Official 2016 GOP thread: Is it really going to be Donald Trump?? (2 Viewers)

[timschochet]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

how the hell is Pataki still in this??

It's easy to stay in when you don't have a job and you aren't spending any money to campaign. With that said, I think Graham dropping out probably means the end of the JV debate, so Pataki won't really get any media anymore.

 

[3C's]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

Who gets all his supporters?!

LIndsey will be writing himself in for President when he votes. So 0 impact.

well that makes 1 of us.

 

[3C's]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

how the hell is Pataki still in this??

It's easy to stay in when you don't have a job and you aren't spending any money to campaign. With that said, I think Graham dropping out probably means the end of the JV debate, so Pataki won't really get any media anymore.

Maybe they can have Huckster debate a monkey. Would be more entertaining than the JV debate and he shouldn't be with the people who actually have a shot.

 

[Righetti]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

 

[Fennis]

Why he withdrew

Today is the deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the South Carolina primary and get their name removed from the ballot. Graham was potentially facing an embarrassing loss in his home state

 

[Fennis]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

He is polling at 1% in South Carolina for the South Carolina primary. His endorsement means nothing.

 

[Righetti]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

He is polling at 1% in South Carolina for the South Carolina primary. His endorsement means nothing.

oh, I agree.. don't think this is about an endorsement per se but just think he's got some gray hair that could do well for Rubio at some point..

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

He is polling at 1% in South Carolina for the South Carolina primary. His endorsement means nothing.

I don't think any of the prominent SC Republicans had endorsed yet, out of deference to Graham. Might be meaningful if Nikki Haley and Tim Scott and Graham all endorse the same person. Although I tend to agree that endorsements are mostly worthless.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

Poor campaign staff, they all have to be let go.

... So, who's gonna tell Fred the unpaid intern?

 

[lod01]

What a loser. We'll take those 2 or 3 votes. Trump 2016!!!

 

[Eephus]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

the US hasn't had a Secretary of War since 1947

 

[cubd8]

Graham is likely to endorse Rubio.

I agree that this is the most likely landing spot.. could even see him serve in a Rubio administration..

He is polling at 1% in South Carolina for the South Carolina primary. His endorsement means nothing.

Correct, although his endorsement will probably get more attention than his entire campaign got.

 

[lod01]

Trump will poke him in the eye on his next interview then sit back and wait for Graham to go nuts.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

Who gets all his gay supporters?!

fixed.....not that there is anything wrong with it.

 

[3C's]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

Who gets all his gay supporters?!

fixed.....not that there is anything wrong with it.

[jon stewart as graham]Oh I do declare! You have offended my honor![/jon stewart]

 

[lod01]

Trump will poke him in the eye on his next interview then sit back and wait for Graham to go nuts.

laughing at him right now on CNN.

 

[lod01]

Trump: 'Bush you are at 2%, your way down there, I here in the middle, next time you won't even be on the stage.'

 

[RnR]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

 

[RBM]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

how the hell is Pataki still in this??

and Santorum.

 

[timschochet]

The press has been speculating all day that Graham's departure frees up John McCain to endorse somebody, presumably Marco Rubio. According to this theory McCain is loved in New Hampshire and his support could vault Rubio into 2nd place there- enough to make him the only establishment alternative to Trump or Cruz.

I think they're delusional. I agree with the notion that among the 4 remaining viable establishment candidates- Rubio, Bush, Christie, and Kasich- 3 of them have to drop out and the sooner the better. If they don't they guarantee it's going to be Trump or Cruz. Only a single candidate, with the entire establishment united behind him, has a chance to beat Trump or Cruz. I say a chance because it will be no sure thing even then. I think it has to be Rubio.

But as for the rest of it- The media still doesn't understand how populism changes politics. McCain may have been beloved in New Hampshire in the past, but now he's an old man who is out of sync with the thinking of the Republican base, which doesn't even like him. It's almost a negative for him to endorse anyone at this point. The days of the "maverick" are long gone; he's perceived as part of the Boehner/McConnell establishment that the base despises. The same for Mitt Romney. These guys are not going to ride in and save the GOP from itself. The GOP is on the precipice here.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Lindsay Graham drops out.

how the hell is Pataki still in this??

Pataki is all the way up to 12th now!

-QG

 

[3C's]

New Qpac poll out. Not surprisingly, Trump gained, Cruz gained, Carson fell, Rubio fell. Crazy wins.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

 

[jamny]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Its only over because he got caught...

 

[saintfool]

Regarding Rubio, my comments come from a lengthy profile in the New Yorker.

i don't expect posters like Max or RBM to read it. he's not doing anything that other politicians have done in the past but it's being ignored in this crazy primary run-up. there is so much bombast, ridiculousness being pushed out there right now that his seriously scary agenda is being overlooked.

 

[jamny]

Regarding Rubio, my comments come from a lengthy profile in the New Yorker.

i don't expect posters like Max or RBM to read it. he's not doing anything that other politicians have done in the past but it's being ignored in this crazy primary run-up. there is so much bombast, ridiculousness being pushed out there right now that his seriously scary agenda is being overlooked.

I'll check it out. My support for Rubio is wavering slightly but unfortunately it's pushing me more towards Cruz. I think the only shot vs. Hillary is with Rubio.

 

[krista4]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

 

[whoknew]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The worst thing about Rubio is he's a massive hawk. Super hawk.

Maybe that's just tough talk for the primary process. Lets hope.

 

[krista4]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The worst thing about Rubio is he's a massive hawk. Super hawk.

Maybe that's just tough talk for the primary process. Lets hope.

That and his abortion stance.

 

[whoknew]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The worst thing about Rubio is he's a massive hawk. Super hawk.

Maybe that's just tough talk for the primary process. Lets hope.

That and his abortion stance.

Good point. But I guess I just take that as a given with the less enlightened side of the aisle.

 

[krista4]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The worst thing about Rubio is he's a massive hawk. Super hawk.

Maybe that's just tough talk for the primary process. Lets hope.

That and his abortion stance.

Good point. But I guess I just take that as a given with the less enlightened side of the aisle.

You're right that there's a wider range of viewpoints in the foreign policy area, while there is more consensus on abortion. I just find someone who doesn't even wish to allow it in cases of endangering the mother's life to be pretty far afield, though.

ETA: To be fair, he's walked the stance back when it comes to rape/incest/life in danger exceptions, so I'm not sure what his position really is.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The fact that he has extremely bad judgment and or ethics doesn't bother people?

 

[MaxThreshold]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The fact that he has extremely bad judgment and or ethics doesn't bother people?

Well, then ALL the candidates would be disqualified for office - Democrats and Republicans.

 

[Sand]

Regarding Rubio, my comments come from a lengthy profile in the New Yorker.

i don't expect posters like Max or RBM to read it. he's not doing anything that other politicians have done in the past but it's being ignored in this crazy primary run-up. there is so much bombast, ridiculousness being pushed out there right now that his seriously scary agenda is being overlooked.

I'll check it out. My support for Rubio is wavering slightly but unfortunately it's pushing me more towards Cruz. I think the only shot vs. Hillary is with Rubio.

Tend to agree here. I never saw this card stuff as a big deal - he's long ago corrected this.

The worst thing about Rubio is he's a massive hawk. Super hawk.
Maybe that's just tough talk for the primary process. Lets hope.

The primaries always tend toward the barbell ends. That's why you see so much free stuff being proposed in the D primaries. This will gravitate back toward the middle in the general.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

I think Rubio's immigration past will hurt him in the primaries. It seems like I could go down the list of GOP candidates and explain why each of them cannot win the nomination - but it has to go to someone. Rubio stands as good a chance as any to be the last man standing after all the dust settles.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Rubio is getting absolutely slammed by the conservative right this weekend. Picking a fight with Cruz doesn't seem to be working out.

I think this is a situation where Rubio is the best candidate for winning the general election, but he's not crazy enough to satisfy the crazies on the far side of the party to secure the nomination. That's unfortunate, because Cruz loses the general in a landslide.

Rubio is a little slippery. say what you will about Cruz, he actually believes what he says. Rubio is an political opportunist and has been since he held office. he's found a space in GOP to stand out with his "message" but does anyone actually believe him?

I guess I'd need more specifics to properly respond to that.

http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-big-money-problem-2015-3

Rubio’s American Express credit card from the Florida Republican Party

• Rubio was given an American Express card backed by the Florida GOP from 2005 until Nov. 2008, when he left the State Legislature.
• Questions emerged in 2010 about more than $100,000 charged to the card, beginning in 2006 when he was elected House Speaker.
• Rubio defended those charges as legitimate and said he had paid $16,000 to the party to cover personal expenses (like a $135 haircut at a high class Miami barber shop in 2007) that were unrelated to party business.
• In November 2006, $10,000 was charged to the card for a Rubio family vacation at Melhana Plantation, an antebellum resort in Georgia. Rubio told the Times the charge was a mistake by a travel agent and said he mailed a check directly to American Express to pay for it.
• Additional personal expenses that were never reimbursed include $68.33 for "beverages" and a "meal" from Happy Wine liquor store near Rubio's West Miami home that also serve tapas and $765 from Apple's online store for "computer supplies."

He has since released all his records on this. The story is old and over.

If this is the worst his opponents have, he's doing well.

Yeah, I'm no Rubio fan but none of this stuff has ever bothered me.

The fact that he has extremely bad judgment and or ethics doesn't bother people?

Do you have any idea how much Rubio and the GOP must be looking forward to laying this Rubio scandal out on the table alongside Hillary & Bill, Inc.?

 

[Joe Summer]

Do you have any idea how much Rubio and the GOP must be looking forward to laying this Rubio scandal out on the table alongside Hillary & Bill, Inc.?

It's not just the size (and frequency) of scandals, but also the proximity to the election. Hillary's scandals are in the past. Same with Trump for the most part. But Rubio has yet to face the scrutiny of the spotlight, so the public hasn't had time to process any negative information about him. If Clinton hits him with controversy at the right time, then he might not have time to recover like Hillary did.

 

[matuski]

Credit card "scandal" isn't much of a scandal. Who cares.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The Great Republican RevoltThe GOP planned a dynastic restoration in 2016. Instead, it triggered an internal class war. Can the party reconcile the demands of its donors with the interests of its rank and file?

...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/

- Good article here from the Atlantic.

 

[timschochet]

The Great Republican Revolt

The GOP planned a dynastic restoration in 2016. Instead, it triggered an internal class war. Can the party reconcile the demands of its donors with the interests of its rank and file?

...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/- Good article here from the Atlantic.

Its long but pretty brilliant. David Frum is as insightful a political writer as there is.

 

[saintfool]

Do you have any idea how much Rubio and the GOP must be looking forward to laying this Rubio scandal out on the table alongside Hillary & Bill, Inc.?

It's not just the size (and frequency) of scandals, but also the proximity to the election. Hillary's scandals are in the past. Same with Trump for the most part. But Rubio has yet to face the scrutiny of the spotlight, so the public hasn't had time to process any negative information about him. If Clinton hits him with controversy at the right time, then he might not have time to recover like Hillary did.

Rubio is a relative political novice compared to Hillary. he's been angling for higher office - the highest offices even - since his career began. i think it could be pretty effective to paint him as a candidate who has no real political will or conviction of his own. he's staked out positions in a very crowded political field that are politically expedient - if not deeply conservative - because he's staked himself as an establishment candidate. he wouldn't be an establishment candidate in any other election cycle, i think.

 

[matuski]

The Great Republican RevoltThe GOP planned a dynastic restoration in 2016. Instead, it triggered an internal class war. Can the party reconcile the demands of its donors with the interests of its rank and file?

...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/

- Good article here from the Atlantic.

What set them apart from other Republicans was their economic insecurity and the intensity of their economic nationalism. Sixty-three percent of Trump supporters wished to end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil—a dozen points higher than the norm for all Republicans. More than other Republicans, Trump supporters distrusted Barack Obama as alien and dangerous: Only 21 percent acknowledged that the president was born in the United States, according to an August survey by the Democratic-oriented polling firm PPP. Sixty-six percent believed the president was a Muslim.

Holy ####.

 

[matuski]

Thank you for the link saints.. learnin stuff.

 

[RnR]

Regarding Rubio, my comments come from a lengthy profile in the New Yorker.

i don't expect posters like Max or RBM to read it. he's not doing anything that other politicians have done in the past but it's being ignored in this crazy primary run-up. there is so much bombast, ridiculousness being pushed out there right now that his seriously scary agenda is being overlooked.

Thanks. I'll give that a read. I've skimmed enough of it to know I need to set aside some time to digest it. Will respond when that happens.

 

[krista4]

The New Yorker piece on Rubio was interesting but not that surprising in my opinion. So Rubio seems to flit around to positions that he thinks are most favorable to whatever office he seeks at the moment? He's like a slightly righty version of Hillary in that respect. While I'm not at all interested in having him as my President, I don't feel like he's much different than those I find, on the surface, more palatable such as Hillary. I can't think of a single issue about which I feel she is a strong advocate rather than interested in political expediency.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Do you have any idea how much Rubio and the GOP must be looking forward to laying this Rubio scandal out on the table alongside Hillary & Bill, Inc.?

It's not just the size (and frequency) of scandals, but also the proximity to the election. Hillary's scandals are in the past. Same with Trump for the most part. But Rubio has yet to face the scrutiny of the spotlight, so the public hasn't had time to process any negative information about him. If Clinton hits him with controversy at the right time, then he might not have time to recover like Hillary did.

Rubio is a relative political novice compared to Hillary. he's been angling for higher office - the highest offices even - since his career began. i think it could be pretty effective to paint him as a candidate who has no real political will or conviction of his own. he's staked out positions in a very crowded political field that are politically expedient - if not deeply conservative - because he's staked himself as an establishment candidate. he wouldn't be an establishment candidate in any other election cycle, i think.

Yeah that is interesting, good point.

 

[jamny]

The Great Republican RevoltThe GOP planned a dynastic restoration in 2016. Instead, it triggered an internal class war. Can the party reconcile the demands of its donors with the interests of its rank and file?

...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/the-great-republican-revolt/419118/

- Good article here from the Atlantic.

Thanks for the link. Really good article.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Mandy Patinkin on Charlie Rose

http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60665346

You guys rail on a lot of stuff that support the GOP but if you don't take the time to watch this then you are missing out. Not because I think you will run and help refugees. In fact I believe that Mandy does a sensational job of helping the folks who want to put the brakes on immigration.

In Mandy's world the terrorists don't even exist, it's almost like a fantasy.

You're going to be spitting nails and the funny part will be folks on the far left likely supporting him.

Well worth you time to get inside the mind of the leftist elite that fill up Hollywood.

I want to say Mandy is a nice man and I think his heart is in the right place, that's the part that hurts when you watch. You know he means well but so misguided on the reality of life.