"Rubio's Glitch"

(Bumped up by Drew)

That's what it's being called.

Chris Christie told Rubio exactly how he'd hit him. He told him exactly where he'd hit him.

First of all, let me get this out of the way: Rubio is a good candidate. He's well prepared. He's presentable. He seems nice.

However, something has been bugging many of us about him. Besides amnesty. Maybe it was amnesty that caused us to see him in a more hostile light, but nevertheless, in that hostile light, we were seeing something that we couldn't quite put our finger on, that we couldn't quite explain, but that we didn't like.

Mickey Kaus pretty much explained it a few days ago, however. Kaus spoke of Rubio's 25 second canned soundbites as "modules" which could be moved around and reorganized on the fly to answer a range of questions in a not-quite-lifelike manner:

I went to see Marco Rubio’s town hall this afternoon in Salem, New Hampshire. It was only a few miles from my hotel--I really had no excuse. I wanted to find out: Was Rubio really as slick and insubstantial in this setting as John Edwards? Answer: No. He's slicker. He's slicker, in part, because he at least seems a bit spontaneous, with a slightly goofy, human quality...
When it comes to substance, Rubio draws on an inventory of well-prepared rhetorical modules, with just enough policy to sound sophisticated, that can be inserted where necessary to handle, say, the how-would-you-handle-ISIS question (Sunni ground army!) or disability benefits (get rid of phony claims!). There's not much sacrifice involved in any of Rubio's proposals -- even avoiding budget apocalypse, which he claims to be very concerned about, is just a matter of raising the retirement age and slowing benefit hikes for the well-off. Nothing that hasn’t been floating around Washington for years. There's a heavy emphasis on electability. Big, difficult questions (like robots taking everyone’s jobs) are ignored. Tellingly, however, Rubio has added a Trump Module, where he alludes to anger at stagnant wages.
He’s got an immigration module too....
All of this is mildly terrifying. If Rubio's a "robot," as many have charged, he's a sophisticated new model robot with simulated humanistic elements and a charm algorithm. And if he still seems insubstantia--which he does--it's a higher level of insubstantial than you expect: You don't get the impression he's actually thought through these problems, but he knows his modules.

So that's what's bugging people about Rubio: He is robotic, just repeating well-rehearsed, crowd-pleasing but fairly glip and insubstantial "modules." He's almost failing the Turing Test.

Chris Christie announced he'd be going after Rubio on his android-like repetitiveness and shallowness.

Rubio shouldn't have been surprised. And yet, somehow, he was.

Not only did Chris Christie prove his point, but like a misfiring robot -- many people are making that analogy, of an android melting down, or a computer stuck in a loop -- Rubio then kept making Chris Christie's point for him:

He actually repeated this five times in total, twice while Christie was telling him was just repeating his 25-second soundbites!

Can't get tired of watching😂👏
The @marcorubio robot was stuck on repeat tonights #GOPDebate thanks to @ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/rrSnnCycq7
— StayCalm4Change (@tiarrabanks1) February 7, 2016

Everyone agrees -- from NR's very conservative David French to Politico to the New York Times and the Guardian -- that this was brutal, and that Rubio genuinely seemed like a 1960s robot trapped in a logic loop.

This is damaging because it's not merely a gaffe. This is a blow that hits Rubio in the heart of the argument for his candidacy.

Rubio is "electable," we're told, because he's well-prepared and likable.

But Chris Christie has exposed him to be simply a robot repeating shallow, poll-tested mini-answers. That cuts at the idea that he's well-prepared -- instead, it now looks like he just has a good memory -- and that he's likable -- instead, he just looks like, well, a robot programmed to say "Good day!"

People are shallow. I know this because I'm a person and I'm shallow as f***. And because people are shallow, they seize on ready-made Narratives to organize information. Information is hard to organize, but if you have a handy Narrative with hooks to hang each new piece of information, it keeps everything nice and tidy.

Narratives can also be false -- in fact, they almost always are. No story is as simple as the blurb would have it.

Nevertheless, people seize on Narratives because our brains just can't really handle how complex the world is, or politics is, or any individual person is.

So everyone gets a "book" on them, a short little description that is thought to be the Key to the whole, the Main Point, the blurb, the takeaway.

This is now part of book on Rubio -- and it now serves as the row of hooks from which all previous information is now hanged, and from which all future information will be hanged too.

And that's a big problem for Rubio, because while his answers are... well, I can't say good, I will just say "smooth," now people will hear those smooth answers and instead of saying "Gosh, what a smooth answer" they'll say "Oh another 25 second canned answer."

This is a Palinizing thing-- not that he's been "Palinized" per se, but in that once you heard Tina Fey's Palin impression, you couldn't not hear that when Palin spoke.

Similarly, I don't think Marco Rubio is going to be able to give his 25-second canned answers and have anyone not think, "Another one of Rubio's over-rehearsed 25-second canned answers."

Is this fatal? No, he still has his strengths. He's a smart guy. He's not dumb.

But it does hurt, because while people were previously thinking "What a smart guy, he gave us all those smooth answers," now they just will think "Oh, yeah, someone told him to memorize this and he did."

He'll have to do a bit of work to overcome this. Maybe he'll have to try to prepare less, so he we can see his mind actually engaging with a question, instead of just locating the most relevant "module" to repeat.

Maybe he can give a speech in which he lays out his Vision -- something he has not done, which is a fact his mini-modules serve to disguise.

And no, his growing up an immigrant's son is not a vision; that's just a good bit of biographical color.

But who knows, if the bubble boy can finally get out of the bubble and show something real, or something more substantial than 25-seconds of micro-wonk modules, maybe he can get back on track and be the Establishment's Great Last Hope again.

Posted by: Ace at 12:24 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Christie/Rubio '16 -- the winning ticket!

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:08 AM (jBuUi)

2 Awesome early morning Ace! Got to make another drink and read this whole thing... heh

Posted by: Yip & 2 Corinthians at February 07, 2016 02:09 AM (e7T6D)

3 awful lot of "sure I've been shitting on Cruz fans but I never said I wouldn't vote for him" wishy-washy-ness from Rubio fans after this debate

Posted by: The Dude at February 07, 2016 02:11 AM (SyKbw)

4 I will dare to contradict Ace's anti-Rubio stance and say:

If Rubio wins the nomination (that's IF), I will indeed vote for him over Commie Sanders and Cruella Clinton.

I will fight against Rubio winning the nom in the first place, and vote for Cruz, but if November rolls around and -- beyond my control -- I'm looking at a ballot with Rubio and either D candidate, I can't in good conscience allow either one anywhere near the levers of power.

Bottom line: primary strategy and November voting stark realities are two entirely different ballgames.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:11 AM (jBuUi)

5 All this debate did is make me wish Walker never left.

Posted by: DarrenODaly at February 07, 2016 02:11 AM (zY3oa)

6 Christie Trumped Rubio. Christie proved that with Rubio there's just no there there

Posted by: Stay out da Bushes at February 07, 2016 02:13 AM (rZJS9)

7 I knew there had to be a good reason that Christie was still in this. Doing the job that Jeb couldn't do.

Posted by: Jimmy Doolittle at February 07, 2016 02:15 AM (HpwDR)

8 Does this Super Bowl commercial make me look fat?

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 02:15 AM (UBS9M)

9 >>>If Rubio wins the nomination (that's IF), I will indeed vote for him over Commie Sanders and Cruella Clinton.

of course, i would too. To the extent I suggest I wouldn't, I'm being hyperbolic to register my opposition.

He's a nice guy, and he's got a lot going for him. He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:17 AM (dciA+)

10 really though... what has Dondi ever done to prepare him to lead the country? Jack squat. I don't understand why he's running this time around really because times are serious enough, now is not the time for someone with such a shallow resume.

Posted by: Yip & 2 Corinthians at February 07, 2016 02:17 AM (e7T6D)

11 I concede the following points, made by Ace and others:

-- Rubio is too slick
-- Rubio has canned soundbites for every occasion
-- Rubio is squishy on amnsty and a few other key issues
-- Rubio is favored by the Establishment, whom I hate

Granted.

HOWEVER, Rubio is not a communist treasonous American-hating narcissistic totalitarian with senile dementia. Sander and Clinton are.

Until the R convention, I will fight tooth and nail against Rubio.

But if we are defeated by the Establishment and Rubio wins the nom, once again wee have to face the horrible reality of a deranged revolutionary radical or a revenge-minded tinpot dictator winning the Presidency.

Strategy? "Sticking it to the Establishment"? "Let it burn?"

I can't. When push comes to shove, I would vote Rubio in November. I would have no choice.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:18 AM (jBuUi)

12 Rubio's theme song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF-KPh3el4o

Posted by: holygoat at February 07, 2016 02:18 AM (ZgI/r)

13 >>>But if we are defeated by the Establishment and Rubio wins the nom, once again wee have to face the horrible reality of a deranged revolutionary radical or a revenge-minded tinpot dictator winning the Presidency.

i would too. I'm sure by november I would be very pro-rubio.

but this idea that he's a savior, or that we should just drop everything and nominate him, is just wrong.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:19 AM (dciA+)

14 I was just commenting on this in the ONT-

"Boy In The Bubble". LOL.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:19 AM (w4NZ8)

15 Didn't watch the debate but happen to notice that Ace, the huffinglue post and NYT all seem to have the same taking points. it's almost like a glitch, I dare say

Posted by: Crrr6 at February 07, 2016 02:19 AM (Z9spM)

16 Oh, BTW, Great post, Ace. Thanks.

Darn you; ;^) I was going to go back to bead; Now I need to stay up for this. :^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:20 AM (w4NZ8)

17 of course, i would too. To the extent I suggest I wouldn't, I'm being hyperbolic to register my opposition.

He's a nice guy, and he's got a lot going for him. He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

Posted by: ace

I guess we're all on the same page, then!

As you note, however, we shouldn't telegraph our willingness to vote for Rubio in resignation, because that just adds to the "See? he's electable" argument.

Strategery is a commomplicated thing.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:21 AM (jBuUi)

18 If an amnesty shill is elected, conservatism is dead. They will turn the entire effing country blue.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 07, 2016 02:21 AM (iQIUe)

19 The only thing Christie can "expose" is his big, fat, hairy Krispy Kreme filled belly. His 2012 RNC convention performance and huggy bromance with Obama sealed his fat-ass fate.

Posted by: Colonel Haiku at February 07, 2016 02:24 AM (Y8JQ4)

20 If Dondi is the nom... the GOPe and DC have won. ... and we've all lost. Dondi + amnesty = Romney + Romneycare. and that equals, GOP loss... it just won't freaking matter. See you guys at the camps.

Posted by: Yip & 2 Corinthians at February 07, 2016 02:25 AM (e7T6D)

21 That wasn't a gaffe.. Rubio is refuting the "no experience" attack by saying look at how effective Obama has been - and he has the same lack of experience that I do.

He was addressing the question.

Posted by: Fyscyl Clyff at February 07, 2016 02:26 AM (r4pNb)

22 Walker would've been great.

I hate agreeing with Christie but he's been the most effective against Rubio. If Rubio is our Obama maybe Christie is our Bernie. At least he keeps it real.

Posted by: 0302 at February 07, 2016 02:28 AM (hDDgx)

23 Posted by: Colonel Haiku at February 07, 2016 02:24 AM Posted by:

Are you a supporter of Marco Rubio? The point of this thread isn't about what a great guy Christie is. (I don't think there are any supporters of Christie for President here) It's about what a lightweight Rubio is

But i suppose cracks about the girth of Chris Christie are standard redundant talking points too . Meh

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:29 AM (w4NZ8)

24 >>>Didn't watch the debate but happen to notice that Ace, the huffinglue post and NYT all seem to have the same taking points. it's almost like a glitch, I dare say

did they quote mickey kaus too?

As far as the word "robotic" -- it's hard to get away from. Most people were put in the mind of androids and misbehaving software.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:29 AM (dciA+)

25
Vote Rubio, he's one of us.

Posted by: Hymie at February 07, 2016 02:29 AM (Av8i6)

26 I'm still sitting here scratching my head wondering who in the head is "undecided" at this point in history.

47% of the country is patriotic, understands the Constitution and its purpose, and craves economic and personal freedom for everyone.

47% of the country are either greedy entitled leeches or the repulsive cronyistic middlemen who trade favors and handouts for power.

Each tribe is by now completely ossified in their beliefs and their tribal signifiers. They will vote blinded for the anointed candidate of their respective parties.

So what's left is this mysterious 6% in the "middle" who don't know what they believe or want.

I' constantly told that this 6% exists, but I have never met such a person, either in real life or online.

Has anyone here ever met an actual "undecided" voter? Where do thy hide? or are the just a myth invented by pollsters?

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:30 AM (jBuUi)

27 who in the head is "undecided" = who in the HELL is "undecided"

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:30 AM (jBuUi)

28 he's wrong on almost all of the issues.

Posted by: Chris Vaughn at February 07, 2016 02:31 AM (Zd70k)

29 Except for amnesty.
Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:17 AM (dciA+)
--------

Eh? What do other issues matter if Rubio is not right on immigration?

The Go8 bill was/is a deal breaker. If the guy gets into office and gets amnesty passed, the conservative movement will be a thing of the past in less than a generation.

This election really is for all the marbles.

Posted by: Stay out da Bushes at February 07, 2016 02:31 AM (rZJS9)

30 The idea Ace is just a person calling it as he sees it is meant for you self-described morons.

None of you cunts does anything but bitchtype, and you think you matter.

Why should you? American? White?

You can't justify your own existence amongst bugs, and have coasted on the religious, which I franckly can't spell, and now demand we just do what you think is cool for now?

Fuck off. Respect Islam's many centuries of action if you want to be different.

This country, America, was founded on the knowledge all assholes are not just like you, but you.

And you can't comprehend why D.C. is corrupt?

We are corrupt. We want abortion. We want our children debt-ridden. We want sex 24/7 like Ted Kennedy.

We will, as American, ALWAYS expect to get away with it, as we were/are/will be culturated. This is why Clintons/Kennedys/Madoffs will always get away with it too, until they don't.

Posted by: twoslaps at February 07, 2016 02:34 AM (wtVtk)

31
Vote Rubio, he's one of us.

But there's still Danger!

Posted by: B9 at February 07, 2016 02:34 AM (Av8i6)

32 Vote Rubio, he's one of us.

Posted by: Robbie at February 07, 2016 02:34 AM (Av8i6)

33 Don't ask me, I won't be around much longer.

Posted by: Roy Batty at February 07, 2016 02:35 AM (Av8i6)

34 Posted by: twoslaps

[backs aways from the screen slowly....]

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:36 AM (jBuUi)

35 None of you c**** does anything but bitchtype, and you think you matter.

What would you like us to do? What do you do in addition to bitchtyping?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:37 AM (w4NZ8)

36 "bitchtype"

hah, i will take your insult because I like the insult.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:38 AM (dciA+)

37 What complicates things for me in the general is that if a Democrat is in the White House (as we have now) the GOP congress will at least show reflexive opposition to President-endorsed amnesty proposals. With a Republican president it will sail right through. Look at the abominations that W was able to get: the prescription drug entitlement and Common Core would have had a lot tougher sledding without a "conservative" advocate.

Posted by: Jake at February 07, 2016 02:38 AM (SiE0G)

38 I don't really get how anyone thinks that there won't be some level of amnesty for illegals no matter who is prez. If Cruz were to somehow win (a scenario I could really only see playing out in a 3 way race with Bloomberg and Sanders), we'd probably get a better amnesty deal that he would justify by denying that it's amnesty. Amnesty will just be defined by him as whatever is not in his signed law - be it citizenship, permanent legal status, etc

With Trunp, he'll sell his supporters down a river in a second just as he turned on a dime to his current position from only 3 years ago by chalking up Romney's loss to his "maniacal" self-deportation idea.

Posted by: Crrr6 at February 07, 2016 02:39 AM (Z9spM)

39 Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:36 AM (jBuUi)

Other than the fact I usually hope to be asleep at this time, that is why I sometimes don't like late threads because people either sound drunk or angry or off their meds or some combination of those.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:39 AM (w4NZ8)

40 It's like that scene in Ace's favorite movie, Blade Runner , when Pris gets short-circuited..

Posted by: TexasJew at February 07, 2016 02:41 AM (fLIcF)

41 I bitchtyped once.... ONCE!

Posted by: Yip & 2 Corinthians at February 07, 2016 02:41 AM (e7T6D)

42 So does that mean I won?

Posted by: Hung-over Jim Gilmore at February 07, 2016 02:41 AM (/ciMI)

43 My sarc tag got deleted, btw..

Posted by: TexasJew at February 07, 2016 02:41 AM (fLIcF)

44 >>>>did they quote mickey kaus too?

As far as the word "robotic" -- it's hard to get away from. Most people were put in the mind of androids and misbehaving software.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:29 AM (dciA+)

Mickey Kaus is a single conservative issue otherwise down the line solid lib - a rare bird.

Posted by: Crrr6 at February 07, 2016 02:43 AM (Z9spM)

45 Ace suffers from Resting Bitchtype Fingers.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:43 AM (jBuUi)

46 Joe Biden likes Marco Rubio because he's clean and brown and doesn't talk like Pedro in The Real McCoys.

Posted by: TexasJew at February 07, 2016 02:45 AM (fLIcF)

47 Ace has put his finger on the problem with Rubio.

He's Madison Avenue packaging an ad campaign.

I was pleased with the debate tonight because Cruz, after the initial fol-de-rol with Carson, kept his eyes on the prize and gave the most substantitive answers of the debate. Of all of them, he was the most.....presidential.

Slow and steady. Slow and steady. Wins the race dontcha know.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 02:45 AM (N8hFs)

48 I'll amend what I said. It's not even that they are angry. That's understandable.We all do at times. It's spittle flying rage when you have to go after other posters with a string of abuse. I guess the alcohol lowers inhibitions.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:46 AM (w4NZ8)

49 I'm embarrassed by my mistake. Repeating myself was unfortunate.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 02:47 AM (/ciMI)

50 So here's my (unrelated) question: Why do we give Mickey Kaus the time of day? He drops into the immigration debate with some of the most inflammatory rhetoric around on the issue, gets conservatives riled up about it, and then bails out to vote Democrat...every damn time. And yet Republicans repeat the whole charade every election cycle. He's doing the Democrats' work for them, and Republicans are none the wiser.

Posted by: Dan at February 07, 2016 02:47 AM (GC1X0)

51 I am fluent in over 6 million forms of insubstantial campaign soundbites.

Posted by: C3bio at February 07, 2016 02:47 AM (zmW4B)

52 Vote Rubio, he's one of us.
Posted by: Hymie

Shake a leg.

Posted by: Maxwell Smart at February 07, 2016 02:48 AM (FkBIv)

53 I'm embarrassed by my mistake. Repeating myself was unfortunate.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 02:48 AM (/ciMI)

54 He's Madison Avenue packaging an ad campaign.

Which is how-as Christie pointed out-he's like Obama. That was sam,e slick campaign with Mr Hope and Change

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:48 AM (w4NZ8)

55 Repeating myself was unfortunate. I'm embarrassed by my mistake.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 02:49 AM (/ciMI)

56 Vote Rubio, he's one of us.
Posted by: Hymie

Shake a leg.

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 02:49 AM (zmW4B)

57 Oh, good heavens! Marco Rubio and Amy Schumer on the same thread--we'll get stuck in a loop forever.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 02:51 AM (/ciMI)

58 Romney's hair was better.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 02:52 AM (/ciMI)

59 Huh. Kinda slow.

I know how to liven things up!

"Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul!"

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 02:54 AM (/ciMI)

60 51 I am fluent in over 6 million forms of insubstantial campaign soundbites.
Posted by: C3bio

Did you just make up the hilarious sobriquet "C3bio," or is that already part of the zeitgeist? Because my laughter module was stimulated in a pleasure-inducing manner by your noteworthy witticism.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:54 AM (jBuUi)

61 Christie pointed out-he's like Obama. That was sam,e slick campaign with Mr Hope and Change

Of course. That's what those of us who call him a Republican Obama mean. The RNC looked at Obama's substance free 2008 run a nd said " Hey, we have to get ourselves one of those".

Hence: Rubio

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 02:55 AM (N8hFs)

62 >>>>>50 So here's my (unrelated) question: Why do we give Mickey Kaus the time of day? He drops into the immigration debate with some of the most inflammatory rhetoric around on the issue, gets conservatives riled up about it, and then bails out to vote Democrat...every damn time. And yet Republicans repeat the whole charade every election cycle. He's doing the Democrats' work for them, and Republicans are none the wiser.
Posted by: Dan at February 07, 2016 02:47 AM

Yep, you think Kaus would ever vote for Cruz? No way in hell. Romney was the most conservative guy in the field on immigration in 2012, and he still voted for Obama. Immigration enforcement is only his most important issue until election day.

Posted by: Crrr6 at February 07, 2016 02:57 AM (Z9spM)

63 I'm the son of a bitchtypist.

Posted by: Kasich at February 07, 2016 02:58 AM (/ciMI)

64 I am the son and grandson of Cuban bitchtypists.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:00 AM (/ciMI)

65 The GOPe600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human... sweat, bad breath, drinking lots of water. Very hard to spot.

Posted by: Kyle Reese at February 07, 2016 03:01 AM (H9MG5)

66 I'm gonna round up all the bitchtypists and send 'em back.

I'll bring back some of 'em--you know, the good ones, to keep our blogs typed bitchily.

Posted by: Donald Trump at February 07, 2016 03:02 AM (/ciMI)

67 hah!

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 03:02 AM (dciA+)

68 I'm a conservative governor in New Jersey--I'm tough. Look--I eat people who bitchtype for breakfast.

Literally--I ate two bitchtypists this morning.

Posted by: Chris Christie at February 07, 2016 03:03 AM (/ciMI)

69 I wouldn't call it "bitch"typing. Really, it's an act of love.

Posted by: Jeb! at February 07, 2016 03:06 AM (/ciMI)

70 I'm glad I don't have to weigh in on the "b-word" typing.

But I will anyway. It's a gosh-darned shame that people feel they need to use that kind of language. Why, the other day, I heard a lady make a swear!

Posted by: Mike Huckabee at February 07, 2016 03:08 AM (/ciMI)

71 No candidate can be considered viable until he has online trolls advocating on his behalf.

So: Has anyone ever encountered a Christie troll?

....[silence]....

QED.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 03:08 AM (jBuUi)

72 Who bitchtypist this is?

Posted by: the guy from that video at February 07, 2016 03:09 AM (H9MG5)

73 Great point about kaus

Great word bitchtypist.

Re the anger. I don't know how those of you without an outlook buffered by a religious " rightening of the ship" hold it together I the face. Of this guerilla assault against the free agency of man.

Posted by: Shiggz at February 07, 2016 03:10 AM (N2Pc2)

74 Chris Christie told Rubio exactly how he'd hit him. He told him exactly where he'd hit him.

--

I wore a cup.

And an adult-size suit.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:12 AM (/ciMI)

75 I'm embarrassed by my mistake. Repeating myself was unfortunate.

Posted by: Marco Rubio

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:13 AM (/ciMI)

76 I've had to make hard choices. When I was CEO, I had to lay off a number of bitchtypists.

Posted by: Carly Fiorina at February 07, 2016 03:15 AM (/ciMI)

77
Wow. Even the dogs dress up fro carnival. I wonder if they get "brazilians" too?

http://goo.gl/lH2Zo1

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 07, 2016 03:16 AM (iQIUe)

78 Does this mean I should go to bed now?

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 03:17 AM (/ciMI)

79 There's no way Christie doesn't crack 5% now

Posted by: Crrr6 at February 07, 2016 03:18 AM (Z9spM)

80 I wonder if they get "brazilians" too?

http://goo.gl/lH2Zo1

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang!

When I'm president, I'll raise the minimum wage so everyone makes brazilians of dollars!

Even bitchtypists!

Posted by: Bernie Sanders at February 07, 2016 03:19 AM (/ciMI)

81 There's no way Christie doesn't crack 5% now

Posted by: Crrr6

And there's Ben Carson's problem: black don't crack.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 03:20 AM (/ciMI)

82 Curse you, old Chinese fortune-teller! I don't want to live in interesting times!

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 03:20 AM (jBuUi)

83
Bring back JewSex!

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 07, 2016 03:21 AM (iQIUe)

84 Oh, everyone is over here

Posted by: thathalfrican at February 07, 2016 03:22 AM (R5HRU)

85 I think Rubio kept mentioning Obama because he wanted to show if a first term Senator can fundamentally transform the nation, then being a governor isn't all that important.

Posted by: boxty at February 07, 2016 03:26 AM (7qheU)

86 I have binders full of bitchtypists.

Posted by: Mitt Romney at February 07, 2016 03:28 AM (/ciMI)

87 Curse you, old Chinese fortune-teller! I don't want to live in interesting times!

Posted by: zombie

I also pissed on your soft drink. As a way to cause amusement.

Posted by: Old Chinese Fortune-teller at February 07, 2016 03:30 AM (/ciMI)

88 I am against subsidies for bitchtypists.

Posted by: Ted Cruz at February 07, 2016 03:31 AM (/ciMI)

89 I went ahead and added "bitchtypist" to my dictionary so I'd stop seeing the stupid red squiggle.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 03:31 AM (/ciMI)

90 When angry count to ten. When very angry bitchtype.

Posted by: Stuff Jefferson Said at February 07, 2016 03:33 AM (/ciMI)

91 But I'll also remove the limitations placed on bitchtyping; this will unleash bitchtypists' full potential an estimated 60%.

Posted by: Ted Cruz at February 07, 2016 03:36 AM (/ciMI)

92 I remember the time I was in a helicopter in Iraq and were took several hits from bitchtypists and it got really hairy. The pilot had me take over and land it as he got really shook up. Crazy story.

Posted by: Brian Williams at February 07, 2016 03:37 AM (e7T6D)

93 Here's the thing. Nobody was watching on the Saturday night before Super Bowl except partisans whose minds are already made up. One hand clapping, tree falling in the forest, etc., choose your metaphor.

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at February 07, 2016 03:37 AM (5f5bM)

94 I declare this thread Turd Ferguson's Sock Drawer.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 03:37 AM (/ciMI)

95 He should therefore make all attempts to punch a bitch in the throat the next time he's asked biased questions.

From time to time he should simply stare at the reporter and say, in a deep voice, "The fuck you say?"

It would go a long way to eliminate the perception that he's robotic. Of course, he'd just be considered violent and dangerous - which in this election could be a definite plus.

Posted by: Inspector Cussword at February 07, 2016 03:38 AM (zp13i)

96 I also pissed on your soft drink. As a way to cause amusement.

Posted by: Old Chinese Fortune-teller at February 07, 2016 03:30 AM (/ciMI)

No more short sheet Chollie's bunk? No more nail Chollie's shoes to the floor and ring fire alarm?

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at February 07, 2016 03:39 AM (5f5bM)

97
Repeating myself was unfortunate. I'm embarrassed by my mistake.

Posted by: F'ing Dondi Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:40 AM (e7T6D)

98 Of course, he'd just be considered violent and dangerous - which in this election could be a definite plus.

Posted by: Inspector Cussword

I once killed a man. Almost.

Posted by: Ben Carson at February 07, 2016 03:40 AM (/ciMI)

99 One hand clapping, tree falling in the forest, etc., choose your metaphor.

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon

*looks around nervously*

Posted by: the chicken at February 07, 2016 03:41 AM (/ciMI)

100 Man, I'm fourth-generation American. I don't even know if my Chinese accent is believable.

Posted by: Old Chinese Fortune-teller at February 07, 2016 03:43 AM (/ciMI)

101 Nice place you have here

Posted by: The FBI at February 07, 2016 03:43 AM (e7T6D)

102 I remember the time I was in a helicopter in Iraq
and were took several hits from bitchtypists and it got really hairy.
The pilot had me take over and land it as he got really shook up. Crazy
story.

Posted by: Brian Williams

Can you make it funny?

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 03:43 AM (/ciMI)

103 no Rubio..never, he is the latinobama

Posted by: gonzotx at February 07, 2016 03:44 AM (YSIVw)

104 Nice place you have here

Posted by: The FBI

Oh, good, the FBI is here! Bunch of right-wing partisans in your illegal witch hunt! How many bitchtypists do you have trying to frame my perfectly legal actions in a negative light to rob me of my turn to be queen?

Posted by: Hillary(!) at February 07, 2016 03:45 AM (/ciMI)

105 The pilot had me take over and land it as he got really shook up. Crazy story.

Posted by: Brian Williams

Yeah, baby, that was me, all shook up.

Posted by: Elvis at February 07, 2016 03:49 AM (/ciMI)

106 That's all, folks! I've got work tomorrow.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at February 07, 2016 03:51 AM (/ciMI)

107 It's very common to see spokesmen and other politicos come onto the talk shows and wheel out their canned talking points. To some degree, many of the presidential candidates do it as well. But, Christie and others have really hit the nail on the head when it comes to how incapable Rubio is at operating outside of that mode.

Both Christie and Trump are just the opposite - easily able to get into an unscripted to and fro with an unexpected question. I find it extremely annoying to see someone dodge a question by pretending that something else is the question and then answering that, and it is very satisfying to see Rubio get busted for that tactic.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at February 07, 2016 03:54 AM (R+30W)

108 Wow, that was almost like watching that State Dept. spokesguy who repeats the same thing over and over no matter the question.

Posted by: BignJames at February 07, 2016 04:12 AM (j7iSn)

109 Rubio isn't a robot.

He's something worse:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667837/

Posted by: The Hat of the Dragon at February 07, 2016 04:42 AM (vBeA5)

110 Rubio should be removed from serious consideration after that show of -- dont believe you lyin' eyes---"manchurian candidate" non cognitive function.

Ive never seen someone so obliviously walk into criticism as Rubio did, moments after Christie said....hey Marco...here it comes!

Rubio just.....well....he caught a giant Christie loogie in the middle of his forehead and went right back to his script.....ignoring any pangs of thought.

I cant accept that amount of phoniness.

Its Cruz or bust, baby!

Posted by: Alec j at February 07, 2016 04:47 AM (22DKu)

111 Hillary! is a robot.

Rubio is a robot.

There is only one candidate that can save us now!

Posted by: Robot Nixon/Lrrr 2016 at February 07, 2016 04:49 AM (vBeA5)

112 Rubio proved he can not be trusted when he crossed the aisle to side with the most liberal Democrat in the Senate and sold us out on amnesty. If it had not been for the House we already would have been sold out. Of course we have defacto-amnesty now anyway because impeachment is off the table.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 07, 2016 04:54 AM (t2KH5)

113 I am up in New Hampshire knocking on doors this weekend. My campaign partner and I knocked on over 200 doors yesterday. Not a single person said they were voting for Christie. I did notice that women have a soft spot for a Rubio. My take is that some of them will think hat Christie was too bullying. Not sure this knocks out Rubio. People have been predicting Trump's demise after his gaffes but it hasn't turned out that way.

Posted by: victoria at February 07, 2016 04:57 AM (RkPha)

114 Let's say Rubio is a robot. We know that he is not programmed for integrity based on the Gang of 8 "troubles" which happened to be precisely a reversal of what he promised. Shlafly has pointed this out. We therefore cannot know what he will do on any other issue because he has no true preferences and no integrity subroutine. Case closed.

I don't like Rubio, whether he's a human sociopath or a robot.

If we drop the robot trope, I'd also say there is no evidence that he is intelligent. What, several crappy schools despite him being Hispanic is supposed to impress? Or perhaps it's those impressive real world successes he's had...

But what really bothers me is that Ace is already signaling that he's ready to try kicking the football yet again if Lucy ultimately holds it. Not me. I'll vote Trump or Cruz. I now prefer Trump. Otherwise I will do what I did last time and stay home.

Oddly, I thought Ace agreed on the need to be prevocable. I'm sure that four years ago I talked about Chicken Games and iterated Prisoners' Dilemmas.

No offense meant, Ace.

Posted by: skzion at February 07, 2016 04:59 AM (9C0d4)

115 I attempted to pass legislation that the American people absolutely do not want.

Vote for me to not represent you!

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 05:04 AM (zt+N6)

116 47 >> Of all of them, he was the most.....presidential.

Kirk, is that you?

This ain't no disco, this ain't no eulogy, this ain't no foolin' around.

*****

Levels of commitment:

Run for office
Sign up as campaign manager or official spokesperson
Full time volunteer
Part time volunteer
Write large check
Write small check
Bitchtype

Posted by: GnuBreed at February 07, 2016 05:05 AM (gyKtp)

117 115: deadly.

Posted by: skzion at February 07, 2016 05:08 AM (9C0d4)

118 Rubio proved he can not be trusted when he crossed the aisle to side with the most liberal Democrat in the Senate and sold us out on amnesty. If it had not been for the House we already would have been sold out. Of course we have defacto-amnesty now anyway because impeachment is off the table.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 07, 2016 04:54 AM (t2KH5)

Amnesty, though, is par for the course of the establishment.

His support of the campus rape bill, which would pretty much mandate Star Chambers for men in college with the assumptioin of guilt and the prohibition on them of trying to prove otherwise, is far far more disturbing of a turn.

Posted by: The Political Hat at February 07, 2016 05:14 AM (vBeA5)

119
Rubio is being memed to a fare thee well around the net since last night. And while a politician can be loved or hated, they can not survive becoming a joke.

Ask Dan Quayle.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2016 05:27 AM (kdS6q)

120
And all the candles burning in prayer for Marco at the GOPe "Conservative" rags this morning. NR is draped in black crepe and the Weekly Standard is playing Nearer my God to Thee.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at February 07, 2016 05:30 AM (kdS6q)

121 Good thing no one but you loser political fanatics was watching.

Posted by: MARCO RUBIO (HAL) at February 07, 2016 05:33 AM (SPxQP)

122 He'll start worrying when some Democrats compliment or endorse him.

Posted by: Steve Walsh at February 07, 2016 05:36 AM (SPxQP)

123 118 His support of the campus rape bill, which would
pretty much mandate Star Chambers for men in college with the
assumptioin of guilt and the prohibition on them of trying to prove
otherwise, is far far more disturbing of a turn.

Posted by: The Political Hat at February 07, 2016 05:14 AM (vBeA5)

One case like that has already made it to federal court. The judge only took a few minutes to throw the university out.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 07, 2016 05:39 AM (t2KH5)

124 There's a pretty good explanation of the origin of the word robot in my nic.

Posted by: GnuBreed at February 07, 2016 05:41 AM (gyKtp)

125 Watching Chris Christie was enjoyable. Watching Mark Rubiobot go into endless loop was enjoyable.

Still can't forgive or forget what either of them have done, though. So sideshow. Especially concerning to me is Rubio's position on abortion. Apparently, he'd deny a woman raped or a victim of incest the ability to remove the product of that aberration from her own body and get on with her life. That's so extremely anti-women to render him unelectable in the general.

Trump was fun as to bringing back waterboarding 'or worse'. He's always entertaining, always making Ted Cruz look better. My .02 worth every penny.

Posted by: ugg boots at February 07, 2016 05:46 AM (fbovC)

126 Rubio is Obamaeasque. Only instead of teleprompter he has it all memorized (after all, he's a "White Hispanic" and not a "High Yellow").

He was programmed to be a politician from his mid-teens.

We don't know what his real opinions are.
He may not know what his real opinions are.
Hell, he may not have real opinions.

He's an upgraded, more socialable, more likable RomneyDroid.

Cruz is slick and oily and lawyery but he's a real person.
Trump is a baffoon but he's a real person.

Rube is scary as shit.

Posted by: Rube the Lube at February 07, 2016 05:53 AM (/PZoK)

127 Hey ugg, I agree with you on the politics of it, but at least his position on abortion is logically and morally consistent.

Posted by: Steve Walsh at February 07, 2016 05:54 AM (SPxQP)

128 There was once this other young guy. Trained and groomed (by whom is scary to think of) from birth for the White House. He is there now ruling over 52% of the most evil stupid people on the face of this planet and the good people of this blogosphere as well. Let's not let this crap happen again. Don't vote for the cute boy for class valentine this time. And don't vote for the rich kid who can hand out the chocolate to everybody. Vote Cruz. Maybe even Cruz/Carson.

Posted by: Eromero at February 07, 2016 05:54 AM (zLDYs)

129 Here's hoping the fat Cowboys fan rolled over Rubio, I'm a Cruz guy but pray it's not going to give us Trump
Good morning horde

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 05:57 AM (HWcaz)

130 We don't waterboard what we kill...which is pretty much anybody

Posted by: Jihadi at February 07, 2016 06:04 AM (PImHi)

131 Hey ugg, I agree with you on the politics of it, but at least his position on abortion is logically and morally consistent.Posted by: Steve Walsh

Maybe it is consistent. I always run my morality through a 'what if it was my daughter' test. I would not want her forced to carry a rapists child to term. Yes, I hate abortion, it's a piss-poor method of birth control. Morally aberrant to punish the unborn. But exceptions are necessary.

Even the Catholic church realizes that point of view.

Posted by: ugg boots at February 07, 2016 06:08 AM (fbovC)

132 ... the smart money is on carolina, but i don't know.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at February 07, 2016 06:09 AM (WTSFk)

133 I can't help but think that Rubio is feeling a bit sore this morning.

Posted by: two of spades (promotion pending) at February 07, 2016 06:09 AM (Xlh4y)

134 ... oops, wrong thread.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at February 07, 2016 06:09 AM (WTSFk)

135 "He was programmed to be a politician from his mid-teens."

I mentioned to the boss the other day Rubio seems he's been practicing running for office since he was in 7th grade.

Morning all.

Any snow Vic? Just rain here.

Posted by: Golfman at February 07, 2016 06:14 AM (48QDY)

136 NSFW warning:

http://i.___ur.com/GPxsZKq.gifv

Posted by: Rube the Lube at February 07, 2016 06:14 AM (/PZoK)

137 Damn the censor.

Here's a short:
http://is.gd/d0QzRS

Posted by: Rube the Lube at February 07, 2016 06:14 AM (/PZoK)

138 Rubio just looks like the college guy who wants you to vote for him for dorm president.

I don't think it is too effective a campaign pitch to say "I may not have any experience but I can probably reach the low bar of incompetence set by the current president."

People are overlooking several advantages with Rubio. He has been more frequently absent from his current job than the current president. This will mean the oval office will not need a lot of cleaning or maintenance.

Secondly, his frequent vacations will not require as much flying time and cost as those of the current president. Florida is a lot closer to DC than Hawaii.

Most importantly, Rubio can speak with a far greater number of leaders in this hemisphere in their native language.

Posted by: Ficklefinger at February 07, 2016 06:17 AM (0ed6d)

139 nood

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 07, 2016 06:20 AM (t2KH5)

140 Ugg: Those anti-abortion folks willing to make an exception for ending a pregnancy that resulted from rape or incest are admitting that supporting or opposing abortion is decided by weighing the competing interests of the woman and unborn child.

Rubio should be able to easily defend his point. Then again, abortion is a decided issue over which POTUS has no direct control, so why he would wade into that tar baby of an issue raises questions about his fitness for high public office.

Posted by: Steve Walsh at February 07, 2016 06:31 AM (SPxQP)

141 I really, really liked a lot of what Cruz had to say last night though I could have done without his constant rapping on the podium while talking.
I've always loved his rhetoric. Though he falls short when he stops at abolishing the IRS. Needs to tack on the Fed (including an audit and seizure of assets) and the UN.
I just don't trust him. His wife's, and therefore his, connections with Goldman Sachs and the CFR, are major red flags.

Posted by: teej at February 07, 2016 06:36 AM (KNsfV)

142 I think people are really overestimating how badly this will hurt Rubio. It's not subduing many people saw and it's not something that is explained quickly. I think the impact on this debate will be when Trump Shushed Bush. His assholeness is really starting to come out more often. As far as the Christie-Rubio exchange, is there ANYBODY who likes Christie more after this? I highly doubt it. Even if he knocked Rubio down a peg or two, is anyone gong to go to the Christie column? I doubt it. New Jersey is a mess and he wouldn't win re-election there, let alone win the state if he's a nominee.

Posted by: rexbatt at February 07, 2016 06:38 AM (gqZui)

143 But that slimy Cruz guy, he made a video when he was 18. Said he wanted to "Rule the World". NWO-Goldman-Sachs Canadian, he is.

Posted by: Luap Nor at February 07, 2016 06:40 AM (Y0FCw)

144 I think the impact on this debate will be when Trump Shushed Bush. His assholeness is really starting to come out more often.
Posted by: rexbatt at February 07, 2016 06:38 AM (gqZui)

PLEASE CLAP? For my baby pocket turtles?

Posted by: Rube the Lube at February 07, 2016 06:49 AM (/PZoK)

145 Ace , for the LIV--ie the majority, Rubio is good. Very good. For the leeches and cowards who vote, nothing sells like a pain-free explanation of everything....Rubio would have been a hell of a greeter at certain camps in Germany during the early 1940's...
For anyone else wanting to see and/or sense that a candidate will DO something--eg 'I will build a wall'---Rubio is the corruption and fecklessness of the GOPe personified.
If there had not been monster named Obama sitting in the White House the last 7 years, Rubio would be having a cake walk.
Lucky for us, There has already, and recently, been a 'Rubio' talkathon, do -nothing, scheming , treacherous POS whose betrayals may have awakened just enough people to what evil can do to and , ironically, save us from Rubio. May be.

Posted by: Lower Class person whose opinions need to be guided at February 07, 2016 06:58 AM (jagfX)

146 None of what's above is surprising. Really. You knew it. I knew it. Hell, I've been saying for years, to the shock of everyone around me, the same things about him.

I voted for him and haven't liked him since. I don't trust him and I think he's little more than and opportunistic little shit who interviews well. Now, he can't even do that well.

I wouldn't go looking for much by way of substance from this guy.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 07, 2016 07:23 AM (8PbKi)

147 @131 "Even the Catholic church realizes that point of view."

No, the Roman Catholic Church does not support abortion in instances of rape or incest. The "exception" it allows - life of the mother - actually isn't even condoning killing the baby. It is saying that if the baby has to be removed pre-term to save the mom, the likely death of the child is a sad consequence, not the goal.

Posted by: Y-not on the phone at February 07, 2016 07:53 AM (vpUwx)

148 Excellent summation, Ace. However, I feel that your point on the human need to boil down and simplify things to 'narratives' is why in the long run this will have little to no effect on Rubio. It'll be 'just too hard' for a majority of voters to make this a lasting or serious issue for him.

Posted by: usmc4ever at February 07, 2016 08:00 AM (MEvnq)

149 Like I said before, Rubio should be a Soap Opera star on Telemundo. He's not ready to be President of the USA, if ever. He's great at memorizing short speeches and looks good on camera, but his depth of knowledge seems to be slightly better than Obama, Palin or Trump. Get him off script and he looks like Dan Quayle-lite. I'm so glad Christie exposed him last night.

Cruz is by far the best candidate. It's not even close.

Posted by: Dobby at February 07, 2016 08:02 AM (b1uWI)

150 Ace @ 13: "i would too. I'm sure by november I would be very pro-rubio."

Is this the same Ace who said we had stop accepting the establishment's shit sandwich in the general? To show the GOPe that we would no longer be used?

Posted by: Butch at February 07, 2016 08:25 AM (hXu8T)

151 Spot on analysis. Rubio is a pretty boy who wouldn't go out for football, but would run for prom king. Christie hit him like a blocking guard on a Texas high school football team---just ran over the dude leaving him sitting on the grass spouting but, but, but.

Posted by: Comanche Voter at February 07, 2016 08:27 AM (Sda6L)

152 It's hard to remember a more revealing moment in the debates.

Rubio acted like a "Chatty Cathy" doll.

Pull the string. Pull the string.

Posted by: Bela Legosi at February 07, 2016 08:28 AM (7QLvI)

153 I liked The Fatman a lot more after the debate. Don't think he has a shot, and he's not my top choice but he is in the rankings and did make me ponder shifting things around. If I had a real raging hard-on for executive government experience, he might be the best of who's left.

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy at February 07, 2016 09:16 AM (JkpIM)

154 This is one of those moments th a t will be remembered long after this campaign is over. It's a Lloyd Bentsen, you're no John Kennedy moment.

Subsequent campaigns will all recognized size the peril of overscripted candidates, a nd will prepare modules on how to deal with such situations should they arise.

Posted by: Pep at February 07, 2016 09:25 AM (LAe3v)

155 I'm with Colonel Haiku! I can't stand Christi. He had no chance and now he can be proud of tearing down someone who did. What a legacy for the 2016 elections! That put the Republicans way ahead with the Democrat plans. He can give Obama another hug now. Great work!

Posted by: AnnaS at February 07, 2016 09:34 AM (P+I7L)

156 It helps if you just think of Marco as having recently escaped from one of the Animatronics exhibits at Disney World.
Having said that I would still vote for the robot before the crook or the Commie.
Boy,I sure wish Rick Perry was still running.

Posted by: trh53 at February 07, 2016 09:35 AM (AdpM6)

157 As far as Rubio, amnesty, and the Gang of 8 go, I don't think the Gang of 8 deal was super bad. There were parts of it that were inspired.

My problem with Rubio was that there were plenty of memes going about at the time of the Gang of 8 deal that Democrats wanted to get something, anything passed in the House and Senate. Then they would overwhelm the Republicans in the conference committee and pour in an entirely new bill (pretty much a repeat of ObamaCare with it's shell House bill).

Rubio seems to be completely oblivious to this parliamentary tactic.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at February 07, 2016 09:37 AM (e8kgV)

158 Even Rick Wilson couldn't spin this, so he basically just ignored it.

Posted by: Knemon at February 07, 2016 09:40 AM (7k4e8)

159 no, no, no to the pro-amnesty anti-American robotic runt puppy rubio

runt - an undersized weak person

TRUMP 2016

ALPHA DOGS 4EVER

Posted by: Myshiba at February 07, 2016 09:42 AM (n20xt)

160 Frankly, I'd love to see a Cruz/Rubio ticket.

If Republicans can offer a youth ticket over either of the two old White Democrats, it would be historic.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at February 07, 2016 09:47 AM (e8kgV)

161 Historically, a Rubio/Cruz ticket is more likely.

You always put the guy that the other side completely hates into the VP slot. It acts as a buffer against anybody with ideas of assassination.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at February 07, 2016 09:49 AM (e8kgV)

162 "I'm sorry, I can't do that Dave."

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 09:54 AM (r5IMY)

163 Memorizing "sound bites" is how I got through law school and passed the bar exam. It's the flash card method of studying. I'm sure Gabriel Malor did the same thing.

Posted by: JohnJ at February 07, 2016 09:57 AM (TF/YA)

164 Rubio is the Republican Obama. Look at the similarities:

Ethnic, good-looking, gives good speeches, first-term Senator with no discernible achievements in the private sector.

And slick, too. Rubio keeps talking about undoing the damage that Obama did, but I don't believe it for a moment. Recall that Obama ran in 2008 as a healer and uniter, and at times sounded more economically conservative than McCain.

I voted for Romney in 2012 against my better judgment. I won't make that mistake again.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 09:57 AM (sdi6R)

165 Islamic Rage Boy:

With either a Cruz/Rubio or Rubio/Cruz ticket, we may as well change the name of the country to Mexico Norte and make Spanish the official language.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 10:00 AM (sdi6R)

166 Those of us who saw through this lightweight fem-bot early have been validated. This Nancy-boy answers in robotic soundbites because there's no there there. The emptiness and malleability are what pulled the Establishment toward him and away from Jeb in the first place. Ironically, they both come across as scripted whores but Marco is attractive and hid it better. The Establishment will drop him like a truckstop hooker now if he doesn't win New Hampshire or South Carolina. The craving for endless migration is enormous and the job interview has started anew. Will it be Kasich, Christie or will Bush get a second look?

Posted by: Trump poisoned my cat at February 07, 2016 10:34 AM (pq97T)

167 125 ... Especially concerning to me is Rubio's position on abortion. Apparently, he'd deny a woman raped or a victim of incest the ability to remove the product of that aberration from her own body and get on with her life. That's so extremely anti-women to render him unelectable in the general...

Posted by: ugg boots

What if the product or the aberration was a female? Would he still be anti-women? Meanwhile, Rubio can FO but not for that.

Posted by: Dirks Strewn at February 07, 2016 10:41 AM (QdAXQ)

168 Rubio's strategy for the last few debates has been to deflect instead of answering tough questions. Maybe it's been going on longer than that, and I just noticed it.
He gets hit with a tough question, then out comes the flag waving and othering of Democrats.
I mean sure, the Democratic candidates are horrible...I agree on that. But that's not what Rubio was asked about.

It's a form of bait-and-switch the Rubio uses, and I find it very off-putting. It's actually dishonest.
That's why I keep getting this "used car salesman" feeling from Rubio: because he uses the same tactics as a used car salesman.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 10:49 AM (9Fcph)

169 26 I'm still sitting here scratching my head wondering who in the head is "undecided" at this point in history.

Lots of people have decided. They are now finding out that they decided wrongly. That is the benefit of continued competition in the primaries: there are still skeletons in the closets that haven't been exposed.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 11:00 AM (9Fcph)

170 It must have been a tale if two debates. I missed the first hour, and it must have been in that segment that Christie knocked Rubio off balance, because in the second hour, the segment I actually got to whatch, Rubio did quite well.

Posted by: Anthony at February 07, 2016 11:00 AM (fEVAB)

171 Re: Marco.
"Glib first term Senator -- a young man in a hurry -- with an interesting cross-over ethnic identity. Has never had a job that wasn't in politics. The Republican Obama!"

He's not robotic. He's just another slick hustler.

He had a self-aggrandizing motive for doing a 180 on amnesty, and then back again. When Rubio joined the Gang of Eight it wasn't clear at the time that supporting Amnesty would be a Kiss of Death with the Base. Rubio did so because he wanted a Signature Accomplishment in his first term that he could then tout to show what a Bridge Building Statesman he was when he went for the Iron Throne. In an alternate universe, he'd be toting this at last night's debate.

He has no principles except his own advancement.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 11:13 AM (rs5De)

172 I like the way that the Gang of 8 thing is semi-dismissed. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

Posted by: artemis at February 07, 2016 11:15 AM (AwPyG)

173 Pugsly Addams beats down Eddie Munster

Posted by: Kindltot at February 07, 2016 11:17 AM (q2o38)

174 93 Here's the thing. Nobody was watching on the Saturday night before Super Bowl except partisans whose minds are already made up. One hand clapping, tree falling in the forest, etc., choose your metaphor.

Why does "the Saturday night before Super Bowl" make any difference? Do you think fans are pulling an all-nighter the day before the game?!?
I think the fans 1) watched the debate (or not), 2) went to sleep, then 3) got up to watch the game.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 11:20 AM (9Fcph)

175 Asking Hillary supporters what her accomplishments were used to be something of a sport.

But what about Rubio? His big "accomplishment" was that he betrayed his supporters on a major issue. OK, maybe he got some "poison pill" into ObamaCare (maybe) - where will that go with HIS Senate? I'd guess it would lead to a BAILOUT.

And what about Cruz? His big "accomplishment" was to lead the Republican charge against the Democrats in Congress. Don't get me wrong - I applaud him for that - but he FAILED. OK, he had successful arguments before the Supreme Court - I hear Ben Carson separated conjoined twins at the brain too.

Neither has been in charge of anything bigger than a team of lawyers. It's the ghost of Obama.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 11:26 AM (/q6+P)

176 107 "Both Christie and Trump are just the opposite - easily able to get into an unscripted to and fro with an unexpected question."

Trump is a vacuous clown. That's why he's always short on details: because he doesn't actually know any of the details.
EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN ANSWER from Trump is some variation of "It'll be great once I change things. Winning! This country doesn't win anymore. I'm a tough guy, I'll fix everything."

Christie has a bit more substance, but he's been more definitively proven untrustworthy. He says nice things, but you know he'll never follow through.
Luckily in the last debate, he contributed to the analysis of Rubio without have to fulfill any promises.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 11:32 AM (9Fcph)

177 RE: Rubio - "Is this fatal? No, he still has his strengths. He's a smart guy. He's not dumb."

Not dumb, but now I don't believe he's that smart. He tells a nice story. Repeatedly. And now he offers his policy bites. Repeatedly w/ minimal deviation and lacking supportive substantive insight. He's also much too inexperienced. Tell a story enough times and it becomes automatic and inauthentic. It makes me wonder if he can think on his feet WRT novel problems, and the presidency is nothing if it isn't simply overwhelmed with novel problems.

I wasn't going to vote for him before. I'm really not going to vote for him now. Add his extensive and voluminous deceit on immigration/Go8 and I really dislike the guy.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 11:41 AM (1CroS)

178 @177 ''...Trump is a vacuous clown. That's why he's always short on details: because he doesn't actually know any of the details.
EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN ANSWER from Trump is some variation of "It'll be great once I change things. Winning! This country doesn't win anymore. I'm a tough guy, I'll fix everything." '

Actually, you're the vacuous clown. I remember when they were talking about a North Korean missile and everybody else was talking about the military or north Korea itself, it was Trump who came in at the end as the guy who actually UNDERSTANDS what the power structure is over there - he said that to deal with that problem, you have to take it up with CHINA, who can put the screws to NK all they want.

The "vacuous clown" was also the only guy who hung back with Ben Carson, during that screw-up in the introductions.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 11:44 AM (/q6+P)

179 This Rubio thing may not be as bad as when Dan Quayle had his major put-down from Lloyd Bentson - but it was really, really bad. How do get elected to POTUS after being manhandled and schooled like that?

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 11:46 AM (/q6+P)

180 As a Cruz fan, Rubio is my second choice. I can't fault him for disciplined messaging. It's required vs MSM "gotcha" tactics.

Posted by: Tom Timmons at February 07, 2016 11:50 AM (h566X)

181 154 "Subsequent campaigns will all recognized size the peril of overscripted candidates, and will prepare modules on how to deal with such situations should they arise."

LOL
There's only so much RAM in these bots. You can't just keep adding in new modules.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 11:54 AM (9Fcph)

182 I've said it before, but this is the worst collection of candidates I've seen in my lifetime. From BOTH parties.

And we're about to enter the Burning Times. The wheels are coming off the ship of state, to mix a metaphor.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 11:54 AM (sdi6R)

183 161 Historically, a Rubio/Cruz ticket is more likely.

You always put the guy that the other side completely hates into the VP slot. It acts as a buffer against anybody with ideas of assassination.
Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy

That would mean a Cruz/Fiorina or Cruz/Trump ticket. If it were Rubio/Cruz, the Cruz people would have an incentive to bump Rubio off. The two must be ideologically compatible.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 11:58 AM (9Fcph)

184
It's a form of bait-and-switch the Rubio uses, and I find it very off-putting. It's actually dishonest.
That's why I keep getting this "used car salesman" feeling from Rubio: because he uses the same tactics as a used car salesman.

I wrote a whole column on this, I hope Ace posts it today or tomorrow.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 12:00 PM (N8hFs)

185 Matt_SE: "You always put the guy that the other side completely hates into the VP slot."

In that case, Anybody/Palin 2016...

if you want to watch Democrats/Commies melt with rage.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:01 PM (1CroS)

186 One purpose of a debate is to see if a candidate can 'think on his feet'. Rubio failed that test. Miserably.

Posted by: The Hot Gates at February 07, 2016 12:05 PM (KJZeR)

187 179 "Actually, you're the vacuous clown. I remember when they were talking about a North Korean missile and everybody else was talking about the military or north Korea itself, it was Trump who came in at the end as the guy who actually UNDERSTANDS what the power structure is over there - he said that to deal with that problem, you have to take it up with CHINA, who can put the screws to NK all they want.

The 'vacuous clown' was also the only guy who hung back with Ben Carson, during that screw-up in the introductions."

1) Actually, you're the vacuous clown:Wow, Optimizer (or whatever your real name is)...that hurts coming from you.
2) North Korea: Everybody in the US who isn't retarded knows that you work on the Norks through China. We've all known this going back at least to the Bill Clinton administration. Nice to see that you've finally caught up to the rest of us.
3) Carson: Yeah, because if there's one thing I associate with Trump, it's moral decency.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 12:10 PM (9Fcph)

188 I saw Vacuous Clown open for Insane Clown Posse in '05.

No, I don't remember where it was.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 12:13 PM (sdi6R)

189 How can anyone support Rubio after Phyllis Schlafly, once his biggest supporter, laid out this week 15 pages of Rubio's most blatant lies / actions concerning amnesty?

via Gateway Pundit: https://tinyurl.com/jych4am

Posted by: Mykidzmom at February 07, 2016 12:19 PM (CyCaV)

190 Under what evidence do you say Rubio is smart, Ace?

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 12:31 PM (NPofj)

191 I don't like Rubio either, but doesn't The Haggard Queen have and use a similar pile of stock soundbites?

Her's are in answer to the puff "questions" she gets, though. Even those about email servers, her untrustworthiness, and her lies.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 07, 2016 12:34 PM (U6f54)

192 OK, I pre-denounce myself for posting this Gawker thing, but these robot trolls are funny:

http://gawker.com/rubio-bots-showed-up-to-greet-marco-roboto-in-new-hamps-1757626471

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 12:35 PM (t5zYU)

193 Fat Boy Slim is not for me, but man he got in touch with his inner federal prosecutor! Loved that.

We'll have to vote for Amnestio if he's nominated, I suppose, but it's clear now that he'd be a blank slate for Mitch to write on.

Posted by: mnw (rare and flounced) at February 07, 2016 12:37 PM (GZ+At)

194 Is Jeb! still targeting Rubio to stay the establishment choice?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 12:37 PM (oVJmc)

195 But if we are defeated by the Establishment and
Rubio wins the nom, once again wee have to face the horrible reality of a
deranged revolutionary radical or a revenge-minded tinpot dictator
winning the Presidency.

Strategy? "Sticking it to the Establishment"? "Let it burn?"

I can't. When push comes to shove, I would vote Rubio in November. I would have no choice.

Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:18 AM (jBuUi)

I won't vote Dondi... we are at a crossroads and the establishment Republicans are just as bent on the destruction of this country as the Democrats. The Republicans may want that destruction to come at a slower pace, but a vote for them is still a vote that says we are willing to go over the cliff like the lemmings those votes prove us to be.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 12:39 PM (NPofj)

196 I love the Rubio bots, even from Gawker!

A related problem for me on Rubio is that he looks easy as hell to roll over. He is calculating, yes, but -- and this is worse -- he doesn't know enough to really understand the politics and subtleties of the issues in which he gets involved.

Posted by: MTF at February 07, 2016 12:40 PM (TxJGV)

197 mnw: "We'll have to vote for Amnestio if he's nominated..."

No, the Constitution says nothing about 'droids assembled from Cuban parts. Denied.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:41 PM (1CroS)

198 How do get elected to POTUS after being manhandled and schooled like that?
Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 11:46 AM (/q6+P)

Substantial and unstinting help from the MSM GOPe and the Dems Against Hillary.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 07, 2016 12:42 PM (q2o38)

199 All these comments and no one has started calling him the Rubot? For shame, Morons. That one seems too obvious to have missed.

"Rubiot" would have also been acceptable.

Posted by: locarno at February 07, 2016 12:42 PM (WKtqc)

200 193
We'll have to vote for Amnestio if he's nominated

Posted by: mnw (rare and flounced) at February 07, 2016 12:37 PM (GZ+At)

Not. A. Fucking. Chance.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 12:43 PM (sdi6R)

201 The problem with Rubio in particular and the GOP establishment as a whole, is the basic acceptance of the premise of the FDR New Deal (which goes back to the watershed years of 1933-1940).

There has to be a complete political and philosophical repudiation of everything that came out of the New Deal/and Johnson's Great Society if we are ever going to restore ourselves.

Republicans got so used to LOSING to FDR/New Deal politics, that they have forgotten how to fight back against the basic premise. It is why there are no Republicans in charge of big cities in America, and why they have become such hell-holes of bad governance. The demographics in big cities are a basic reason why the Democrats are winning (if you can call Obama winning), or at least why they persist in the idiotic embrace of Socialism.

And actually, the upside to the Obama era (calling this the Era of the Stupid Society), is that the Republicans have actually gotten big majorities in State House and Governor seats. Now, if the stupid party could only realize what they have to do to turn that real political power into some tangible results.

And that is, of course, asking for too much.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative...now older and senile at February 07, 2016 12:44 PM (RFeQD)

202 Again,

Ryan House + McConnell Senate + Rubio Presidency = Amnesty to the Nth degree and the end of a nation.

The only math worse than the above is the national debt, and it might actually be tied in awfulness.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:45 PM (1CroS)

203 I'll vote for any of them except Jeb! and Kasich.... I have to draw the line somewhere..... To be honest I don't like any of them...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 12:46 PM (/dSsq)

204 Here's another one:

Macro Rubio

Thank you. Don't forget to tip the waitress.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:47 PM (1CroS)

205
There are some who've been calling Rubio fairly shallow and unimpressive for, well, years. Right here in these comment sections. Lately he's been termed a platitude machine, by these same people. If his name were Smith, half the commenters here would never have heard of him (the degradation of American politics into idiotic racism and tribalism and "identity" is complete, even if huge chunks of the electorate refuse to embrace that degradation).

No, he's not "dumb". But yes, that doesn't mean much any more, especially in public life. The standards now are very, very low. The civic culture, such as it still exists, has been largely dumbed down beyond recognition. He fits in the "brilliant" category as defined by the mediocrity in the WH at the moment. He would be a deputy asst. secretary of commerce in a more serious time.

And not everyone's shallow, ace. And the most important things in public policy are not complex, not at all. They can be "hard", but rarely complicated. That right there is the rather dumb conceit and misunderstanding of the NPR class. A vanishingly ineffective minority, to be sure, actually understands the world in all its simplicity and doesn't need "narratives" (the most annoying word of the current era).

Rubio is not-dumb enough to understand what a catastrophic, ridiculous, comically disastrous policy amnesty would be. It would guarantee decades of continued unregulated mass migration. So, best guess is that he and his ilk are just criminally irresponsible, and of course breathakingly mendacious in trying to sell their incredly stupid policy "ideas" to the public.

Posted by: rhomboid at February 07, 2016 12:47 PM (QDnY+)

206 Kasich may be the big winner on Tuesday.

NH allows Independents to vote in either primary, which makes it hard to forecast. You could have a disproportionate number vote in the Republican primary because Bernie's up over 20% on Hillary, who continues to get weaker. If this happens it'll boost Kasich, who's the most moderate Republican.

Trump should win NH with 30 to 35%. Rubio was coming in second but now likely will be in a jam up with Cruz and Kasich with each getting around 12 to 15%. So the difference between 2nd and 4th could be over a small percentage. Christie will get a boost to around 8%. Jeb and Carson should drop out.

The GOPe was gravitating to Rubio but may now move to Kasich or Christie if Rubio falters.

This was moving to a three man race among Trump, Cruz and Rubio. But if Rubio falters, the GOPe vote will continue to get split.

Trump's challenge is get more than 35% in upcoming primaries. Has he maxed out with the Mad as Hell crowd?

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 12:47 PM (rs5De)

207 Marco Rubio acts and talks a lot like Sean Hannity.

Posted by: Random Thought Generator at February 07, 2016 12:48 PM (wLLbf)

208 I didn't tune in to last night's debate. I figured I would express the cat's impacted anal glands instead.

But for those who did watch, did ANY of the Republicans on stage, even as an aside, point out how farcical it is to have, involved with a Republican debate,

-- Raddled Martha Raddatz, whose husband was appointed to a cushy federal seat with high revolving door potential by Obama, and whose wedding was personally attended by Obama?

-- George Staphylococcus, a former Clinton White House official, who since becoming a network talking head has made large financial contributions to the Clinton Foundation, without disclosing them to his viewing audience?

-- "Moo-er" David Muir, who did his best to propagandize the Democratic sockpuppet "Occupy" movement from the anchor chair, back when Occupy was a thing?

That's why I don't tune in. Rides Shortbus and the rest of the RNC brain trust are utter fools for agreeing to these Democratically controlled fiascoes and calling the result "debates". These are not debates in any sense of the word. This crap has to stop.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 07, 2016 12:48 PM (noWW6)

209 I agree that a Rubio presidency would, more than likely, be far better than either Hillary or Bernie.

However, it will mean nothing will ever change. The Establishment will slap itself on the back and say, "See, we were right all along. Back to business as usual--and stop annoying us, peasants."

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 07, 2016 12:48 PM (B8JRQ)

210
The GOPe was gravitating to Rubio but may now move to Kasich or Christie if Rubio falters

Don't see that happening... Especially Christie...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 12:48 PM (/dSsq)

211 Is this fatal? No, he still has his strengths. He's a smart guy. He's not dumb.

I can do things, I'm SMAHT and I want RESPECT! Not dumb like everybody says! Send Rubio to campaign in some mickey mouse town, send Rubio to pick up Reince Preibus at the airport!

Posted by: Fredo Rubio at February 07, 2016 12:49 PM (yZnGH)

212 @187 "...2) North Korea: Everybody in the US who isn't retarded knows that you work on the Norks through China. We've all known this going back at least to the Bill Clinton administration. Nice to see that you've finally caught up to the rest of us."

Me? How about the non-Trump candidates? FOCUS.

"3) Carson: Yeah, because if there's one thing I associate with Trump, it's moral decency"

I didn't see anybody else hangin' with the doctor.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 12:49 PM (/q6+P)

213 At least Rubio didn't get baited into making a "47%" mistake.

Which is what his opponents in the RNC want.

Christie is unelectable and it's his own fault. Bush is unelectable for obvious reasons. Trump is a douchebag of Galactic proportions, nobody likes Cruz because he's been known to turn on his own and has made too many enemies because of it; and that leaves --

Rubio.

How does Christie see the benefit in hurting Rubio? That fatass has ZERO chance of getting the nomination. Go hug obama, fatso.....

Rubio went through this garbage in Florida against Charlie Crist. This isn't news to him. He'll come around.

The object here, people, is to keep the scum of the earth dimocrap party out of power.

NOT to elect a Prom King.

Posted by: Uncle Rick at February 07, 2016 12:50 PM (gugzg)

214 209 I agree that a Rubio presidency would, more than likely, be far better than either Hillary or Bernie.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 07, 2016 12:48 PM (B8JRQ)

I don't agree with that premise at all.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 12:50 PM (sdi6R)

215 Marco Rubio acts and talks a lot like Sean Hannity.

YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 12:51 PM (oVJmc)

216 Trump is a baffoon but he's a real person.
---
No terminator would be caught dead with that hairpiece

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 12:51 PM (ZbV+0)

217 "we were seeing something that we couldn't quite put our finger on, that we couldn't quite explain, but that we didn't like."

It's that Rubio is as smooth as a suppository.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 07, 2016 12:51 PM (oKE6c)

218 We'll have to vote for Amnestio if he's nominated, I suppose, but it's
clear now that he'd be a blank slate for Mitch to write on.
---
Nope.

It's Trump or Cruz or Sanders.

Because fuck you, that's why.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 12:52 PM (ZbV+0)

219 Well then, rikl-the-pure:

Say, "Hello, leftwing SCOTUS!"

Btw.., I bet I detest Amnestio as much as you do? & I've donated to Cruz 'til it hurts. But we're down to nothing here. You be pure. Not me.

Now Trump? No. I am too pure for HIM.

Posted by: mnw (rare and flounced) at February 07, 2016 12:53 PM (GZ+At)

220 You know I get that most people here hate Rubio, but to say that He would be as bad or worse than Hillary! or Bernie I just don't buy....

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 12:53 PM (/dSsq)

221

It's that Rubio is as smooth as a suppository.

He's pre-lubed for your convenience.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 12:53 PM (oVJmc)

222 Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 12:50 PM (sdi6R)

Yes, with a Rubio presidency, you just wouldn't see it coming!

Posted by: Hrothgar at February 07, 2016 12:54 PM (wYnyS)

223 Look, I'm impressed Rubio was able to do it without teleprompters. He's nothing at all like Obama.

Posted by: Fritz at February 07, 2016 12:55 PM (BngQR)

224 Assume the GOP puts up an establishment shill, honestly, or by subterfuge.

Do we then consider a voter's purge of lower in the ticket?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 12:56 PM (oVJmc)

225 Methos: "It's Trump or Cruz or Sanders.

Because fuck you, that's why."

Hey, you saw my ballot. And I don't have a webcam.

Well, while you're there, can you tell me where I left my keys?

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:56 PM (1CroS)

226 @189 "How can anyone support Rubio after Phyllis Schlafly, once his biggest supporter, laid out this week 15 pages of Rubio's most blatant lies / actions concerning amnesty?

via Gateway Pundit: https://tinyurl.com/jych4am"

Thanks! I'll be reading that whole thing.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 12:57 PM (/q6+P)

227 "It's that Rubio is as smooth as a suppository."

And is employing the same avenue of approach.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 07, 2016 12:57 PM (noWW6)

228 The object here, people, is to keep the scum of the earth dimocrap party out of power.
---
No, it really isn't.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 12:57 PM (ZbV+0)

229 Optimizer: "Thanks! I'll be reading that whole thing."

It's an indictment. You'll leave angry.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 12:58 PM (1CroS)

230 Rubio = open boarders and amnesty = NFW i'm voting for him

and yeah, since Sanders/Shrillery would mean the same thing, what's the difference? Demonrat or DIABLO, either way we're screwed.

Posted by: redc1c4 at February 07, 2016 12:59 PM (j63nU)

231
Islamic Rage Boy, re Gang of Eight bill, "There were parts of it that were inspired."

Wow. This didn't appear to be sarcasm. And it was followed by an obvious yet correct observation about how the process of House-Senate conference would have in any case substituted - I dunno, a "worse" or "less inspired" bill?

The very concept of the bill was idiotic, and disastrous - obviously. There is no need for "reform" amounting to more than 2 pages, and that would all be esoteric detail relating to small visa status matters.

There are 10 times as many laws on the books as are needed for a sane, fair, intelligent immigration situation to be recreated, if the laws were enforced. No "reform" is needed. The Gang of Eight bill was one of the most audaciously idiotic and indefensible things that's ever had a major co-sponsor event to introduce it - which, at this point ishistory, is really saying something.

Posted by: rhomboid at February 07, 2016 12:59 PM (QDnY+)

232 216 Trump is a baffoon but he's a real person.
---
Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 12:51 PM (ZbV+0)

"baffoon" should be a word.

I'm not sure what it would mean, but it should be a word.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 01:00 PM (sdi6R)

233 Rubio HAD a vision once, or at least could repeat back the vision his voters had. But once he was elected he couldn't run away from it fast enough.

And you know what? I'm TIRED if saying 'of course I'll vote for the GOP pick over Hillary, because every time someone says that the GOPe says, 'Yeah, we got this.' The have no incentive to cut the crap.

So: no. I will NOT vote for the GOPe pick, whether it's Trump or Jeb or Rubio or Christie. I WILL vote Dem, or third party or maybe just vote down ticket... or maybe I'll just stay home. I owe the GOP no loyalty they don't owe me.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at February 07, 2016 01:00 PM (Kucy5)

234 but this idea that he's a savior, or that we should just drop everything and nominate him, is just wrong.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:19 AM (dciA+)

Mi famiglia non mangiare in Las Vegas, e mi famiglia non mangiare in Miami, con Marco Rubio!

Posted by: Ace Five Angels at February 07, 2016 01:00 PM (yZnGH)

235 PS: i live in #Failifornia, so i don't have to hold my nose and hope i make a difference. we're going D no matter what, unless, of course, the choice is Trump vs D... i can see him having a chance here, even in some of the coastal cites.

Posted by: redc1c4 at February 07, 2016 01:00 PM (j63nU)

236 "You know I get that most people here hate Rubio, but to say that He
would be as bad or worse than Hillary! or Bernie I just don't buy...."

The thing about Sanders is that he's so far left that a bunch of Democrats would be regularly fighting to rein in his worst impulses.

Hell, Nancy Pelosi was asked about the Sanders tax proposals the other day -- which would for ultra-affluent limousine liberals like her be actually quite personally painful if enacted -- and she backed away from the Sanders plan so fast that you would think it was an infuriated wolverine coated in radioactive fallout.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 07, 2016 01:01 PM (noWW6)

237 @205 "...There are some who've been calling Rubio fairly shallow and unimpressive for, well, years. Right here in these comment sections. Lately he's been termed a platitude machine, by these same people. If his name were Smith, half the commenters here would never have heard of him (the degradation of American politics into idiotic racism and tribalism and "identity" is complete, even if huge chunks of the electorate refuse to embrace that degradation). ..."

Somebody who knows how tear this kind of, er, PERSON, a new one without getting themselves banned would have my thanks.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:02 PM (/q6+P)

238 235 PS: i live in #Failifornia, so i don't have to hold my nose and hope i make a difference. we're going D no matter what, unless, of course, the choice is Trump vs D... i can see him having a chance here, even in some of the coastal cites.
Posted by: redc1c4 at February 07, 2016 01:00 PM (j63nU)

Same here, and I've noticed the same thing. Even in coastal cities, The Donald gets some traction. Which is amazing, to say the least.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 07, 2016 01:02 PM (oKE6c)

239 #228 Neither Trump, Christie, Jeb or Rubio will donthat. Or even want to.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at February 07, 2016 01:02 PM (Kucy5)

240 Oh Dear. The Boston Herald, link via Drudge (center) starts off with...

A malfunctioning Marco Rubio crashed as he was overloaded by attacks last night ~ by Gov. Christie [snip] ~ who tried to portray the Florida Senator as a Washington robot Heh heh..

That made me laugh. It's a meme I think will stick. Especially if we work at it.

Posted by: Yip at February 07, 2016 01:03 PM (e7T6D)

241 Drew, thanks for bumping this up. I meant to go back and read it, but might not have.

Ace posting at 2am is always weird and disorienting. Overnight thread, Morning thread - that's the way things are s'pose't' be.

Posted by: mindful webworker - habitually at February 07, 2016 01:03 PM (H/5vA)

242 "baffoon" should be a word.
---
Uh, *throws the guy I copypasta-ed that from under the bus*

Maybe to describe a buffoon with gaffes, see also, Biden.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:03 PM (ZbV+0)

243 Say, "Hello, leftwing SCOTUS!"

Btw.., I bet I detest Amnestio as much as you do? I've donated
to Cruz 'til it hurts. But we're down to nothing here. You be pure.
Not me.

Now Trump? No. I am too pure for HIM.

Posted by: mnw (rare and flounced) at February 07, 2016 12:53 PM (GZ+At)

mnw... establishment Republicans do not tend to appoint conservative justices. Remember, Alito was a last minute substitute. That paragon of ?, Harriet Miers was supposed to get that that nom... cause vagina.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:04 PM (NPofj)

244 Rubio would be a better choice than the 2 socialists, but he got trolled by Schumer, wonder if this line of attack by Christie will stick to him the rest of the way.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 01:04 PM (HWcaz)

245 West world has a political model

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:04 PM (zOTsN)

246 So in Ghostbusters, they had to choose the form of the destroyer. They tried to not choose but somebody thought of staypuft.

The republicans will not have a winner at the convention. We will end up with the stay puff marshmallow man because someone will consider him as a least worse alternative.

Not sure who will cross the streams.

Posted by: simplemind at February 07, 2016 01:05 PM (BTnAK)

247 Yip: "That made me laugh. It's a meme I think will stick. Especially if we work at it."

The Boston Herald must have borrowed the Washington Free Beacon style guide for the weekend.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 01:06 PM (1CroS)

248 Good grief. Which candidate doesn't do this? Rubio happens to do it BETTER than most. But apparently, every single debate when Christie has to throw a tantrum about any exchange that he isn't involved in being something the voters don't care about, that's some brilliant spontaneous thought. What do you think people are doing when they do debate prep anyway? What do you think their advisors are helping them with? When you aren't prepared with certain points that you want to get across, you either don't get them across, or you say something idiotic. Did Rubio come across a little poorly with this last night? Sure. But it's also a stupid little sissy girl attack from Christie, like someone being too well-groomed or something. It says nothing about who would make the better President or where they stand on issues.

Posted by: Matt at February 07, 2016 01:06 PM (W4XHR)

249 "establishment Republicans do not tend to appoint conservative justices. Remember, Alito was a last minute substitute."

And John "Obamacare is constitutional 'cause it's a tax!" Roberts wasn't a substitute. The Dread Justice Roberts was a first-out-of-the-gate choice for the Vichy GOP.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 07, 2016 01:07 PM (noWW6)

250 unless, of course, the choice is Trump vs D... i can see him having a chance here, even in some of the coastal cites.
---
Between that and zombie's ongoing supposition that Trump could carry NY, I find it hard to even contemplate what that would do to the race. Not even the possibility of carrying both but that a Dem might actually have to spend money to hold those two...

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:07 PM (ZbV+0)

251 What's a tortoise?

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 01:07 PM (OvUux)

252 AnonymousDrivel, Agreed. Good oh!

Posted by: Yip at February 07, 2016 01:07 PM (e7T6D)

253
The object here, people, is to keep the scum of the earth dimocrap party out of power.

Rubio's Gang of 8 bullshit nearly handed them a decisive victory.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 01:08 PM (oVJmc)

254 Same here, and I've noticed the same thing. Even in
coastal cities, The Donald gets some traction. Which is amazing, to say
the least.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 07, 2016 01:02 PM (oKE6c)

Cause, OMG... he's on reality tv (squeee). It's almost like getting to vote for a Kardashian to some people.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:09 PM (NPofj)

255 What happens when you hire experts (and then listen to them). Instead you should just be yourself and have a "let the chips fall where they may" attitude. A question about robots could easily be addressed as the natural response of a business making a proper cost-benefit analysis. Example: this would be a good time to bring up the way employee and government demands for a $15 minimum wage can only result in more automation and fewer jobs, but these candidates are afraid of making enemies in certain demographics with this kind of straight talk.

Posted by: google gravy at February 07, 2016 01:09 PM (3MNCs)

256 @206 "Kasich may be the big winner on Tuesday.

NH allows Independents to vote in either primary, which makes it hard to forecast. You could have a disproportionate number vote in the Republican primary because Bernie's up over 20% on Hillary, who continues to get weaker. If this happens it'll boost Kasich, who's the most moderate Republican."

Well wouldn't THAT be something? It reminds me of how I keep saying how the Dems REALLY need Kasich in their primary. So we'll have the Dem-leaning independents coming over to the Republican primary to vote for the 3rd Dem candidate.

The pundits would make hay of it until the next one, but the result would be that NH becomes irrelevant.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:10 PM (/q6+P)

257 Say, "Hello, leftwing SCOTUS!"
---
John Roberts pretty much ended the "but judges" excuse to vote republican. Try again.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:10 PM (ZbV+0)

258 Man Rubio fans are unhinged today. If it's about the ideas, then don't get so offended if the man isn't perfect. This idea that we swear allegiance to some "knight"or some "lord". Put not your faith in Princes. It's supposed to be about the ideas. It's crazy how personal people are taking this

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:10 PM (zOTsN)

259 You...... you.... you... found me out....

I got the Rubio.7 update.... and now...now...now... you can't tell if its me or not...

Posted by: Max Headroom for President! at February 07, 2016 01:11 PM (f7rv6)

260 BTW, will everyone else be able to continue giving their glib, memorized 25-second talking points? Or will they too have to start making up fresh new answers to identical questions that are asked a million times over? It isn't that the criticism has no validity, it is that it is being applied only to one candidate, and that is ridiculous.

"Palinized" is exactly right, but for a different reason. She, too, was hammered for giving the same stump speech over and over again. She's so stooopid!!! But John Edwards could give the same dumbass "Two Americas" speech across two election cycles, and nobody said boo.

Posted by: Matt at February 07, 2016 01:11 PM (W4XHR)

261 rubio forgot to download his upgrade

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at February 07, 2016 01:11 PM (0O7c5)

262 Meh. I mean its a demonstration the guy memorizes and speaks rather than feeling and knowing, but if you're going to repeat a talking point a lot, one that kicks President Obama in the pills is not a bad place to start.

I mean, what's been the complaint the last two presidential cycles about GOP candidates? The cowardly hands-off approach toward Obama. Its good to see the candidates actually take it to him.

However I guess we'll see, but I doubt this will get hung on Rubio unless its hammered by the press. Are they? I kinda doubt it.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:12 PM (39g3+)

263 he's such a fast talker......if it wasn't for his speech impediment he'd have a career in advertising disclosures.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at February 07, 2016 01:12 PM (0O7c5)

264 I don't need to try again, Methos. FOAD.

Posted by: mnw (rare and flounced) at February 07, 2016 01:12 PM (GZ+At)

265 @213 "...Christie is unelectable and it's his own fault. Bush is unelectable for obvious reasons. Trump is a douchebag of Galactic proportions, nobody likes Cruz because he's been known to turn on his own and has made too many enemies because of it; and that leaves -- Rubio."

1) Gimme a break.
2) Rubio's only record is to betray his key supporters on a major issue.
3) Just gimme a break.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:13 PM (/q6+P)

266 Some folks were glitched.

Posted by: Marco Rubio New OS Did it! at February 07, 2016 01:13 PM (e7T6D)

267 1) Gimme a break.

2) Rubio's only record is to betray his key supporters on a major issue.

3) Just gimme a break.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:13 PM (/q6+P)
break me off a piece of that kit kat bar....

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at February 07, 2016 01:14 PM (0O7c5)

268 John Roberts pretty much ended the "but judges" excuse to vote republican. Try again.

Like the way Heller came out?

It wouldn't have with one more Dem appointee.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, let all the children boogie at February 07, 2016 01:14 PM (1xUj/)

269 It's not unfair to notice if a candidate, whether it's your "guy" or not, is having trouble answering questions of promoting the ideas. It's his job. It's not unfair to notice. It's not personal to notice

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:15 PM (zOTsN)

270 Rubio's fanbois here sure seem to be getting pissed that their boy wonder is Jason Todd.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:15 PM (zt+N6)

271 My guy is Cruz, and I know the same stuff could be said about him. It's a dumb criticism because it is every bit as true about every candidate, including Christie and the rest of the girls crowing about it. I'm sure this will be yet another attack that is selectively applied to Cruz (assuming he wins) in the general election, but completely ignored when Hillary does it. Cruz can defeat Rubio in the battle of ideas, and will obliterate Hillary. Bringing this kind of useless attack in only ends up arming the Democrats. This is why the G0P is and always will be the stupid party.

Posted by: Matt at February 07, 2016 01:15 PM (W4XHR)

272
4 I will dare to contradict Ace's anti-Rubio stance and say:

If Rubio wins the nomination (that's IF), I will indeed vote for him over Commie Sanders and Cruella Clinton.

I will fight against Rubio winning the nom in the first place, and vote for Cruz, but if November rolls around and -- beyond my control -- I'm looking at a ballot with Rubio and either D candidate, I can't in good conscience allow either one anywhere near the levers of power.

Bottom line: primary strategy and November voting stark realities are two entirely different ballgames.
Posted by: zombie at February 07, 2016 02:11 AM (jBuUi)

You always have a choice to reject Rubio and all other gope units.

If you are so afraid of the Democrats that you will vote for any stooge the gope shoves onstage, then you are a slave and the gope owns you.

Break the cycle.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:15 PM (MQEz6)

273 I mean, what's been the complaint the last two presidential cycles about
GOP candidates? The cowardly hands-off approach toward Obama. Its
good to see the candidates actually take it to him.
---
Obama's not on the ticket. Taking it to him no longer has much value.

Aside from "everything that guy did was bullshit and this is me using my pen and phone to repeal it root and branch".

Taking it to Hillary isn't worth a lot either because everyone hates her. Taking it to Sanders is easy because he's white.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:16 PM (ZbV+0)

274 Who's under the impression that we're now backing Christie? He's simply being useful.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 01:16 PM (oVJmc)

275 and then bails out to vote Democrat...every damn time

There are quite a few left leaning pundits like that. They crucify their own guys, argue for the opposition, point out the strength of Republicans, argue the GOP side... then vote Democrat every time. No matter how ghastly the D option is. I can't quite work it out.

If Chris Christie looked like Rubio, he'd be the GOPe choice. He'd be 20+ points better in the polls, too.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:17 PM (39g3+)

276 There is zero value in a nice guy POTUS.

What we need is a natural born gut shooter and throat stomper. The domestic enemy is as malicious and mendacious as any that ever existed in human history.

We need someone at the helm that not gonna turn all quivering lip when it comes to dealing with the enemy.

Posted by: Grimmy at February 07, 2016 01:17 PM (uUsh9)

277 I just read someone on here say that Cruz "turns on his own"... then proceed to support a Rubio candidacy..

up is down, black is white I guess.

Posted by: Reality Man at February 07, 2016 01:17 PM (Ch0fq)

278 Weird Dave has an interesting take on leading candidates and pandering v sincerity:

...When I view the three top Republican candidates for president through the lens of my job as a professional trainer, it's easy to pick up the pander....
http://bit.ly/pander-bear

Posted by: mindful webworker - faking sincerity at February 07, 2016 01:18 PM (H/5vA)

279 I don't need to try again, Methos. FOAD.
---
Ah, well, that surely convinced me to vote for any republican. Congratulations to the superior intellect.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:19 PM (ZbV+0)

280 I'm gonna say it Cruz can't win... I just don't see it.... Maybe Trump because He is a TV personality, has a chance...... The rest maybe Rubio can win, maybe not... Bush... never... Kasich a tiny possibility... Christie... Don't think so.... Carson... Who....? That's just My 2 cents worth... Hope I'm wrong...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:20 PM (/dSsq)

281 ICYMI, Senator Mike Lee: "Ted Cruz is my friend" http://washex.am/1PIFTkM

Now I happen to think that the political realities for Mike Lee in Utah will result in him endorsing someone else, probably Rubio, but it's nice to see him address this lie about Cruz.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:20 PM (t5zYU)

282 Rubio needs to take a page from Christine O'Donnell's playbook and get an ad out fast:

"I'm not a robot..."

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 01:20 PM (N8hFs)

283 Yes. When you chose the form of the destroyer, let it not be Rubio.

Posted by: simplemind at February 07, 2016 01:20 PM (BTnAK)

284 Like the way Heller came out?

It wouldn't have with one more Dem appointee.
---
Not relevant.

What keeps guns in the hands of 100 million Americans is the guns in the hands of 100 million Americans.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:21 PM (ZbV+0)

285 If it's Rubio I will vote for Rubio. And I hate Rubio. But Hillary or Sanders is way worse

Meanwhile, this idea that it's mean to notice a candidate is not very spontaneous at expressing the ideas is fair. Yes they all do it, but eventually the core is revealed. Don't be so "married" to a particular candidate. They will all fail us in some respect. You take as much as you can get and don't trust any of them

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:21 PM (zOTsN)

286 282 Rubio needs to take a page from Christine O'Donnell's playbook and get an ad out fast:

"I'm not a robot..."

At this point the best thing He could do is make a joke about it, it was that bad...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:22 PM (/dSsq)

287 Weird I was just reading about Rubio's performance. They said he tanked badly and mentioned Christie's takedowns.

I didn't watch so was it as bad as it sounds? I hope it is.

Off to read the post.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 07, 2016 01:22 PM (4ErVI)

288 Voting for Rubio is not voting against a Democrat.

Voting for Rubio is voting for a Democrat helper.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:22 PM (MQEz6)

289 >>280 I'm gonna say it Cruz can't win... I just don't see it....

The head to head polls that people point to as an argument for Rubio, show Cruz tied with Hillary and Rubio beating Hillary by 7 pts. That's not a lot to hang your electability hat on, imho.

It's not that these folks are afraid Cruz can't win, it's that they don't *want* him to win. He's really the only one left running who has a consistent record of disrupting Business As Usual in DC and the Acela corridor.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (t5zYU)

290 Hard to take serious anything said by Christie, who stood on a twilight beach with Obama held in his loving arms while professing eternal worship of his federal teat.

Posted by: Man from Wazzustan at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (FtrY1)

291 That Dave article is great and dead on from what I can see. Trump is obviously selling himself and he'll say and do whatever it takes. Rubio is trying to win, so he'll carefully spin and massage every statement through focus groups and spin doctors to get it just right. Cruz is trying to fight an image of being a heartless maniac, so he's trying to cultivate a nice guy persona, but comes across as artificial at times.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (39g3+)

292 I don't recall. Was Roberts on the court when Heller was decided?

Posted by: simplemind at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (BTnAK)

293 I met Rubio at a fund raiser last summer. First, he is SHORT. He says he's 5'10" and I have a 14 inch dick.

His stump speech was a B, but his interaction with the donors was a C-. Maybe he just wasn't in to sucking our dicks, but he acted like he really did not want to be there.

My wife thought he was cute, so he's got that going for him.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (jJRIy)

294 My guy is Cruz, and I know the same stuff could be
said about him. It's a dumb criticism because it is every bit as true
about every candidate, including Christie and the rest of the girls
crowing about it. I'm sure this will be yet another attack that is
selectively applied to Cruz (assuming he wins) in the general election,
but completely ignored when Hillary does it. Cruz can defeat Rubio in
the battle of ideas, and will obliterate Hillary. Bringing this kind of
useless attack in only ends up arming the Democrats. This is why the G0P
is and always will be the stupid party.

Posted by: Matt at February 07, 2016 01:15 PM (W4XHR)

Of all the things I have even seen said about Cruz, dim, robotic and unable to think on his feet are not among them. Cruz is scary smart and, if you look at the multiple videos of people confronting him because they don't agree with his stated stances, incredibly good at cogently defending conservatism in any situation.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:24 PM (NPofj)

295 I tried to shove through legislation that the American people absolutely do not want.

Vote for me to not represent you!

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 01:25 PM (zt+N6)

296 Every day we hate you more.

Posted by: The Republican Party at February 07, 2016 01:25 PM (XzRw1)

297
It's not that these folks are afraid Cruz can't win, it's that they don't *want* him to win. He's really the only one left running who has a consistent record of disrupting Business As Usual in DC and the Acela corridor

I'd like to think He could win, but then I look at all the LoFos out there... Mind numbed zombies that worship at the heals of the give me Dem party and I don't see them voting for Him.... At this point I'm so sick of this shit I'd let Hillary have the WH and get it over with....

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:26 PM (/dSsq)

298 @293 "I have a 14 inch dick."

How YOU doin'?!

(Notice I didn't say "useless without pictures"!)

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:26 PM (t5zYU)

299 Known unknowns.

Can Trump get more than 35% to 40% of the vote? As the field shrinks, will he pick up share or is he maxed out? Cruz has the money to hang in and keep 20% share, most of which would otherwise got to Trump. If Trump goes into Cleveland with only a plurality of delegates and looking unelectable in the general, the GOPe wll push for an alternative.

Other than states with a lot of Evangelicals, can Cruz win a primary? Could Cruz become the alternative to Trump? I don't think so, but YMMV.

Can Rubio even win a primary? He needs the field to shrink so that he picks up all the support that won't go to Trump/Cruz. Odds of that just went down, thanks to Christie's smack down. Real test is his home state of Florida, where he badly trails.

If not Cruz or Rubio, who's the alternative? I'd bet on Kasich. Policies aside, he's the most seemingly normal and likeable guy running (Carson doesn't count). This ins't an endorsement, just handicapping. The Ohio primary will be a test for Kasich. If Trump wins it, game over.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 01:27 PM (rs5De)

300 The same people and analysis saying Cruz cannot win insisted that only Dole, McCain, and Romney were electable. Somehow I don't trust their judgment. Can he win? I dunno, I doubt any Republican can win the presidency ever again, no matter what the real vote count is.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:27 PM (39g3+)

301 I doubt any Republican can win the presidency ever again, no matter what the real vote count is.

I'm beginning to feel the same way...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:28 PM (/dSsq)

302 nobody IN THE DC POWER ELITE likes Cruz because he's been known to turn on his own and has made too many enemies because of it;

FTFY, and it's Cruz' strongest selling point.

Rubio? Fuck Rubio. I'm not voting for a nothingburger just because he looks good when voting for him will result in the destruction of the America I know and love. I'd rather elect Bernie and get on with the national divorce.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 01:28 PM (N8hFs)

303 Christie keeps saying 'boy in the bubble'

boy in the bubble

boy in the bubble

boy in the bubble

but that's different from what Rubio says

Posted by: Willis Castlightly at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (0bOdy)

304 280 I'm gonna say it Cruz can't win... I just don't see it....

The head to head polls that people point to as an argument for
Rubio, show Cruz tied with Hillary and Rubio beating Hillary by 7 pts.
That's not a lot to hang your electability hat on, imho.

It's not that these folks are afraid Cruz can't win, it's that they
don't *want* him to win. He's really the only one left running who has a
consistent record of disrupting Business As Usual in DC and the Acela
corridor.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:23 PM (t5zYU)

I agree Y-not. Cruz wouldn't be in the race if he didn't see a path to win and he is the only one who is conservative. Trump is progressive on every issue BUT immigration (and I am not so sure he would hold the line even there.)

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (NPofj)

305 NH allows Independents to vote in either primary, which makes it hard to forecast. You could have a disproportionate number vote in the Republican primary because Bernie's up over 20% on Hillary, who continues to get weaker. If this happens it'll boost Kasich, who's the most moderate Republican."

Ugh.

This makes me nuts.

All primaries for both parties need to be closed.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (0cMkb)

306 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (MQEz6)

307 @260 "BTW, will everyone else be able to continue giving their glib, memorized 25-second talking points? Or will they too have to start making up fresh new answers to identical questions that are asked a million times over? It isn't that the criticism has no validity, it is that it is being applied only to one candidate, and that is ridiculous."

A fair point, but the idea is that Rubio has trouble deviating from, or going outside of, his rehearsed points, and repeated them multiple times in the SAME event.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (/q6+P)

308 Cruz is the smartest guy up there. Explaining conservative principles is not a canned response from him, it's where he lives. But he is not charismatic. And if he is the nominee I think GOPe would work against their own candidate. Not kidding. Hard to beat that

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (zOTsN)

309 Can we just state it here? Rubio was a very poor student. 2.1 GPA in high school and not a stellar college record.

Also, I don't get who thinks he's handsome. I hear it asserted, usually by men.

Rick Perry is handsome. Hell, Ben Carson is a handsome man -- and a very snappy dresser, as we learned this week.

By the way, the exit polling from Iowa showed that Cruz won women.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (t5zYU)

310 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

Me... except Jeb! and Kasich.... so sue Me...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (/dSsq)

311 Wow, Weird Dave's article is spot on. Thanks for sharing it.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (jJRIy)

312 Heller was really the last good supreme court decision, and that was in 2008. Eight years on, we've seen one after another of terrible, nation-demolishing insanity and stupidity. Oh, but unless a Republican is elected, we'll see bad rulings!

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (39g3+)

313 306, not me. The last two cycles broke me, and as time wears on I think less and less of GWB.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (OvUux)

314 I doubt any Republican can win the presidency ever again, no matter what the real vote count is.

It's the Californification of the USA.
Fareed Zakaria is on TV right how saying how carbon taxes are good and didn't harm California in any way so why not impose them on the entire country.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (FkBIv)

315 I was going to do a post on the Iowa exit polling, which has some interesting nuggets, as well as on the 4th Quarter fundraising, but I didn't want to pile on to Rubio. Short version: Cruz had a more solid base of voters in Iowa than did Rubio and Cruz kicked everyone's ass on fundraising/cash-on-hand/burn rate (except for Trump's burn rate which is very low b/c he gets so much free air time from Fox News).

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (t5zYU)

316 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:27 PM (39g3+)

As a Rubio supporter just said on Fox, they are trying to sell him as the ONLY one who can unite the Republican Party...

Which shows they really do NOT understand the anger out here...

Its the same crap they tried to hand us with Ryan as Speaker of the House.... and we see how THAT is turning out...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:32 PM (f7rv6)

317 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. Not at this juncture.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:33 PM (39g3+)

318 >>And if he is the nominee I think GOPe would work against their own candidate.

If they do that, it's pitchfork time.

I'm NOT a Let It Burner, but these turds need to be taught a lesson.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:33 PM (t5zYU)

319 308
Cruz is the smartest guy up there. Explaining conservative principles
is not a canned response from him, it's where he lives. But he is not
charismatic. And if he is the nominee I think GOPe would work against
their own candidate. Not kidding. Hard to beat that

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (zOTsN)

I agree. "Hispanic Goldwater". In 64 the East coast GOPe were so butt hurt over Rockefeller's getting booed in SF that they refused to make any effort to help him. I sometimes think is was antisemitism. Goldwater, an Episcopalian, was half Jewish.

Cruz is just not warm and he has a face that needs punching. When you are as smart as he is, it must be hard to not smack the shit out of some of the idiots he has to put up with.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:34 PM (jJRIy)

320 Fareed Zakaria is on TV right how saying how carbon taxes are good and didn't harm California in any way so why not impose them on the entire country.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (FkBIv)

Yea.... gas is ONLY $1 a gallon more here than in the rest of the country....

No harm at all....

/facepalm

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:34 PM (f7rv6)

321 Its the same crap they tried to hand us with Ryan as Speaker of the House.... and we see how THAT is turning out...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:32 PM (f7rv6)

Rubio is Paul Ryan. Jeb is Kevin McCarthy.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 01:34 PM (zt+N6)

322 /Off amnesty lover sock

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:35 PM (zt+N6)

323 At this rate, Rubio could collapse to 1st place.

Posted by: El Kabong at February 07, 2016 01:35 PM (datdl)

324 Is it too late for Clint Eastwood to enter the race?

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:35 PM (/dSsq)

325 Time for a loyalty pledge. Will GOPe and Trump support Cruz if he is the nominee

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (zOTsN)

326 306
Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (MQEz6)

I will. Even if it's Trump. Biden sucks. Hillary is not going to be their nominee.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (jJRIy)

327 The head to head polls that people point to as an argument for

Rubio, show Cruz tied with Hillary and Rubio beating Hillary by 7 pts.

That's not a lot to hang your electability hat on, imho.

---------------------------

I think we need to give other scenarios at least 50/50. Explore Cruz vs Kerry, Rubio vs Biden, etc., with a heavily damaged Democrat brand thanks to Hillary's exiting the campaign under a cloud of scandal and suspicion.

Posted by: iforgot at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (YOxw1)

328 Fear.

The gope feeds on fear.

Stop being afraid.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (MQEz6)

329 312 Heller was really the last good supreme court decision, and that was in 2008. Eight years on, we've seen one after another of terrible, nation-demolishing insanity and stupidity. Oh, but unless a Republican is elected, we'll see bad rulings!

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:31 PM (39g3+)

but even Heller was a squish of a Ruling... because it allowed laws like in California to stay in place...

sure, you can have a gun... if you have our permission AND follow all the rules, then you can have a gun on OUR special list of guns...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (f7rv6)

330 325 Time for a loyalty pledge. Will GOPe and Trump support Cruz if he is the nominee

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (zOTsN)

The odds are better of Trump supporting him than the establishment tools.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (zt+N6)

331 >>Cruz wouldn't be in the race if he didn't see a path to win

Exactly. Exit polling showed Cruz's organization beating the others in voter contacts on election day. His analytics and GOTV appear to be the real deal.

Cruz is chipping away at the primary reason Rubio's backers give to support him: electability.

>>Which shows they really do NOT understand the anger out here...

Yeah, this stuns me. Every time I read a Rubio person snicker about Cruz not having a Senator endorsing him and I just shake my head. They really don't get it.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:37 PM (t5zYU)

332 Wait a minute: now we have a Repumpkin Robot running in addition to the Hildabeast Module v1.05 (now with spontaneity)?

I can't keep track of all these simulacrums without a directory of features. Their eyes are just too realistic.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 07, 2016 01:37 PM (LUgeY)

333 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

If it's GOPe, nope. Enough is enough. A sufficiently advanced GOPe candidate is indistinguishable from a Democrat.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, hither and yon at February 07, 2016 01:37 PM (m9V0o)

334 The odds are better of Trump supporting him than the establishment tools.
Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM
---

^THIS.

How did we get here? What a mess the GOP is.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:38 PM (t5zYU)

335
Cruz is the smartest guy up there. Explaining conservative principles
is not a canned response from him, it's where he lives. But he is not
charismatic. And if he is the nominee I think GOPe would work against
their own candidate. Not kidding. Hard to beat that

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (zOTsN)

That environment is nothing new for Cruz. It is the environment he faced in Texas when running against Dewhurst.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (NPofj)

336 ^THIS.

How did we get here? What a mess the GOP is.

You said it... How did they mange such a clown car screw up in a year that should have been a breeze to win?

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (/dSsq)

337 Bears repeating:

"328 Fear.

The gope feeds on fear.

Stop being afraid."

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (t5zYU)

338 Does Rubio have enormous ears or is his head just tiny?

Posted by: Weasel at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (e3bId)

339 mange=manage.... mange works too...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (/dSsq)

340 Westworld bots are revolting.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (FkBIv)

341 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (MQEz6)

------------------------

Not me. No Jeb (although I don't think I'll have to make that move) or Rubio. Srsly, I will not vote for Rubio. There will be enough lack of enthusiasm on the Democrat side to make up for it.

Why? Because I think Rubio is the Republican Hillary. Not the Republican Obama, although there are some superficial similarities. No, Rubio is a guy who is trying to lie his way into power. Why? What does he intend to do with it once he attains it? Something other than what he's telling us, because if he told us the truth, we'd keep him away from that power.

Posted by: iforgot at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (YOxw1)

342 330 325 Time for a loyalty pledge. Will GOPe and Trump support Cruz if he is the nominee

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (zOTsN)

The odds are better of Trump supporting him than the establishment tools.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:36 PM (zt+N6)

the bigger question is will Trump SUPPORTERS fall in line... after being called idiots... and all kinds of cutsey Names (Trumpkins?)...

You don't convince an ALREAY angry person to support your view... by making them MORE angry.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (f7rv6)

343 San Dimas High School Football Rules!

Posted by: Neil at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (G0czZ)

344 I want a smart, sly son of a bitch who is pro American as POTUS. Enough empty suits and niavte

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (zOTsN)

345 340 Westworld bots are revolting.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (FkBIv)

I think he's a synth from The Institute.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (zt+N6)

346 The odds are better of Trump supporting him than the establishment tools.
---
Even better of Trump supporters supporting him, speaking as one.

I think (which is to say, just my opinion here) most of what fueled those polls of Trump supporters following him third party were in the context of the gope stealing the race for one of their own. Which they won't do for Cruz.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:40 PM (ZbV+0)

347 If Cruz wins the nomination, there will be no question what the choices are for the country.

NONE. We turn back the socialist or we will finally lose the country to them.

FDR is laughing in his socialist grave.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:41 PM (jJRIy)

348 Danger, Will Robinson!1!

Posted by: Marco Roboto at February 07, 2016 01:41 PM (Dwehj)

349 Geeze you guys. You're digging a year back in my inactive blog? LOL. I stuck that there to get the HTML formatting correct, thinking no one would see it. It's in the queue here for whenever Ace wants to post it.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 01:41 PM (N8hFs)

350 The "Cruz is hated" thing has become such a GOPe mantra that McCay Coppins (I think it was him) repeated it on twitter -- then corrected himself when he actually looked at the favorability numbers showing Cruz ahead of the others.

Talk about setting up narratives.

You cannot trust anything anyone says. Don't take anything on face value. Check the data for yourself.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:42 PM (t5zYU)

351 Rick Perry is handsome. Hell, Ben Carson is a handsome man -- and a very snappy dresser, as we learned this week.

By the way, the exit polling from Iowa showed that Cruz won women.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:30 PM (t5zYU)

Cruz is perhaps not handsome but very attractive none the less. He has a force of personality that counts far more that the "pretty" that people credit Rubio with.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:42 PM (NPofj)

352 You said it... How did they mange such a clown car screw up in a year that should have been a breeze to win?
---
Because the gope is basically the same people it has been for two decades worth of failure.

Posted by: Methos, AoS commenter since 2006, apparently also non-voting democrat at February 07, 2016 01:42 PM (ZbV+0)

353 San Dimas High School Football Rules!

When the bottom fell out of His debate Rubio should have used that.. It would have been more productive...

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:42 PM (/dSsq)

354 I will not vote Rubio as the form of the destroyer. Better it destroyed by Bernie.

Posted by: simplemind at February 07, 2016 01:43 PM (BTnAK)

355 336 ^THIS.

How did we get here? What a mess the GOP is.

You said it... How did they mange such a clown car screw up in a year that should have been a breeze to win?

Posted by: donna at February 07, 2016 01:39 PM (/dSsq)

Yeah..... and then you look at the Dem Candidates...

An Avowed Socialist who couldn't hold a steady job....

And the WIFE of a Politician, who FAILED miserably at her one shot of Power (Sec State) and should be under Federal Indictment...

If this is really the best the system can come up with.... we are in serious trouble.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:43 PM (f7rv6)

356 I think (which is to say, just my opinion here) most of what fueled those polls of Trump supporters following him third party were in the context of the gope stealing the race for one of their own. Which they won't do for Cruz.
--

Yes, I think that's a large fraction (perhaps the plurality) of Trump's voters.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 01:43 PM (t5zYU)

357 donna: "You said it... How did they mange such a clown car screw up in a year that should have been a breeze to win?"

I wondered that in 2012. Of course in 2012, I really blamed the voter. Still do. WTH was this country thinking?

I think this batch is much improved. Much much improved, actually, even if there are more than a few which I will not - not ever - support.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 07, 2016 01:43 PM (1CroS)

358 I miss the ability in candidates to be able to make good, smart, spontaneous ripostes without sounding canned (as Rubio obviously does.) The other thing is to make it in such a way that it is not too erudite (so if flies over people's heads) or too combative.

Reagan had this in spades.

Cruz has this but too often gets into the weeds of specifics, so he either seems to miss the moment, or like he is condescending to the audience.

Christie has this, but he comes across as combative most of the time. Really he is great in these types of situations, too bad he has other issues.

Trump is all attack. I see Trump as a verbal berserker. This style has it's own charms, but also has it's issues.

Jeb and Carson are asleep.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 07, 2016 01:43 PM (iHjB5)

359 338 Does Rubio have enormous ears or is his head just tiny?

Better to hear you with. Like the NSA.

Posted by: The Republican Party at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (XzRw1)

360 338 Does Rubio have enormous ears or is his head just tiny?

Better to hear you with. Like the NSA.

Posted by: The Republican Party at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (XzRw1)

361 Ted Cruz isn't handsome...

But that Hillary sure is a looker...

And Bernie Sanders is a silver fox...

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (zt+N6)

362 Cruz is perhaps not handsome but very attractive
none the less. He has a force of personality that counts far more that
the "pretty" that people credit Rubio with.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:42 PM (NPofj)
I hope you are right. If Cruz wins the nomination, I will work full time for him.
This is the last Rodeo boys.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (jJRIy)

363 I suppose it's always been like this about people not liking any candidate but if the injustice department doesn't indict Hildabeast and she gets the coronation the Democrats want she must be defeated no its ands or buts. With the crap she pulled as SoS there is no telling what she will do as president. At least the old commie will get stifled some by congress.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (HWcaz)

364 You don't convince an ALREAY angry person to support your view... by making them MORE angry.

Funny how folks don't seem to get that. I've slid to Cruz from Trump due to his lack of fire discipline, but everything I've said about why Trump is a thing remains just as true now as when I declared the GOPe had it coming last year.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, hither and yon at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (m9V0o)

365 How did we get here? What a mess the GOP is.

We backed them up against a wall. The Tea Party movement (and this is something the Dems do not grok) was as opposed to the Republicans as Democrats for their spending and the outrageous TARP bailouts.

When the Tea Party movement got so major and built so much momentum they challenged nearly every sitting Republican in office, the GOPe freaked out. They freaked out even more as Tea Party types started trying to take over local GOP structures and rebuild the party from the bottom up.

Basically, they saw their phony baloney jobs at risk for the first time ever. All those party apparatchiks, all those bureaucrats living off the nation's teats could see a rumbling mob rolling up to their door with torches and pitchforks.

So they went with a three pronged attack.
First, they tried to deflect and dilute the movement by claiming it was about taxes (Taxed Enough Already??? Taxes had nothing to do with it).
Second, they piled on with the left calling the Tea Party racist sister-humping retards.
And Third, they spent every dollar they had to destroy any Tea Party challenger, and from this solidified a perspective in the party.

Before this, there was always room for conservatives to have a voice - a powerless voice, but they'd be listened to and treated nice, to get those votes and money. Now there's no room. None. The McCain wing took over the party, and they hate conservatives and the tea party far more than any Democrat.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:45 PM (39g3+)

366 "Real test is his home state of Florida, where he badly trails."

Florida = winner take all system. No proportional delegate awards.

The Bushes pulled strings to install that setup back when they thought Crown Prince Jeb! would be the "presumptive front runner" when he got around to declaring, and that El Gobernador would run the table in the state.

Instead, looks like Trump will run the table barring a collapse. Oops.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 07, 2016 01:45 PM (noWW6)

367 I'm not disappointed that he was attacking Barack during every answer, but I'm disappointed that that was the only thing that he had to say about all of those questions. It's really kind of sad and it is exactly right that it is a " Palinizing thing". I'm stunned at how non-critical and empty headed I was on debate night to not notice that. I suppose that beating on Barack was just fun enough for me to forget to raise shields. No more.

Posted by: goon at February 07, 2016 01:45 PM (gy5kE)

368 A sufficiently advanced GOPe candidate is indistinguishable from a Democrat.

Nice.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 01:46 PM (rwI+c)

369 I think he's a synth from The Institute.

I had him pegged as the Weyland Corporation cyborg David, myself. He's all nice to you while he puts some foreign alien thingy in your drink right in front of you.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 07, 2016 01:47 PM (LUgeY)

370 You said it... How did they mange such a clown car screw up in a year that should have been a breeze to win?

You assume they want to win. Whoever called them the political equivalent of the Washington Generals to the Dems' Globetrotters was spot on. Their role in Uniparty Theater is the villain for the protagonist to dispatch. Nothing more.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, hither and yon at February 07, 2016 01:47 PM (m9V0o)

371 >>>>If his name were Smith, half the commenters here would never have heard
of him (the degradation of American politics into idiotic racism and
tribalism and "identity" is complete<<<<<

Don't know fuck all about FL politics, do you?

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at February 07, 2016 01:47 PM (tEDMc)

372 I don't want a personality for president, I want someone to make good hard decisions based on law not polls or theology (especially the leftist kind)

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 01:47 PM (HWcaz)

373 How does Cruz get elected with both the Dems and the GOPe working against him

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:49 PM (zOTsN)

374 I hope you are right. If Cruz wins the nomination, I will work full time for him.
This is the last Rodeo boys.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:44 PM (jJRIy)

I am a woman, and I think Cruz is very attractive. If you look at the Iowa results (he won women) and his favorability numbers, its pretty clear I am not the only one. I too will be working all the hours I can spare for him.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:49 PM (NPofj)

375 Open the pod bay doors, MARCO.

Posted by: Dave Christie at February 07, 2016 01:50 PM (Dwehj)

376 Cruz is just not warm and he has a face that needs punching. When you are as smart as he is, it must be hard to not smack the shit out of some of the idiots he has to put up with.
Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:34 PM (jJRIy)

I've chatted with him a couple of times at events, and he was very easy to talk to and quite down to earth. We talked about our kids and more important things too. .

He never gave the slightest indication of this, but I kept thinking that talking to a dumbass like me must feel to him the way I feel when I'm talking to my dog.

I know he can sometimes be off-putting on tv, but he works a room well. Even the lefty (TX Trib, TX Monthly) reporters who have him as their beat like him because he's always calm and polite.

Posted by: stace at February 07, 2016 01:50 PM (CoX6k)

377 How does Cruz get elected with both the Dems and the GOPe working against him

If he can win against that, it might be because the system is aligned against him. We might reach a point where people are so disgusted with the machine and the way things are, that they consider the outsider and target of that to be their winner.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:51 PM (39g3+)

378 I ask because I really want Cruz. See it's possible to examine your candidate objectively and still be passionate about them winning. Rubio people have a hard time with that

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:51 PM (zOTsN)

379 @281 "ICYMI, Senator Mike Lee: "Ted Cruz is my friend" http://washex.am/1PIFTkM

Now I happen to think that the political realities for Mike Lee in Utah will result in him endorsing someone else, probably Rubio, but it's nice to see him address this lie about Cruz."

The lie about how Cruz has no friends in the Senate? Really?

First of all, it subjective, and it's Trump, so any fool should know not to take it literally. That being said, it's no secret that they didn't like his trying to get them to do their f-ing job. So, "gimme a break."

Second, the more unpopular I hear Cruz is in Congress, the more I like him. So it's comical to me to see people frantically trying to dispel this.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:51 PM (/q6+P)

380 I'm afraid I can't do that, Fat Man.

Posted by: Marco 2000 at February 07, 2016 01:52 PM (Dwehj)

381
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:45 PM (39g3+)

Yes.

The GOP and the Democrats are not enemies of each other.

We are their enemy.

They are two sides of the same coin.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:52 PM (MQEz6)

382 How does Cruz get elected with both the Dems and the GOPe working against him

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 01:49 PM (zOTsN)

The same way he won Texas when he wasn't (no way, no how) supposed to... by tapping into grassroots organizations with tons of people willing to pound the pavement and knock on doors for him. And by being who he is... calm and tenacious.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 01:53 PM (NPofj)

383 @287 "Weird I was just reading about Rubio's performance. They said he tanked badly and mentioned Christie's takedowns.

I didn't watch so was it as bad as it sounds? I hope it is. ..."

It was BRUTAL. I thought Rubio was about to cry. I almost felt SORRY for him. [Then again, doesn't Rubio ALWAYS look like he's about to cry?]

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 01:54 PM (/q6+P)

384 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:45 PM (39g3+)

The Repubs are dealing with fundamental problem.

Can a party with only 24% of the electorate as members, somehow control all the Federal Government?

The ONLY way that works is if you continue to convince people there are only TWO sides, and the OTHER side is way 'worser'....

Asking my Magic 8 Ball about the two party system???? it says 'it does not look good'...

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 01:54 PM (f7rv6)

385 375
Open the pod bay doors, MARCO.

Posted by: Dave Christie at February 07, 2016 01:50 PM (Dwehj)

THREAD WINNER

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 01:55 PM (jJRIy)

386 Cruz is only having to fight the GOP until he comes out the winner, then at worst the GOP will be apathetic. The MSM will always be against but I'm not sure they have the powered they once did. The economy is in the toilet, it's a complete load of crap that the unemployment is in the 4% range as well as many other indicators.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 01:56 PM (HWcaz)

387
22nd look at Jeb?!?!

Posted by: GOP Estabs at February 07, 2016 01:56 PM (ODxAs)

388 248
Good grief. Which candidate doesn't do this? Rubio happens to do it
BETTER than most. But apparently, every single debate when Christie has
to throw a tantrum about any exchange that he isn't involved in being
something the voters don't care about, that's some brilliant spontaneous
thought. What do you think people are doing when they do debate prep
anyway? What do you think their advisors are helping them with?

That argument is like equating writing "I will not lift Susy's dress up on the playground" a thousand times to Shakespeare. Debating is arguing a proposition, not regurgitation. If your analysis was correct, birds feeding their young would be champion debaters.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2016 01:56 PM (LAe3v)

389 Christopher Taylor,

You left out the part where the GOPe was complicit in sicking the IRS on conservative activists groups. That is why Lois Lerner will never be touched--she was doing the bidding of both parties.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (tEDMc)

390 Cruz is only having to fight the GOP until he comes out the winner, then at worst the GOP will be apathetic

These are the same people that worked to undermine and destroy their own Vice Presidential pick during an election. The GOP establishment would rather lose than let a conservative win.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (39g3+)

391 Carly Fiorina complains that she's been left out of debate. She says that she outperformed three people who are still there, and she is right about two of them (ymmv).
Her video spot kind of grates as being cute and clever, which only really works on people who already agree with you. Better that she just quickly get on twitter and be a little bit of a ~~prick~~ bitch. Like that certain other candidate.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (VdICR)

392 Glitch? Christie handed Rubio his ass.
Won't matter though as Rubio is a slick talking sleazy used car salesman and there's a whole lot of buyers.

Posted by: McCain Sucks at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (8852Y)

393 If we're going to be a third-world country after Barack is done with us, then I at least want some sumbitch that will pound on the podium and threaten death and hell in no uncertain terms to our enemies ... that of course assumes that the guy at the podium has the same enemy list as me. I'm really, really tired of vague, nuanced responses. Be like Vladimir, somebody, and roll some tanks around at least.

Posted by: goon at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (gy5kE)

394 You left out the part where the GOPe was complicit in sicking the IRS on conservative activists groups.

This is true, its part of their whole strategy now. The Democrats and the Republicans see eye to eye on one thing: their biggest enemy is... us.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 01:59 PM (39g3+)

395 I've activate Hillarynet.

Posted by: The Humanator at February 07, 2016 01:59 PM (Dwehj)

396 epic fail. sigh.

Posted by: The Humanator at February 07, 2016 02:00 PM (Dwehj)

397 What loyalty do we owe the GOP?

Vote for the person you want in office.

If in November that person is not on the ballot, vote for him or her anyway.

Don't let the gope own your vote.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:01 PM (MQEz6)

398 Sorry, I didnt read all of the comments, didnt know the post from this morning was bumped and I actually had things I needed to do.

Saw this article about Rubio and the gang of 8 told by one of his former staffer. Link takes you to BB:

http://tinyurl.com/hvqslj7

Posted by: Taiwan_joe at February 07, 2016 02:01 PM (sy8f2)

399 Ted/Carly!

PP people would go nuts. I mean nuts.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:02 PM (jJRIy)

400 I must not quit my day job.

Posted by: The Humanator at February 07, 2016 02:02 PM (Dwehj)

401 SNL will cement Robot-Rubio next week.

100% guaranteed.

Posted by: Tonic Dog at February 07, 2016 02:03 PM (Xhvpw)

402 @291 "That Dave article is great and dead on from what I can see. Trump is obviously selling himself and he'll say and do whatever it takes. ..."

Yes and no. They're ALL selling themselves and would say or do anything. So let's get that out of the way first. The other candidates are "piviting', "evolving" and changing their tunes ALL THE TIME.

Second, look at Trump's signature issues. He's been saying the SAME thing, essentially, since at LEAST 1988. He's been saying "Other countries are ripping us off!" His stances on illegal aliens and Muslim immigration are a straitforward extension of that. Mexico et al are ripping us off by dumping their criminals and welfare cases on us, and stealing our jobs as well. The Muslim immigration is essentially laced with poison (another kind of ripoff from foreigners).

Third, the guy NEEDS to be POTUS a lot less than these other guys. Cruz and Rubio could fade to obscurity if they lose - it's their only claim to fame - but Trump is a celebrity billionaire who has already "made it'.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:03 PM (/q6+P)

403 You know, folks, we're not going to get the candidate that the Republican establishment wants. Nor will we get the candidate that the Democrat party wants.

In both cases we're going to get the candidate the Media wants.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 07, 2016 02:03 PM (B8JRQ)

404 399 Ted/Carly!

PP people would go nuts. I mean nuts.
Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:02 PM (jJRIy)

That would be a cool ticket.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:04 PM (MQEz6)

405 Cruz/Martinez vs Clinton/Castro

Interesting

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 02:04 PM (zOTsN)

406 I'm still wondering where John "Maverick" McCain and his girl friend Lindsey Graham were at when they started the debate. Was that the balcony seats at the Syrian freedom fighters ballroom or Bill Hillary Clinton's home theater at their house in NY.

Posted by: McCain Sucks at February 07, 2016 02:04 PM (8852Y)

407 If Rubio were smart he would have said something about how Chris is such a great leader that he can't even discipline himself to use a damn treadmill for a 20 minutes a day.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:06 PM (VjlMj)

408 22nd look at Jeb?!?!
Posted by: GOP Estabs at February 07, 2016 01:56 PM (ODxAs)

One more thing that infuriated me about Trump was that he made me have good thoughts about Jeb and rubio last night, on the eminent domain issue. Jeb was on Fox after the debate with a good explanation of how Trump was wrong. Later I read a link off twitter that right after Kelo, Speaker Rubio chaired a commission that got a very strong property rights law passed in the Florida lege. Many states did the same, but IIRC Tx's law was kind of weak and they had to shore it up in the following session.

Posted by: stace at February 07, 2016 02:06 PM (CoX6k)

409 It still looks like it will be Trump/Cruz in November.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:06 PM (MQEz6)

410 Cruz/Fiorina would be interesting, to say the least. Say what you will about her, she's not stupid by anyone's definition.

The media would play up the heartless bastard aspect so loud it would deafen voters, and you'd get endless loops of "they want to give your jobs to foreigners!" which suddenly wouldn't be racist and nativist when Hillary says it.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:07 PM (39g3+)

411 Rubio supporters keep yelling for Lawgivers.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:07 PM (MQEz6)

412 I don't know about you folks, but Chris Christie is growing on me. He's growing on the rest of the Milky Way too, - but you know what I mean.

Posted by: Fritz at February 07, 2016 02:07 PM (BngQR)

413 I am wondering if Trump could beat Bernie Sanders. It speaks poorly of the country that a communist muppet actually has a chance.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at February 07, 2016 02:08 PM (VdICR)

414 Don't you get the feeing Fiorina is of the Borg. I do. She's an establishment gal. What position has she taken that would be threatening to GOPe?

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 02:09 PM (zOTsN)

415 Weirddave: You're digging a year back in my inactive blog? LOL....

?? If this regards the article I linked, I now see that it's dated 2015 Feb 6 but just showed up in my news feeds yesterday for some reason. Maybe the news feed can't distinguish years?

Still think Cruz is coming along with how he sounds?

Posted by: mindful webworker - 2015, 16, whatever at February 07, 2016 02:10 PM (H/5vA)

416 If you guys haven't seen it, you really should do yourself a favor and read this takedown of Rubio by Phyllis Shlafly. Epic. It really makes Rush look like an idiot too, in the wake of his comments about how he's a "full throated conservative." She was there and watch'ed all this shit go down first-hand. She settled the debate for me. I'm totally convinced Rubio is nothing more than a lying opportunist. He shat all over the people who got him elected literally the moment after he got elected. Fuck him and fuck you if you vote for that lying POS.

http://www.eagleforum.org/immigration/rubio-record.html

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:10 PM (VjlMj)

417 Rubio supporters keep yelling for Lawgivers.

Is that a brand of tequila?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (LUgeY)

418 Posted by: stace at February 07, 2016 02:06 PM (CoX6k)

Note the scenario...

Fox puts Jeb on RIGHT AFTER the debate.. to make debate points with no one there to answer.

Gee.. wonder what side Fox is on....

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (f7rv6)

419 393 If we're going to be a third-world country after Barack is done with us, then I at least want some sumbitch that will pound on the podium and threaten death and hell in no uncertain terms to our enemies ... that of course assumes that the guy at the podium has the same enemy list as me. I'm really, really tired of vague, nuanced responses. Be like Vladimir, somebody, and roll some tanks around at least.
Posted by: goon at February 07, 2016 01:58 PM (gy5kE)

Yep. And I want our Fearless Leader to wear a doorman's uniform and mirrored sunglasses while's he pounding the podium. I'm in for the whole Third World burrito.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (oKE6c)

420 What position has she taken that would be threatening to GOPe?

Her stance on abortion is very much unliked by them, but I agree she's pretty well RINO. Very smart and probably better on actual economics than most of them but yeah. I don't see her as some great divergence from the GOPe. In fact, if they were not the stupid party, they'd have gone all in on her instead of Jeb.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (39g3+)

421 I think Bernie is not very strong at all.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (MQEz6)

422 @297 "It's not that these folks are afraid Cruz can't win, it's that they don't *want* him to win. He's really the only one left running who has a consistent record of disrupting Business As Usual in DC and the Acela corridor ..."

Yes, they don't wan't him to win, but yes, he may also have trouble winning. The dude is smart as hell and has the ground game put together, but he really does not have the charisma, IMHO.

OTOH, Trump has some negatives to overcome. He has ALREADY done so on the Republican side, and has spent 50+ years being a salesman, so it's not impossible to turn it around. A lot of the negatives are from the media propaganda, I would think. How many people - even in HERE - know that Cruz simply lied when he blamed his scandal regarding Carson in IA on CNN? That Cruz was certainly doing dirty tricks that MAY have been enough to get him the win?

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (/q6+P)

423 You rubes will vote for the person we tell you to - U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Posted by: McCain Sucks at February 07, 2016 02:12 PM (8852Y)

424 If Rubio were smart he would have said something about how Chris is such a great leader that he can't even discipline himself to use a damn treadmill for a 20 minutes a day.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:06 PM (VjlMj)

Christie didn't want to be attacked by a big 'rubber band' and end up blind in one eye like Reid is. There are bad 'rubber bands' in Joisey, too.

Posted by: RickZ at February 07, 2016 02:12 PM (Ix+HS)

425 412
I don't know about you folks, but Chris Christie is growing on me. He's
growing on the rest of the Milky Way too, - but you know what I mean.

Posted by: Fritz at February 07, 2016 02:07 PM (BngQR)

That growth is a gun grabbing tumor, cut it off.

Krispy will NOT get the nomination. Three letters, NRA

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (jJRIy)

426
Gee.. wonder what side Fox is on....

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (f7rv6)

Oh yeah. I thought that in 2012 too, and really haven't watched them that much since then.

Posted by: stace at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (CoX6k)

427 You're digging a year back in my inactive blog?

I'd beg you to be more active and chew you out for not carrying the banner but... I post like once a month these days. My heart just isn't in it.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (39g3+)

428 413 I am wondering if Trump could beat Bernie Sanders. It speaks poorly of the country that a communist muppet actually has a chance.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at February 07, 2016 02:08 PM (VdICR)

Epic Battle....

A true Capitalist against a Socialist.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (f7rv6)

429 >>I am wondering if Trump could beat Bernie Sanders

Would it matter? Their only difference is in the presentation.

Posted by: a phoenician sailor at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (W51NF)

430 412
I don't know about you folks, but Chris Christie is growing on me. He's
growing on the rest of the Milky Way too, - but you know what I mean.

Posted by: Fritz

Yup. He's not my guy, Cruz is, but Christie is the adult who took Macro Roboto to the toolshed and showed him what's what.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (LAe3v)

431 Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:11 PM (/q6+P)

...oh...boy...

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:14 PM (MQEz6)

432 IIRC Fiorina went after Trump when he proposed suspending immigration from terrorist exporting nations

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 02:14 PM (zOTsN)

433 and yet The Donald rises ( even before the debate )

acceptance is the last step, isn't it? After the denial and all that other Negative Sh*t

accept The Donald...

Posted by: in before the grammar Nazis at February 07, 2016 02:15 PM (8CdUx)

434 @299 "Known unknowns.

Can Trump get more than 35% to 40% of the vote? As the field shrinks, will he pick up share or is he maxed out? Cruz has the money to hang in and keep 20% share, most of which would otherwise got to Trump. If Trump goes into Cleveland with only a plurality of delegates and looking unelectable in the general, the GOPe wll push for an alternative. ..."

Indeed! THAT's probably why Trump was going after CRUZ, while everybody was questioning it (because he's not expected to be a factor in NH). It's strategic, as opposed to "vindictive' or "stupid", as the Trump-bashers would no doubt say.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:15 PM (/q6+P)

435 He shat all over the people who got him elected literally the moment after he got elected. Fuck him and fuck you if you vote for that lying POS.

Sorry, I don't have Miss Cleo on speed dial so that I'll know I'll get stabbed in the back before it happens.

At this point, tho', I should expect it. Dondi was the last straw: he destroyed what little trust I had remaining in candidates.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 07, 2016 02:15 PM (LUgeY)

436 Mickey Kaus pretty much explained it a few days ago, however. Kaus spoke of Rubio's 25 second canned soundbites as "modules" which could be moved around and reorganized on the fly to answer a range of questions in a not-quite-lifelike manner:

That's just standard campaign-craft that all of the pathetic candidates use - which means just about every candidate there is. There are precious few candidates or politicians who can actually think on the spot.

This isn't Rubio's problem. Rubio's problem is that he's a treasonous, little, back-stabbing piece of shit worm.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at February 07, 2016 02:16 PM (zc3Db)

437 I don't think Fox is in anyone's camp. They try to get ratings, that's why O'R whores out Trump once a week.

This is Bush's last primary, I guess they wanted to see him squirm?

Maybe Babs promised them cookies?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:17 PM (jJRIy)

438 Of course it works the other way, too: Most of Trump's votes would go to Cruz if he would just go away. And since Cruz won a state already, that would seem to indicate he's the one to beat.

Not very strongly of course: one state, a tiny and meaningless one, with a screwy electoral system. But at least its some specific indicator instead of increasingly daffy and unreliable polls.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:17 PM (39g3+)

439 In fact, if they were not the stupid party, they'd have gone all in on her instead of Jeb.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor

Did you see Bush grinning after Christie's caning of Rubio? He looked like the booger-eater who revels in the class bully being punished by the teacher.

FCS, Jeb, if you wanted to be president, you should have administered the beating, not Christie. What a beta!

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2016 02:18 PM (LAe3v)

440 "Yes, they don't wan't him to win, but yes, he may also have trouble
winning. The dude is smart as hell and has the ground game put together,
but he really does not have the charisma, IMHO.
"

That may be your opinion (and it is certainly parroted enough) but it is an opinion not based in reality. His favorability numbers show that.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:18 PM (NPofj)

441 I don't think Fox is in anyone's camp. They try to get ratings, that's why O'R whores out Trump once a week.

Here you have to make a distinction between who they are clearly attempting to promote and who they are exploiting to get eyeballs.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:19 PM (39g3+)

442 Rubio is a product.

He was selected, re-styled, trained, and released into the market.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:20 PM (MQEz6)

443 nobody IN THE DC POWER ELITE likes Cruz because he's been known to turn on his own and has made too many enemies because of it;

What this means is that when the choice comes down to-

keeping his promises to his voters and supporters

or

sucking up to the elites for some piece of crap-laden graft and betraying his voters

that Cruz-

chooses keeping the promises he made his voters.

I absolutely do not see how this is a problem.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 07, 2016 02:21 PM (0cMkb)

444 >>I am wondering if Trump could beat Bernie Sanders
> Would it matter? Their only difference is in the presentation.

You know, I'm starting to disagree with this. I think this business with Phyllis Schlafly has taken me over the edge. Being a product of government education I had never heard of this lady. Been digging around, she is brilliant. She authored a famous book (A choice, not an echo) back in the 1960s that largely inspired the modern conservative movement that culminated in Reagan's election. She is a constitutional scholar and attorney with a very impressive background, one of the most key players in conservative thought. She's also a huge social conservative too, just look at a picture of her. She's this goodie two shoes Christian woman with a gang of grandkids. And she's all about Trump! It's like oil and water for a lady like her to be supporting a foul-mouthed philanderer like Trump, but she is. And that to me is highly interesting.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:21 PM (VjlMj)

445 Indeed! THAT's probably why Trump was going after
CRUZ, while everybody was questioning it (because he's not expected to
be a factor in NH). It's strategic, as opposed to "vindictive' or
"stupid", as the Trump-bashers would no doubt say.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:15 PM (/q6+P)

He may think it is strategic (cause he wouldn't know the truth if it bit him in the ass) but it was actually both vindictive and stupid.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:21 PM (NPofj)

446 Cruz/ Allen West 2016
Make America EVEN greater
Hillary will be indicted and then Joe Biden jumping in the race. Problem is Joe won't understand what race he jumped into!

Dear FBI,

Hurry the flock up and indict this with already

Sincerely,

Legal citizens of the United States of America

Posted by: McCain Sucks at February 07, 2016 02:22 PM (8852Y)

447 That's just standard campaign-craft that all of the pathetic candidates use - which means just about every candidate there is. There are precious few candidates or politicians who can actually think on the spot.

This isn't Rubio's problem. Rubio's problem is that he's a treasonous, little, back-stabbing piece of shit worm.
Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at February 07, 2016 02:16 PM (zc3Db)

******

Both Trump and Cruz, but especially Cruz, do a very good job of being both unscripted and thinking on their feet.

Posted by: Tim in GA at February 07, 2016 02:22 PM (YLidQ)

448 Apropos of nothing, here's what Suzanna Hoffs from the Bangles looks like right now:

http://tinyurl.com/jyln36c

I'd walk like an Egyptian right into her room.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:22 PM (39g3+)

449 442
Rubio is a product.

He was selected, re-styled, trained, and released into the market.

Posted by: eman

A few days ago, I would have said he was being handled no differently than a pan with a "titanium coating" like the ones they advertise on TV. However, his coating appears to be failing.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2016 02:23 PM (LAe3v)

450 @334 "...How did we get here? What a mess the GOP is."

But think about it. Look at the Dems! One candidate under investigation, the other an old socialist. All the moderate Dems got tossed out of office from outright mismanagement form Obama, who forced them to do stuff that got them fired. R's have waht? 2/3 of the governors? Or is it 3/4?

This should be the easiest election to win in a VERY long time.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:23 PM (/q6+P)

451 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:17 PM (39g3+)

No.... Cruz won a poll of less than 20% of SELF SELECTED Republicans, in a State which does NOT have a great record of picking winners.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 02:23 PM (f7rv6)

452 A true Capitalist against a Socialist.

Posted by: Don Quixote at February 07, 2016 02:13 PM (f7rv6)

True capitalist my aching ass.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:24 PM (NPofj)

453 Does Trump have Sherrif Joe Arpaio's endorsement?

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 02:24 PM (OvUux)

454 >>Nevertheless, people seize on Narratives because our brains just can't really handle how complex the world is, or politics is, or any individual person is.>>

Setting aside Rubio, this is brilliant and humane. Thanks for keeping us honest.

Posted by: Caliban at February 07, 2016 02:25 PM (DrC22)

455 Cruz won a poll of less than 20% of SELF SELECTED Republicans, in a State which does NOT have a great record of picking winners.

Yeah, like I said, not a very significant win in the big scheme of things, given that its Iowa, but... still, the only indicator we have so far. We'll see if there's a trend after South Carolina and Nevada.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:25 PM (39g3+)

456 Ace, I have to agree quite a bit with you, even though it pains me a little bit to do so. Before the debate I did like Rubio, not enough to place him at #1 but enough to believe he merited further consideration, but now I think he was revealed to be just our version of John Edwards.

So we have
Trump = Republican Obama
Rubio = Republican Edwards

Let's hope Cruz is our Republican Bernie Sanders, but at about half the age

Posted by: chemjeff at February 07, 2016 02:26 PM (uZNvH)

457 and when I mean "Republican Bernie Sanders", I mean that he has a solid ideology, but a conservative one, not a socialist one

Posted by: chemjeff at February 07, 2016 02:26 PM (uZNvH)

458 nood

Posted by: Marco Rubio New OS Did it! at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (e7T6D)

459 I guess the alcohol lowers inhibitions.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 07, 2016 02:46 AM (w4NZ

For some, alcohol causes the milk of human kindness to separate into its constituent parts: impotent rage and maudlin self-pity.

Posted by: jwpaine, otherized for your protection at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (wKcQA)

460 So, in other candidate news...Maddy Albright says there's a special place in Hell for women who do not support Hillary.

Interesting turn of phrase, since lately I've been hoping there's a special, Dante-like ring of Hell reserved for Hillary based on all the lives she's ruined and extinguished thanks to her greed and lust for power.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (NOIQH)

461 Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:21 PM (VjlMj)

She is also quite brilliant.

Schlafly is a grat enemy of the Left and they despise her and everything she stands for.

She is kept tightly embargoed by the MFM and all other Left power structures.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (MQEz6)

462 Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:10 PM (VjlMj)

You almost wonder if the same behind the scenes forces that brought us Barack Obama have also been grooming Rubio.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (4ErVI)

463 "But at least its some specific indicator instead of increasingly daffy and unreliable polls."

We've started to have real voting. But it's highly unlikely that Trump loses double digit leads (mostly 20%+) in upcoming primaries. If after Florida, Rubio hasn't won a primary, is he still a Contender? Same for Cruz.

Trump has a different issue. If he maxes out at 35 to 40% with high negatives, is he electable in the general?

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (rs5De)

464 ?? If this regards the article I linked, I now see that it's dated 2015
Feb 6 but just showed up in my news feeds yesterday for some reason.
Maybe the news feed can't distinguish years?

Still think Cruz is coming along with how he sounds?

Ahh, I see. Yes, I backdated it a year to check the formatting, didn't realize it would go out in a new feed. I was going to bump it up after it's published here.

And yes, I do. Check Youtube for his announcement speech at Liberty, then compare it with his (excruciatingly long) Iowa victory speech. Just on tone and inflection. There's a world of difference.

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (N8hFs)

465 213 "...nobody likes Cruz because he's been known to turn on his own and has made too many enemies because of it..."

Jeebus I'm tired of this dodge.
If you can find one example of a GOOD CONSERVATIVE who Cruz threw under the bus, name him/her. Otherwise, what you're talking about is Cruz attacking THE ESTABLISHMENT. Which is behavior I happen to like.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 02:29 PM (9Fcph)

466 306 Who here will vote for the GOP nominee no matter who it is?
Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 01:29 PM (MQEz6)

Not me. I either vote for somebody I want or else I'll write in my cat's name.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 02:29 PM (sdi6R)

467 Hillary will be indicted

Baloney

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (FkBIv)

468 Let me start out by saying that I do think Cruz is smart. Every time I hear that phrase, though, I think of Obama. That's how they sold him, smartest man ever to run for President. That's not necessarily a selling point. And since I hear so much read into positions that Trump held 10 years ago, let me remind folks that we have no assurance that Cruz will hold the line on immigration. We don't need more H1-Bs.

I understand that Cruz appeals to conservatives. The problem is that he is running for President. Most of the country is not conservative and I don't see that he's making a good case for the average voter. I used to wonder why Cruz didn't run using Sabo's poster of Cruz as the ultimate outsider, bad boy. It's because Cruz does not want to be an outsider. He wants to think of himself as mainstream.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (Lqy/e)

469 He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:17 AM (dciA+)

without "amnesty" --without a Grim Reckoning followed by mass deportation and self-deportation and a real big-ass wall--there is no "conservative".
none; nada; nichts

Posted by: Amos Alonzo Stagg at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (8CdUx)

470 Rubio is a useless POS.

Gang of Eight.

Arafat-style messaging in English then in Spanish.

There is nothing there to like.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:31 PM (MQEz6)

471 True capitalist my aching ass.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:24 PM (NPofj)

Yeah, I get it. You loathe Trump. But he's made something of his life outside of politics. No other top candidate of either party has had success without sucking on the government teat. Bernie is a lawyer who couldn't even pound a nail when he was out of work and hungy, so he went into politics. Hillarity! is great when it comes to selling access to a high level pol (herself).

Besides, Trump, out of the top 5 (Trump, Rubio, Cruz, Hillarity! and Feel the Burn!) is the only one who is not a frickin' lawyer. I am sick of lawyers being president, as if they have more gravitias or some such bullshit. Lawyers, for the most part, are more trouble than they are worth, which is zero, or the absence of anything of value.

Posted by: RickZ at February 07, 2016 02:31 PM (Ix+HS)

472 She is kept tightly embargoed by the MFM and all other Left power structures.

Schlafly was the voice of conservatism for women in the 70s and had a big megaphone but around 1985 she kind of vanished and has been mostly ignored since. She has great columns out regularly but hardly anyone hears about her any more.

She was loud and strong against abortion, the NOW, the Equal Rights Amendment, homosexual marriage, and so on. All the stuff the modern GOP wants to go away.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:32 PM (39g3+)

473 Schlafly is a grat enemy of the Left and they despise her and everything she stands for.

They say she single-handedly defeated the ERA and hence the hate.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 02:33 PM (FkBIv)

474 I will vote for the GOP candidate

I am the Thirteenth Voter--I will sail north to fight the Venn, die in battle, and meet my ancestors

IN THE HALLS OF VALHALLA

Posted by: Amos Alonzo Stagg at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (8CdUx)

475 He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

People don't want to admit this but he really is. If it weren't for Amnesty people here would be a lot more willing to vote for the guy.

And since I hear so much read into positions that Trump held 10 years ago

Oh, its more positions he held like 12 months ago.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (39g3+)

476 It was beautiful when the harridan tried to nail Cruz on water boarding. A real gotcha question it was and Cruz appeared to be taken aback for a second. Actually he was reviewing his data base and responded with, IRRC, I agree with John McCain. He played the "I'm with your monkey card" on his inquisitor. Exquisite.

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (sNESL)

477 @409 "It still looks like it will be Trump/Cruz in November."

You guys are making a better case for this than ever, but is it still POSSIBLE, with Trump calling Cruz an ineligible cheater?

That being said, for all the bluster, Trump really does put on his Big Boy pants and make deals with people he has fought with.

And if you want somebody to "unite the party" and heal the "divisiveness' and partisanship in the country, he can and WILL do that too. Why? Because when you're Trump, making deals with people, and schmoozing them, is "what you do".

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:35 PM (/q6+P)

478 If Boobio wins the GOP nomination, our "choice" will be between a President Allende, a President Amin, or a President Stepford?

Not voting for any of those. When I left the GOP two years ago for a reason. They can redeem the party, or they can go to hell.

Posted by: jwpaine, otherized for your protection at February 07, 2016 02:36 PM (wKcQA)

479 I used to wonder why Cruz didn't run using Sabo's poster of Cruz as the ultimate outsider, bad boy.

He's selling posters and apparel with that picture on his website.

https://store.tedcruz.org/product/blacklisted-loving-it-t-shirt/

Posted by: Weirddave at February 07, 2016 02:37 PM (N8hFs)

480 Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:35 PM (/q6+P)

In 1980 Bush used the "voodoo economics" line against Reagan.

Later, they teamed-up and beat Carter.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:38 PM (MQEz6)

481 Maybe if we just outlawed manbuns under threat of imprisonment or execution, all the ills we are currently facing would go away.

Posted by: guy who desperately wishes to believe a false narrative at February 07, 2016 02:38 PM (ML24Y)

482 "Did you see Bush grinning after Christie's caning of Rubio?"

Worth noting that Rubio betrayed Jeb by not waiting his turn, after Jeb gave Rubio big early help in Florida. Now I know that loyalty has little place in politics but it should have some when it's this personal so this only adds to Rubio's being too much of a young man in a hurry.

Rubio will be out of the Senate and has burned a lot of bridges in Florida. (I think half the reason Jeb stays in the race is to deny Rubio.) There's good odds that Rubio will be a Yuuuge Has Been in a short time.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (rs5De)

483 Does Rubio know that Groundhog Day was on Tuesday, not yesterday?

Posted by: Mega at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (JwLCI)

484 Does Trump have Sherrif Joe Arpaio's endorsement?

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 02:24 PM (OvUux)

----------------------
Yes

Posted by: iforgot at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (YOxw1)

485 ...People don't want to admit this but he really is...

What is the real Rubio? What is he really conservative about? The gang-of-eight didn't have to be a show stopper. His answers about the gang-of-eight are. What other conservative principles will he compromise with Shumer over? Rubio seems to be full of hot ambition.

Posted by: scorecard at February 07, 2016 02:40 PM (2gG2D)

486 I think Rubio could spend the next 4-8 years "rethinking" his position on immigration, learning conservatism and his thoughts on matters to heart rather than by rote, and getting some seasoning to come out very strong as a candidate later.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:41 PM (39g3+)

487 He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

People don't want to admit this but he really is. If it weren't for Amnesty people here would be a lot more willing to vote for the guy.

*******

This is because ir we lose on Amnesty and the borders stay wide open, then nothing else matters.

Phyllis Schlafly would also like a word with you about how Conservative he is overall.

Posted by: Tim in GA at February 07, 2016 02:41 PM (YLidQ)

488 I don't understand Schlafly supporting Trump.

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (sNESL)

489 > People don't want to admit this but he really is. If it weren't for Amnesty people here would be a lot more willing to vote for the guy.

No. Go read Phyllis' takedown. If by "conservative" you mean he talks conservative, yeah, I guess. So what? This is the whole problem. Other than blowhard talk, he has done nothing. The one and only thing he has done while in the Senate is go full leftist and stab all the people that got him elected in the back. What part about this is confusing? Remove all the amnesty stuff and you don't have a conservative guy, you have a guy with zero record at all. And because of that, we can't ignore the amnesty stuff, IT IS THE SUM TOTAL OF HIS RECORD.

btw, the more I read about this Phyllis Schlafly the hornier I get. This right here is my kind of lady. What a woman. A modern day Caroline Ingalls.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (VjlMj)

490 @428 "... Epic Battle.... A true Capitalist [Trump] against a Socialist [Sanders]."

I WISH. Trump is likely a crony capitalist, not a capitalist. The guys who get rich off the free market are the first to try to stop that market from being free.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:44 PM (/q6+P)

491 Yeah, I get it. You loathe Trump. But he's made
something of his life outside of politics. No other top candidate of
either party has had success without sucking on the government teat.
Bernie is a lawyer who couldn't even pound a nail when he was out of
work and hungy, so he went into politics. Hillarity! is great when it
comes to selling access to a high level pol (herself).

Besides, Trump, out of the top 5 (Trump, Rubio, Cruz, Hillarity! and
Feel the Burn!) is the only one who is not a frickin' lawyer. I am
sick of lawyers being president, as if they have more gravitias or some
such bullshit. Lawyers, for the most part, are more trouble than they
are worth, which is zero, or the absence of anything of value.

Posted by: RickZ at February 07, 2016 02:31 PM (Ix+HS)

That is not Trump loathing on my part. Most businessmen are no more inclined toward Capitalism than is the Bern. Trump fall into that "most" group. He has made several fortunes by claiming special status and using special rules that he got from buying politicians (really, he even brags about it).

Trump is not John Galt.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:44 PM (NPofj)

492 I don't understand Schlafly supporting Trump.

I agree, it makes no sense to me either, particularly given her life long struggle for decency, virtue, morality, and goodness in culture. She may be in the same enraged camp of "burn it to the ground" as many here perhaps.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:44 PM (39g3+)

493 I don't understand Schlafly supporting Trump.

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (sNESL)

******

She sees a wrecking ball to kill the Party she once supported but is no longer in any meaningful way Conservative?

Posted by: Tim in GA at February 07, 2016 02:45 PM (YLidQ)

494 I WISH. Trump is likely a crony capitalist, not a capitalist.

He's more a capitalist than, say, Elon Musk whose entire fortune came from cronyism and government showering him with money.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:46 PM (39g3+)

495 @456 "... Trump = Republican Obama"

Are you high?

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:46 PM (/q6+P)

496 Phylis Schlafly makes the case for President Trump
http://tinyurl.com/hqapnez

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 02:47 PM (OvUux)

497 > I agree, it makes no sense to me either, particularly given her life long struggle for decency, virtue, morality, and goodness in culture. She may be in the same enraged camp of "burn it to the ground" as many here perhaps.

Because this isn't about social mores and sunday school culture. She has been in the trenches since before you were born and sees the end looming. Who cares if the guy in the foxhole next to you is has a bible in his pocket or not, it's time to kill some fucking Nazis.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:48 PM (VjlMj)

498 I don't understand Schlafly supporting Trump.

I agree, it makes no sense to me either, particularly given her life
long struggle for decency, virtue, morality, and goodness in culture.
She may be in the same enraged camp of "burn it to the ground" as many
here perhaps.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:44 PM (39g3+)

Schlafly is for Trump for the same reason Palin is... because they rightly took notice when he told the PC police to fuck themselves and because they see him as the biggest FU they can give to the establishment. I understand the sentiment even as I don't agree.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 02:50 PM (NPofj)

499 Because this isn't about social mores and sunday school culture.

Actually, she has been fighting for exactly that from the beginning because she knows its always about doing right and fighting wrong. Or there's no point in killing any Nazis because the smart money is on joining them, morality aside.

But you're probably right that she can tell we've crossed the line and its time for the destroyer.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:51 PM (39g3+)

500 @463 "...Trump has a different issue. If he maxes out at 35 to 40% with high negatives, is he electable in the general?"

Well, he did turn around many Republicans, but yeah - it seems like maybe only 1/3 of the country is on his nationalistic "mad as hell' bandwagon, while everybody else is so clueless they STILL don't even know what they're upset about.

On the flip side, who do the DEMS have? Are you going to tell me that TRUMP can't gut Hillary like a fish, or just plain leave "the Bern" in the dust?

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:51 PM (/q6+P)

501 A Trump/Sanders debate would be pretty awesome.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 02:53 PM (OvUux)

502 Christopher Taylor: Schlafly was the voice of conservatism for women in the 70s... loud and strong against... the Equal Rights Amendment...

Back when the ERA was a thing, I was for it, and still am on the face of the wording, although I think it's unnecessary and of course would be abused now.

That was when I first heard of Schlafly (unaware she was the author of A Choice, Not an Echo, of which I had heard), and I thought she was nutty, saying that the ERA would lead to "unisex bathrooms" & such.

And she was wrong, obviously.... They didn't need the ERA to start arguing for boys in the girls' room.

My respect for her grew in later years... right up until she endorsed Trump.

Posted by: mindful webworker - votes for women! at February 07, 2016 02:53 PM (H/5vA)

503 305 "All primaries for both parties need to be closed."

The Democratic side is so contentious this year, I have a hard time seeing many of them throwing away their votes to dick with us. If one of them drops out (dies?), then yes...that would become a problem.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (9Fcph)

504 @480 "In 1980 Bush used the "voodoo economics" line against Reagan.

Later, they teamed-up and beat Carter."

Indeed! You could almost put a "QED" after that one!

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 02:56 PM (/q6+P)

505 Ace's stuff about false narratives is important. I hope it's pursued in future.

The thing is, many false narratives, especially on the left are put forth as silver bullets. "We can solve X problem. if only we allow this totalitarian bullshit".

We need to point out why that doesn't work, and we do a good job at that.

But on the conservative side, to avoid our own false narratives, we must acknowledge that many of the problems that the left brings up are probably unsolvable. We can't just point out how their "solutions" make things worse. That is the complexity we must acknowledge.

Posted by: angela urkel at February 07, 2016 02:56 PM (ML24Y)

506 They didn't need the ERA to start arguing for boys in the girls' room.

That's the real reason the ERA was dropped. Not because they gave up, but because they changed tactics.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:01 PM (39g3+)

507 316 "As a Rubio supporter just said on Fox, they are trying to sell him as the ONLY one who can unite the Republican Party... "

Anyone on that stage who tells you they will be able to unite all factions and get stuff done is a LIAR. This assumes you want responsible things to get passed, of course.

Democrats AS A GROUP broke the law 4 years in a row when they refused to pass a budget. Who thinks they're going to be shamed or persuaded into joining our agenda?

The GOP establishment has openly declared war on their own voters more than once. Who thinks they're going to roll over for a reform agenda, thereby upturning their corrupt apple cart?

The various groups WILL NOT BE UNITED because they have different, even opposite agendas. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 03:02 PM (9Fcph)

508 > Actually, she has been fighting for exactly that from the beginning because she knows its always about doing right and fighting wrong. Or there's no point in killing any Nazis because the smart money is on joining them, morality aside.

Same war, different front however.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 03:03 PM (VjlMj)

509 @496 "Phylis Schlafly makes the case for President Trump
http://tinyurl.com/hqapnez"

Wow. I'll definitely read through THAT one.

You know, there's another Breitbart article out there that claims that not only is Rubio an empty suit, but he's COMPLETELY UNVETTED. Somebody on here alerted me to that one.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 03:04 PM (/q6+P)

510 A Trump/Sanders debate would be pretty awesome.
Posted by: ChocoCheese

I would so love to see any of these marxist shitstains, Sanders, Hilldawg, Warren go up against Trump.

I agree, Sanders would be the most satisfying.

Trump would show them all the grace they deserve.

Posted by: angela urkel at February 07, 2016 03:06 PM (ML24Y)

511 The audience last night was stacked against Trump by the establishment GOP.

http://tinyurl.com/jf7bf4e

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 03:09 PM (OvUux)

512 Puerto Rico needs a bailout. This will be an interesting test case. There's an argument that letting PR default will roil the market for US debt and cost us more in increased interest rates than anything we'd have to contribute to its bailout. Easy fix is for the US to just guaranty PR's outstanding debt.

Of course this would set a precedent for future Blue State / Blue City bailouts.

What say you Speaker Ryan?

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 03:10 PM (rs5De)

513 Joe Dan Gorman (Intellectual Froglegs) has an article up about how we need Trump because we need a pragmatist, not a liberal or a conservative.

However, while he rightly defines liberals, he only addresses the "so-called Republican conservative perspective." He does not address true Constitutional republican conservatism at all.

I suppose Trump looks better than Cruz, if you're just "sick of lawyers" as RickZ says, and Trump may seem the pragmatic choice if you think "most of the country is not conservative" as Notsothoreau says. Or, if you're one of those who's found a thing or two Cruz did that outweighs all else he says and does - which I can sort-of understand.

Joe Dan, to his credit, is not anti-Cruz, in fact, seems to recognize Cruz as the next best thing, but he won't change, I'd wager, from his "pragmatic" idea. (His uncritical all-out Trumpeting has almost but not quite dampened my enthusiasm for his excellent Intellectual Froglegs videos.)

Personally, I can and have voted "pragmatically" in the past, but even if the whole rest of the country is so ruined that it chooses to commit national suicide by electing another Communist, I'd still welcome a chance to vote for a candidate who understands and supports Constitutional issues, and Trump is not that guy. Cruz is as close as we seem to have.

And I'd not have to hold my nose, at least as hard, as I did with Romney and McCain. Hoping, of course, that Cruz is the real deal, not another liberal in conservative's clothing.

Posted by: mindful webworker - pragmatic Constitutional republican at February 07, 2016 03:12 PM (H/5vA)

514 @507

Actually, that sounds EXACTLY like a job for Trump. Obviously, he's not conservative, but he isn't really a liberal, either. He's a nationalist, a pragmatist, and above all - a deal maker.

We've had 8 years of Obama, who's trying the dictator route with his pen and his phone BECAUSE he has NO negotiating skills, and is an over-the-top narcissist, but THAT IS NOT NORMAL. When Obama goes away, healing CAN begin.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 03:12 PM (/q6+P)

515 @511 "The audience last night was stacked against Trump by the establishment GOP.

http://tinyurl.com/jf7bf4e"

Heh. Does that even count as a "scandal" any more? I thought it was called "Tuesday".

He sort of called them out about that a little in the debate.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 03:14 PM (/q6+P)

516 511 I thought so, too.

Posted by: Weasel at February 07, 2016 03:16 PM (e3bId)

517 Oh, yeah: the Joe Dan Gorman link

TRUMP: Not A Liberal Or A Conservative, But A Pragmatist
http://bit.ly/1TMZu4M

Posted by: mindful webworker - Constitutional repubican at February 07, 2016 03:16 PM (H/5vA)

518 The real winner of this debate is a 300,000,000 million-way tie between all the people who didn't watch it.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:20 PM (39g3+)

519 373 "How does Cruz get elected with both the Dems and the GOPe working against him?"

I'm sorry, were you talking about this election or the one for US Senate in TX? Same situation, same solution: take it straight to the people and bypass the corrupt GOPe.

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 03:22 PM (9Fcph)

520 @513 "... And I'd not have to hold my nose, at least as hard, as I did with Romney and McCain. Hoping, of course, that Cruz is the real deal, not another liberal in conservative's clothing."

I read an article by a "journalist" in TX, who has been covering Cruz for years. There were a couple of relevant points. One, I was surprised to hear her say (because she's clearly a fan, hence the quotes), was that it's unclear what Cruz's record is on a great many issues. In that way he's an Obama-like figure, unencumbered by an actual record on stuff.

The other point was that he is big-time into the Constitution, and has been so since he was a teenager. He was involved in some group, and I think he basically memorized it. Went on to try Constitutional cases at the SCOTUS.

But he's never run anything big, and I'd kind of like to see Trump go in and throw his weight around to repair the damage Obama has caused, and navigate the booby traps, while Cruz, as VP, could follow up as a successor and pursue a more principled course on the road that has been laid.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 03:25 PM (/q6+P)

521 You gotta admit, a Republican conservative has an easier time winning in Texas than the USA at large, though.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:25 PM (39g3+)

522 There ought to be a law against beating a little guy that bad in public.

Posted by: Bo at February 07, 2016 03:27 PM (QolCq)

523 @517 "Oh, yeah: the Joe Dan Gorman link

TRUMP: Not A Liberal Or A Conservative, But A Pragmatist
http://bit.ly/1TMZu4M"

I like it, but he stole my idea.

[Probably in IA!]

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (/q6+P)

524 This batch of p-shops and cartoons nails Scrubio:

http://bit.ly/1PIMETy

"Marco the Cyborg"

Posted by: RushBabe at February 07, 2016 03:30 PM (/NEnw)

525 "...it's unclear what Cruz's record is on a great many issues. ..."

***

Cruz' position on Supreme Court nominees is crystal clear: Stevens, O'Connor, Kennedy, Souter, Roberts... Never again.

A President who could meaningfully interview his own Supreme Court nominee would be a refreshing change of pace.

Posted by: Bo at February 07, 2016 03:30 PM (QolCq)

526 521. "...You gotta admit, a Republican conservative has an easier time winning in Texas than the USA at large, though..."

Dunno. It's never been tried in most of our lifetimes.

Posted by: Bo at February 07, 2016 03:32 PM (QolCq)

527 422 "...know that Cruz simply lied when he blamed his scandal regarding Carson in IA on CNN? That Cruz was certainly doing dirty tricks that MAY have been enough to get him the win?"

Let's unpack that.

In order to win Iowa, the first of MANY caucuses/primaries, Cruz intentionally lied about Carson in a way that was easily refutable and would generate bad blood among Carson's voters.
So you're asking us to believe that Cruz thought that would be a net positive for him? How?

Seriously. In what way could this "scheme" possibly have worked out in Cruz' favor? Did he think Carson would be so shaken by this tactic that he'd start crying and drop out of the race? Did he think Carson wouldn't be able to "figure it out?" As if there were some mystery about who made the tweets?

In what F***ing world does this insane conspiracy theory make sense?

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 03:38 PM (9Fcph)

528 The other point was that he is big-time into the Constitution, and has been so since he was a teenager. He was involved in some group, and I think he basically memorized it. Went on to try Constitutional cases at the SCOTUS.

But he's never run anything big, and I'd kind of like to see Trump go in and throw his weight around to repair the damage Obama has caused, and navigate the booby traps, while Cruz, as VP, could follow up as a successor and pursue a more principled course on the road that has been laid.

I believe it was the Rotary Club that Cruz spoke to. He memorized the Constitution when he was 13 and made a speaking tour of TX rotarians, reciting it. He has an audiographic memory, like a photographic memory but with hearing. Once he hears it, it's in his brainpan for keeps.

As for the Roberts nomination to the SCOTUS, the "in" thing is to have no real record so neither side can nail you. Roberts was one such candidate who was presumed and vouched for (by no less than Mark Levin) to be conservative. I wouldn't put it past Cruz to nominate Mike Lee (who has a perfect 100% conservative voting record) if he's elected.

I disagree about him not doing anything "big." While The Donald was saying he couldn't understand why someone needed to have a gun, Cruz was defending (and won) the Heller gun decision in Washington, DC.

He also fought against the extradition of a convicted Mexican rapist/murderer on death row that George W. and "the international community" wanted returned to Mexico. W's side lost and the guy was put to death. So I'd say that was something big -- in addition to the other seven Supreme Court cases he argued AND WON.

Posted by: RushBabe at February 07, 2016 03:40 PM (/NEnw)

529 The Hillary indictment will be 'rope a doped' until the summer, then Obama will announce that he is postponing the decision until after the election.

If she loses, she gets indicted and pardoned. If she wins, it's dismissed and whistleblowers are deemed sexist.

Posted by: East Bay Jay at February 07, 2016 03:43 PM (PvCxa)

530 Not because they gave up, but because they changed tactics.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:01 PM (39g3+)

And they (Progressives) never give up, they morph the desired solution they can't achieve immediately into something else that can get them closer to the goal, chipping away at rational constitutional government one grain of sand at a time!

Posted by: Hrothgar at February 07, 2016 03:50 PM (wYnyS)

531 @RushBabe
Cruz didn't argue and win Heller before SCOTUS. You're being purposefully misleading. "False in one thing, false in all."

Cruz is Lawyer Smart, I'll grant, but that doesn't always translate. For all we know, he could be innumerate and financially illiterate.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 03:55 PM (rs5De)

532 For all we know, he could be innumerate and financially illiterate.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 03:55 PM (rs5De)

Yes, that's how he got the loan to fund his campaign!

Posted by: Hrothgar at February 07, 2016 03:59 PM (wYnyS)

533 I think we have a lot more great VP options that pair up with Cruz than we do with Rubio. Lots of moderates that I'd accept in the VP slot that would complement his style and intangibles.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 07, 2016 04:33 PM (t5zYU)

534 We had smart people like Rand in the race. People don't want that. They want glib and smooth. The only way to get that is to do what Rubio is doing. He could be a bit better at it but this is what people want. You could be Josef Stalin for all they care as long as you look and sound nice. So we're either going to go with that or not. But let's not keep changing our minds about it.

Posted by: rfichoke at February 07, 2016 04:39 PM (xZEwe)

535 In what F***ing world does this insane conspiracy theory make sense?

Posted by: Matt_SE at February 07, 2016 03:38 PM (9Fcph)

No matter how insane, it must be true cause Trump said it;-P

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 04:57 PM (NPofj)

536 Cruz didn't argue and win Heller before SCOTUS. You're being purposefully misleading. "False in one thing, false in all."

Cruz is Lawyer Smart, I'll grant, but that doesn't always translate.
For all we know, he could be innumerate and financially illiterate.

Posted by: Ignoramus at February 07, 2016 03:55 PM (rs5De)

Cruz was not the lead lawyer... he wrote the amicus brief for the Attorneys General who supported Heller. His brief was quoted extensively in the majority decision. So you are right that Cruz didn't argue Heller and you are likely wrong that Cruz didn't substantially win Heller.
And you are very wrong about his intelligence.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 07, 2016 05:05 PM (NPofj)

537 Mark my words. If Rubio is elected, it will embolden the rest of the GOP to grant legal status to all illegals, allowing them to work and collect benefits. And as soon as the next DEM president and Congress are in power, they will grant citizenship, and you will never have another Republican president, or at least most certainly never a conservative one. So, while you think about Rubio vs Sanders/Hillary, a Republican Congress can obstruct and refuse to grant a DEM president any victories on that front in a way that they never will with a Rubio presidency. And please don't say, well, at least we'll get SCOTUS nominees. How well has that John Roberts thing worked out? How about Anthony Kennedy? How about David Souter? Sure, better than Lani Guinier would have been, but only marginally. Even REPS don't want seriously conservative justices on the court anymore. McCain and Graham would sell their soul for some wish-washy middle of the road guy rather than fight for a strict constitutionalist any day of the week.

In TX, I could afford not to vote Rubio and it wouldn't impact his chances in the general, since the Republican will win TX (unless it's Kasich, and probably even then). I know others don't have that luxury, but it's going to take a lot for me to pull that lever for Rubio if he's the guy. Frankly, the same is true for Trump as well.

Posted by: Jon in TX at February 07, 2016 05:41 PM (mvB4r)

538 First, Trump gave Cruz $5000 at the beginning of 2015 to jump start his presidential campaign, before he decided to run himself.

Second, Cruz is an accomplished appellate litigator, and won 5 cases as lead attorney before SCOTUS including Heller, 10 Commandments monument, and Veteran's Cross cases. He is VERY sharp!

Third, we've seen him speak in person, and he comes across much better in person, and is improving on the TV side.

Fourth, he won his Senate seat with a boot strap, grass roots approach. He is doing the same now.

Posted by: curtmilr at February 07, 2016 05:54 PM (ncUjC)

539 Fifth, he studied the Obama GOTV effort, and the failed GOP version. His response is much more hi tech, yet personal.
https://medium.com/@uCampaignapp/

Posted by: curtmilr at February 07, 2016 05:58 PM (ncUjC)

540 Cruz is clearly the smartest and best grounded on the issues.

He referenced a freaking EMP attack for gods sake- he got my vote based in that alone

Posted by: Trump at February 07, 2016 08:07 PM (EQcBC)

541 @535 "...No matter how insane, it must be true cause Trump said it;-P "

Actually, Karl Rove is the guy who put that together, and he is no fan of Trump's. Although Carson's wife was also a witness. I thought you people in here knew stuff.

Cruz even apologized to Carson for that crooked shit, although in the debate he blamed CNN, when it was his OWN people who were to blame. According to Carson he wants to meet with Carson as well.

I SAW the CNN clip, BTW. They said Carson's schedule didn't sound like what you'd have if you were still in it to win it, but they DIDN'T say he was bowing out any time soon.

Posted by: Optimizer at February 07, 2016 08:47 PM (/q6+P)

542 About the Supreme Court, I think the whole approach of trying to select for judicial restraint is fundamentally in error. It is illogical to assume that any branch will restrain its own power. Sure, a member or two, but not a majority.

What we should be looking for is a candidate that would attack the Court and seize some of its power, which restore proper constitutional order.

In s funny way, I'm thinking Trump might be good at that.

Posted by: skzion at February 07, 2016 09:39 PM (9C0d4)

543 This: "I know this because I'm a person and I'm shallow as f***." appears in Ace's piece here, and appears also in Allahpundit's piece on the same subject at Hot Air. Same words. Same EXACT words.

I am not one of those who believes 'there are no coincidences'. Life IS largely made up of coincidences. Mathemetics prof John Allen Paulos, in several "Innumeracy" books, has proven this, with math. We humans are driven to find meaning and rationality in events that, which while some are explicable, are mostly just coincidences.

So, I have to grant that it's possible this EXACT SAME PHRASE, not just the exact same words being used, and the exact same number of them, but also in substituting two asterisks for the letters "u", and "c", as the order in which the words are used, plus the punctuation is the exact same as well.

But I'm human, so, naturally, I doubt that it's coincidence - just as I doubt that Marco Rubio using the exact same words and phrases time and time again is coincidence. I can't help think that holds some meaning, because I'm human.

It's not necessarily the case that Marco Rubio is a robot, or that he's robotic of mind or inclination. It could be because he's scared he'll become flustered and thereby exposed as a not very smart or thoughtful person - IOW because even he fears he's actually shallower than f**k.

And if HE thinks that, who are we to doubt him?

Posted by: Shallot as Puck at February 07, 2016 10:35 PM (lqeGC)

544 538, are you aware of how many times Ted Cruz has argued before the SCOTUS? Nine. He went before the SCOTUS either as lead counsel or for some interested party or as amicus nine (9) times.

He ended up on the winning side five times, and on the losing side four times. 5:4. That's usually called a modest but respectable record, not the record of some supersmart genius or wizard.

As an attorney, he's smart, smart enough to end up top of his graduating class at Harvard Law School - a little higher than where Romney finished, and a little higher than where Obama finished as well. But not of that means he's flawless, by any stretch. It means he's smart at arguing law, but it doesn't mean he's always right on what the law should be, or even is. High marks in law school and a bare win-loss record in arguing cases before the top court does not make an attorney perfect, or supreme, or right on everything related to the law, or even knowledgeable about every law.

He sure isn't very perfect, or even smart, with other humans.

Posted by: Shallot as Puck at February 07, 2016 10:47 PM (lqeGC)

545 By way of comparison, Solicitor General, Donald Verilli, has personally argued 41 cases before the Supreme Court, and ended up on the winning side of 28 of those 41. So, Ted Cruz' win-loss record is .555, and Verilli's win-loss record is .683.

I don't see too many people clamoring for Donald Verilli to be elected president because HE's so frickin' smart at lawyering.

Posted by: Shallot as Puck at February 07, 2016 11:08 PM (lqeGC)

546 I got my plan A mixed up with my plan B. Simple mistake.

Posted by: Angry Marco at February 07, 2016 11:21 PM (SMwMf)

547 Shallot, even arguing before the SC is very rare, and those who do are a very elite bunch. A winning record is pretty dazzling.

Posted by: skzion at February 08, 2016 01:26 PM (9C0d4)

548 Oh, c'mon, Ace, you know you loved this. You've been anti-Rubio from the start.

So Rubio's gaffe is the killshot for you, huh? But Trump's 1 million and counting gaffes and puddle-depth knowledge on nearly every issue is A-OK!

No, I get it, you probably don't like Trump either because you're a Cruz guy, but you don't jump on him with quite as much relish as you do on Rubio.

Ah well. Rubio was never get the Ace vote anyways. We'll win without you.

Posted by: JoeC at February 08, 2016 09:21 PM (Lcy/t)

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