stances. Maybe he telegraphs moderation with his personality, at least- Rubio is not a lunatic like Trump, and is not bizarre, like Cruz. We do know that Marco is lazy and opportunistic, but that doesn't seem to matter these days.
It's a strange election season when a violent and corrupt bully like Chris Christie seems normal and honest by comparison.
Here's the really bad news: Cruz and Rubio are running neck and neck against Hillary. Meanwhile, Bernie, per neutral tabulations, is being boycotted by the TV networks, who would rather focus on Donald, then give us the bait and switch to Cruz, Rubio, or Hillary.
We need a free press and publicly financed elections. Otherwise, we are going down, and taking the whole world with us.
617
Don't forget he also supports the corporate welfare for sugar subsidies that make a few Florida growers rich and the end-user poorer.
4
It's pretty funny that the senator from a state that is more or less a sand bar is denying global warming. I also find it incomprehensible that anyone would buy land or anything attached to it that doesn't have a trailer hitch, but I hear their real estate prices are still going up.
7
@Mike Roddy
"...since all of the candidates follow the Old Testament..."
Did you really just write that?
How about penciling out the cost of shutting down a globe that consumes carbon, do it with reasonable fairness so that the richest country is not paralyzingly still-developing nations, prove that the switching cost can actually be accelerated through hyperventilating about climate, and derive an actual level of economic "sacrifice" that the world can get its arms around?
That is what ultimately separates most people from the Chicken Little screamers.
We put a "man on the moon" after 10 years and a 2015 expenditure of $110 billion. That, alone, indicates the order of magnitude difference between leaving oil and flying a rocket to space.
Please lay out some facts. I don't need an Old Testament to side-step your adolescent hissy fit on the climate.
"...since all of the candidates follow the Old Testament..."
Did you really just write that?
How about penciling out the cost of shutting down a globe that consumes carbon, do it with reasonable fairness so that the richest country is not paralyzingly still-developing nations, prove that the switching cost can actually be accelerated through hyperventilating about climate, and derive an actual level of economic "sacrifice" that the world can get its arms around?
That is what ultimately separates most people from the Chicken Little screamers.
We put a "man on the moon" after 10 years and a 2015 expenditure of $110 billion. That, alone, indicates the order of magnitude difference between leaving oil and flying a rocket to space.
Please lay out some facts. I don't need an Old Testament to side-step your adolescent hissy fit on the climate.
1
Clinton referred to himself as the "comeback kid" after he did poorly in Iowa and placed second in New Hampshire. That's probably what Rubio is going for: finish second (or a stronger-than-expected fourth!) and tell everyone that you're moving up like a rocket. Unless something happens real soon (i.e., BEFORE Iowa votes) I predict that Marco will be pleading "no mas" and looking forward to challenging Hillary in 2020.
33
I liked Paul Tsongas. If there were a Paul Tsongas equivalent to Rubio's Bill Clinton, I would be a lot happier.
2
I actually agree with you Stu. I think he has peaked and won't last much past South Carolina if that. He's just not seasoned and needs to "pay his dues" as we'd say in prison. I doubt Rubio will be looked any different in 4 years. He has to develop a solid legislative history and until he does he'll look good on TV but seen as lacking an substance and being a viable candidate
1
Right - the most dangerous thing about Trump & Cruz is that they make Rubio look sane and reasonable. Trump and Cruz will fade out as voters other than the hard right GOP core have to step up and make a choice. Bush et al have made so little impression that they are barely above the "oh, is he running?" crowd. Rubio will be the nominee.
62
Unless there is a brokered convention, in which case my money is on Bush.
1
Paul Ryan. Fear the Beard!
1
"Trump and Cruz will fade out as voters other than the hard right GOP core ...,"
yeah, but you need a majority.
yeah, but you need a majority.
1
Aren't many similar "also-ran's" just collecting their proverbial War chests?
11
I largely agree with you, Frank. Particularly on the issue of skeletons in closets--he has barely been tested, because he's never headed the pack. Given what's already come out, and a lot isn't particularly pretty, I can only imagine what else is begging to be discovered.
But more to the point, is the chameleon-like changing of positions. You compare him to Clinton, but I don't think that comparison is apt. Bill Clinton worked very hard at campaigning--a whole lot harder, because he loves it so, quite unlike his wife. But Rubio? He only appears comfortable, even feisty, on the debate state. As for where he is between debates, it's anyone's guess. Not in the Senate, clearly. And not on the ground. Is he working a secret job or two to pay off some loans? If so, he's doing a great job of hiding it.
But the one thing you left out of this piece which largely weighed his chances of coming up from behind. Which is his tendency to use the oddest excuses for his absences in the senate. Under criticism, he snapped, "I can't be there just now because I'm running for President, so I can change how business gets done in the US."
Say what? That presumes that 1), he can get elected, and 2) changing business means doing things differently. Like be consistent? Take less campaign dough from agenda-driven billionaires like Adelson? Putting in a hard day's work?
The one thing Rubio doesn't lack is chutz-pah. But neither do many of the peers he's running against.
But more to the point, is the chameleon-like changing of positions. You compare him to Clinton, but I don't think that comparison is apt. Bill Clinton worked very hard at campaigning--a whole lot harder, because he loves it so, quite unlike his wife. But Rubio? He only appears comfortable, even feisty, on the debate state. As for where he is between debates, it's anyone's guess. Not in the Senate, clearly. And not on the ground. Is he working a secret job or two to pay off some loans? If so, he's doing a great job of hiding it.
But the one thing you left out of this piece which largely weighed his chances of coming up from behind. Which is his tendency to use the oddest excuses for his absences in the senate. Under criticism, he snapped, "I can't be there just now because I'm running for President, so I can change how business gets done in the US."
Say what? That presumes that 1), he can get elected, and 2) changing business means doing things differently. Like be consistent? Take less campaign dough from agenda-driven billionaires like Adelson? Putting in a hard day's work?
The one thing Rubio doesn't lack is chutz-pah. But neither do many of the peers he's running against.
377
Is Rubio a flawed candidate? Aren't they all? And you only seem to see the faults of our candidates. And it's clear you are avoiding talking about Hillary Clinton. Why? And it's not just the emails
1) The Algerian government gave $500,000 to the Clinton Foundation in 2011 while they were lobbying her at state. This violated the signed agreement she made with Obama that the foundation would not take foreign money while she was at State.
2) Why was she not in the Situation Room the night of the Benghazi attack?
3) She approved loans to GE (China) and Boeing (Russia) In turn they each contributed $300,000 to the fund
But that's not the main point. At her March 2015 UN news conference she stated she never sent/received/destroyed confidential emails The FBI has recovered over 1,200 emails so far yet you want to talk about Rubio? Is Rubio under FBI investigation? And the State Department has not met the judges mandate for releasing the emails
How can you nit pick our candidates when your presumptive candidate is a habitual liar and under FBI investigation? So you're choosing to ignore what's right in front of you. That doesn't change anything.
1) The Algerian government gave $500,000 to the Clinton Foundation in 2011 while they were lobbying her at state. This violated the signed agreement she made with Obama that the foundation would not take foreign money while she was at State.
2) Why was she not in the Situation Room the night of the Benghazi attack?
3) She approved loans to GE (China) and Boeing (Russia) In turn they each contributed $300,000 to the fund
But that's not the main point. At her March 2015 UN news conference she stated she never sent/received/destroyed confidential emails The FBI has recovered over 1,200 emails so far yet you want to talk about Rubio? Is Rubio under FBI investigation? And the State Department has not met the judges mandate for releasing the emails
How can you nit pick our candidates when your presumptive candidate is a habitual liar and under FBI investigation? So you're choosing to ignore what's right in front of you. That doesn't change anything.
2
Perhaps you hadn't noticed; everyone else is discussing Rubio, not Clinton. Tedious comes to mind as well as obsessive.
4
"Could he burn out before he ever catches fire?"
I hope so. The best thing for the country is if the GOP puts up a candidate who is so horrible that a landslide will vote against him.
I hope so. The best thing for the country is if the GOP puts up a candidate who is so horrible that a landslide will vote against him.
364
Thomas' side ran exactly that horrible kind of guy last time but even the people who'd been burned the most by the economy and the lack of jobs voted for him anyway.
1
Like Rafael E Crudes, Neil Young is Canadian. Neil said, "It's better to burn out/ Than it is to rust."
I wouldn't object in the least if Rubio burst into flame, and the water needed to extinguish the conflagration caused Rubio to rust...
I wouldn't object in the least if Rubio burst into flame, and the water needed to extinguish the conflagration caused Rubio to rust...
3
Carly ! Carly ! Carly ! Carly !
1
Marco (a.k.a. Batman's Robin) might get the nomination at a brokered convention, or as a nod to the most important GOP'er, Sheldon Adelson:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/rubio-donors-billionaires-ad...
but it's important to keep in mind that any GOP'er in modern times who has led at the point in the polls (as of a couple weeks ago) by as much as DT was leading, has wound up with the GOP'er nomination at the convention:
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/latest-polls-set-stage-unprecede...
according to Steve Benen over at MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show.
Basically, if DT isn't the eventual GOP'er nominee, it will be history-making.
Progressives are understandably on the horns of a dilemma, not knowing which GOP'er selection will be worst.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/rubio-donors-billionaires-ad...
but it's important to keep in mind that any GOP'er in modern times who has led at the point in the polls (as of a couple weeks ago) by as much as DT was leading, has wound up with the GOP'er nomination at the convention:
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/latest-polls-set-stage-unprecede...
according to Steve Benen over at MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show.
Basically, if DT isn't the eventual GOP'er nominee, it will be history-making.
Progressives are understandably on the horns of a dilemma, not knowing which GOP'er selection will be worst.
96
@R. Law,
Thanks for the links. I just left the Mother Jones article. I know you mentioned Sheldon Adelson, but I was too distracted, as well as horrified, to read about the fund raiser held by Harlan Crow. I've never heard of Crow before and I certainly didn't know that Rubio's attendance at this fundraiser was in the home of someone who owns two paintings by Adolph Hitler and a signed copy of Mein Kampf--held on Yom Kippur.
Is there a word stronger than grotesque?
1-2-16@10:05 pm est
Thanks for the links. I just left the Mother Jones article. I know you mentioned Sheldon Adelson, but I was too distracted, as well as horrified, to read about the fund raiser held by Harlan Crow. I've never heard of Crow before and I certainly didn't know that Rubio's attendance at this fundraiser was in the home of someone who owns two paintings by Adolph Hitler and a signed copy of Mein Kampf--held on Yom Kippur.
Is there a word stronger than grotesque?
1-2-16@10:05 pm est
6
lady - The forces lined up on the other side are indeed a gallery of grotesqueries, with their cast of candidates betraying just the tip of their iceberg - we scorpios (Frank, too) see the same things, no ?
2
rubio is cowdung, an empty suited liar.
1
Rubio is what happens when the rest of the Republican field is too horrible to contemplate. His appeal is summed by in the old saying: he’s the best-looking horse in the glue factory.
His positions are not so much mercurial or evolving as they are evasive. He merely reframes his answer to accommodate the prejudices of his audience. You can almost hear the scenery being moved behind the curtain as he reveals yet another angle of his people-pleasing persona. He famously flapped and floundered when he was pressed about the age of the earth, one of those questions that separates the scientifically literate from the evangelical panderer.
Trump is the front-runner in this race to the bottom of the barrel, and Rubio is eating his dust. No pundit’s predictions or wishful thinking on the part of the Republican establishment will change that fact.
In a way it hardly matters who the Republican nominee is. The G.O.P. has sold us down the river, having spent all of its energy trying to discredit Barack Obama rather than govern in good faith. They may whip up enthusiasm in the minds of low-information anti-government fundamentalists, but that not what it takes to win the presidency in a general election.
All candidates have flaws, including Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. But at least Democratic voters don’t have to be ashamed of the candidates they have to pick from.
His positions are not so much mercurial or evolving as they are evasive. He merely reframes his answer to accommodate the prejudices of his audience. You can almost hear the scenery being moved behind the curtain as he reveals yet another angle of his people-pleasing persona. He famously flapped and floundered when he was pressed about the age of the earth, one of those questions that separates the scientifically literate from the evangelical panderer.
Trump is the front-runner in this race to the bottom of the barrel, and Rubio is eating his dust. No pundit’s predictions or wishful thinking on the part of the Republican establishment will change that fact.
In a way it hardly matters who the Republican nominee is. The G.O.P. has sold us down the river, having spent all of its energy trying to discredit Barack Obama rather than govern in good faith. They may whip up enthusiasm in the minds of low-information anti-government fundamentalists, but that not what it takes to win the presidency in a general election.
All candidates have flaws, including Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. But at least Democratic voters don’t have to be ashamed of the candidates they have to pick from.
1017
Well said, gemli
8
@Gemli,
C'mon, that's an insult to horses, isn't it? Also, I've seen eye candy. Rubio ain't.
1-2-16@10:08 pm est
C'mon, that's an insult to horses, isn't it? Also, I've seen eye candy. Rubio ain't.
1-2-16@10:08 pm est
9
@gemli
The rancid odor of Liberal fear.
When your best shot polls head-to-head with Rubio...get nasty.
Why would Bruni write a column about someone "eating Trump's dust"?
Curious stuff.
The rancid odor of Liberal fear.
When your best shot polls head-to-head with Rubio...get nasty.
Why would Bruni write a column about someone "eating Trump's dust"?
Curious stuff.
1
The notion that anyone other than Hillary can be regarded as “the best bet” at this stage is absurd. We haven’t yet seen what the dynamics of winning or losing the early Republican primaries are; the popularity of Ben Carson, thought to be so insurmountable just two months ago, appears to have dissipated utterly; and Jeb! is making noises like he’s coming back from the Trump juggernaut. To declare Rubio OR Cruz OR Trump as “The One” at this remove clearly is a pretext for drumming up demand for ink from the pundit desparati (for column fodder).
We don’t know who will be the Republican nominee yet, and it’s a very open field just now. What we DO know, however, is that Republicans offer interesting and odd nominees at the outset of a primary season but, in the end, almost always nominate the most electable from among the available choices. The most electable against Hillary isn’t even Rubio but Bush – too many Americans, viewing a young, rookie U.S. Senator with nothing but some statehouse experience in his background are going to remember ANOTHER such, and quite possibly conclude that Rubio’s just not yet ready for Prime Time.
Marco Rubio is unlikely to burn up OR catch fire. In three months, unless he agrees to be Jeb!’s Veep, he may be just another Ben Carson.
We don’t know who will be the Republican nominee yet, and it’s a very open field just now. What we DO know, however, is that Republicans offer interesting and odd nominees at the outset of a primary season but, in the end, almost always nominate the most electable from among the available choices. The most electable against Hillary isn’t even Rubio but Bush – too many Americans, viewing a young, rookie U.S. Senator with nothing but some statehouse experience in his background are going to remember ANOTHER such, and quite possibly conclude that Rubio’s just not yet ready for Prime Time.
Marco Rubio is unlikely to burn up OR catch fire. In three months, unless he agrees to be Jeb!’s Veep, he may be just another Ben Carson.
25
jeb? is making noises?
jeb? has experience?
What has jeb? done in the past 10 years?
Americans do remember ANOTHER such candidate with the same last name and do not wish to purchase a product past its sell-date.
Oh, Richard. If only jeb? wanted the job as much as you want jeb? to have the job, then maybe, just maybe, jeb? would not wish that he should have listened to his mother and stayed home.
jeb? has experience?
What has jeb? done in the past 10 years?
Americans do remember ANOTHER such candidate with the same last name and do not wish to purchase a product past its sell-date.
Oh, Richard. If only jeb? wanted the job as much as you want jeb? to have the job, then maybe, just maybe, jeb? would not wish that he should have listened to his mother and stayed home.
345
Jeb! is making noises but, unfortunately, no one else on the Republican side is making any noise on his behalf. And if the electorate doesn't want another four years of Obama, what percentage of them want four years of anyone named Bush? As for Rubio being Jeb!s running mate last I looked they both resided in Florida.
197
Ah, Stu, you make the same error as many do – it’s not unconstitutional for teamed presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be from the same state. The constitutional proscription is that electors can’t vote for two candidates from their own state, and that proscription isn’t even valid today – it was valid when an elector cast votes for two candidates, when a president was elected with the most electoral votes and the vice-president with the second greatest number of electoral votes. They didn’t even need to be of the same party. Today, an elector votes for a ticket, not separately for two candidates.
Besides, Jeb! could always go register to vote in Maine.
And I'm still making noises for Jeb! Remember that in a few months' time.
Besides, Jeb! could always go register to vote in Maine.
And I'm still making noises for Jeb! Remember that in a few months' time.
5
A Scientist Rubio ain't,
He has the "no climate change" taint,
Health care saboteur
With motives impure,
He looks like but isn't a Saint.
He has the "no climate change" taint,
Health care saboteur
With motives impure,
He looks like but isn't a Saint.
438
@Larry
Talking about Rubio makes it somewhat easier to stomach that your current best shot at power is a pathological liar.
It will be an interesting election, indeed.
Talking about Rubio makes it somewhat easier to stomach that your current best shot at power is a pathological liar.
It will be an interesting election, indeed.
2
Larry, you are a National Treasure
Mazel Tov and L'Chaim to you !
Mazel Tov and L'Chaim to you !
4
Happy new year to our favorite quipster, finest maker of bagatelles, serious philosopher, and all around most lovable & astute curmudgeon. We can bear the coming year with your commentary on hand.
1
Rubio is what Gertrude Stein said of Oakland: "There is no there, there".
What does it matter if Rubio is 44 if his policies will take us back to Bush 43 and Reagan?
There are no compelling moderate Republican candidates for the White House.
The GOP has gone to POT...Party of Trump.
Enjoy the ride; just wear a helmet.
What does it matter if Rubio is 44 if his policies will take us back to Bush 43 and Reagan?
There are no compelling moderate Republican candidates for the White House.
The GOP has gone to POT...Party of Trump.
Enjoy the ride; just wear a helmet.
648
Gertrude Stein should come and see Oakland now (yes, I know she can't). It's on fire with change.
2
@Kevin Rothstein,
Enjoy the ride?
How about "fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night"?
1-2-16@10:15 pm est
Enjoy the ride?
How about "fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night"?
1-2-16@10:15 pm est
5
Poor Oakland, living in the shadow of the jewel across the bay.
As a former resident of Oakland I wish to correct one little error in your otherwise spot-on observation. Stein's comment was about her house in Oakland which had been razed. When she went back to visit after many years, she uttered the well-known words about the empty lot where her house once stood. An empty lot is probably a better metaphor for Rubio anyway.
As a former resident of Oakland I wish to correct one little error in your otherwise spot-on observation. Stein's comment was about her house in Oakland which had been razed. When she went back to visit after many years, she uttered the well-known words about the empty lot where her house once stood. An empty lot is probably a better metaphor for Rubio anyway.
18
"I knew JFK. You're no JFK."
But I also remember which of them won that election.