SOTU Responses A 2016 Primary Preview [Rubio vs. Rand Paul]

Commentary Magazine ^ | 10 February 2013 | Jonathan S. Tobin

[zeestephen]

Florida Senator Marco Rubio will deliver the official Republican response to President Obama. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul will give the Tea Party response. No one should doubt that Tuesday night is the unofficial start to the 2016 GOP race.

[mylife]

No one should doubt that Tuesday night is the unofficial start to the 2016 GOP race.

Here is the problem... We are starting the race by dividing the party.

[mylife]

A Republican response AND a Teaparty response?

We shall see if they mesh as a CONSERVATIVE response..

[zeestephen]

No TV for the Tea Party speech.

Streaming video from the website of the Tea Party Express group.

[tallyhoe]

What I see is Republican gains in 2014 but a loss in 2016 because you can’t please all the Conservatives and about 1/2 will stay home, thus victory Democrats for the White House!!

[mylife]

We wouldn’t even be having this conversation if we could have got on the same page last go around.

[CitizenUSA]

mylife: “We are starting the race by dividing the party.”

Yes, but the party is divided. That’s reality. I have nothing in common with the moderate Republicans who I see as worse than Democrats. At least I know where Democrats stand on the issues. The moderates will whisper what I want to hear while they quietly work behind the scenes to do most of what the Democrats want.

Senator Rubio, for example, is a virtual nobody. What’s his record of conservative governance? How, pray tell, has he rolled back government in any substantial way at any level where he’s served? With all that’s going wrong, isn’t it telling that his cause du jour is immigration amnesty?

Consider the rest of the moderates. What the heck do they stand for? Well, we know they want immigration amnesty (after border security of course—LOL!). We also know they don’t really want to discuss any of the social ills plaguing the nation, even where federal programs are responsible, preferring instead to declare a unilateral truce in the culture war.

So maybe they’re better on fiscal issues, right? Guess again. The moderates think a balanced budget in 10 or 20 years is good enough. They have zero interest in rolling back spending in any significant way. Um. We KNOW this to be true, because we saw it firsthand during the Bush administration. Even now, the mushy moderates, the squishes, are fighting Republicans on the right and passing legislation by colluding with Democrats.

The Republican Party needs to be divided if unity means giving the squishes whatever they want! No more going along to get along!

[Vendome]

I think we are starting the leaf of the Jackass tree and the Jackass of Cuba.

Not that Rubio ain’t the greatest thing since slice bread but he comes with commas, buts and however’s......

[hosepipe]

Voting died at Nov. 6th, 2012... a few are still delusional..
But many many are not.. There is now many ex-republicans..

Pubbies are not too smart but eventually some “git it”..

[SeminoleCounty]

Your post sums up what I, and selling, most conservatives feel.....the days of go along to get along are over....conservatives will no longer waste their vote on liberal GOP candidates. You cannot win elections ignoring the base

[ObozoMustGo2012]

I agree. The hacked machines (and/or counting system) are permanently in place. There will be more voter id laws passed. We had the chance 11/6/12, some chose to stay home or vote with their “principles”.

[Venturer]

Neither Rand Paul nor Marco Rubio will state the real problem with the State of our Union.

We have a Usurper unqualified Muslim in the White House.

If one of them would start a congressional investigation into why Obama is allowed to be in the White House with a forged Birth certificate and dead mans social security number we could get this thing settled once and for all.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”The main differences between Rubio and Paul are not on the spending and taxing issues that created the Tea Party in 2009 and 2010 in response to the Obama administration’s stimulus boondoggle and ObamaCare. They are instead about foreign policy. Rubio is an advocate of a strong defense and a robust pursuit of U.S. interests, including fighting the war on Islamist terrorists. Paul is moving away from the radical isolationism of his father to, as he stated in his Heritage speech, a stance that positions him as the candidate of the old GOP establishment “realists” that staffed the administration of the first President George Bush......
But the main differences between Rubio and Paul are about the latter’s appetite for massive cuts to the military via the sequester and military assistance to Israel (which Paul still opposes). On economic issues and entitlement reform as well as social issues and gun control, there isn’t much to choose between them. All of which leads us to wonder what exactly is the point of allowing Rand Paul to pose as the alternative to the official GOP response being delivered by a Tea Party stalwart except to highlight the personal rivalry between the two men.”

McCain, Grahamnesty and Rubio all consider defense spending sacred and they all want immigration reform with path to citizenship(voting), same as GWB six years ago.

This is not a coincidence as a voluntary military with a improving economy will need desperate volunteers esp if we are going to invade Iran and Syria. Poor Illegals looking for a shortcut to citizenship will make great boots on the ground IED bait, even if they survive to vote Dem.

Notice that Rubio's proposals (not written) involve illegals voting many years from now, like later than 2016.

[freeangel]

I’m behind the one who is for dragging someone through the streets of DC behind a pickup before hanging for treason.

[faucetman]

“if we are going to invade Iran and Syria”

Are you serious? Why in the world would we invade Iran or Syria?

You want MORE of our heroes arms & legs blown off, not to mention killed?

I believe in a strong national defense, BUT I am through being the world's policeman. The sacrifice is too great.

Let me repeat something.... DEFENSE.... not offense. We have no business in Syria. Let them kill each other.

Iran is the perfect place to do some nuclear testing of our own. Obama could be right here. We could reduce our nuclear stockpile by using some of them on Iran.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”You want MORE of our heroes arms & legs blown off, not to mention killed?”

You mean the gays and Dreamers and wimmin? Those days of the TV show combat are long over.

I know Muslims in Iran and Syria treat their wimmin like cattle but I havent figured out their views on homosexuality(men on men). The ones here seem to think its a great idea after O told them it was.

[9YearLurker]

Remember how Bachmann was scorched for this?

Now it’s accepted.

[jersey117]

If one of them would start a congressional investigation into why Obama is allowed to be in the White House with a forged Birth certificate and dead mans social security number we could get this thing settled once and for all.

Ditto that!

[faucetman]

It is time for a third party. A, say Tea Party, could form a coalition with Republicans and Conservative Democrats to form a majority. A “Tea Party” would amount to a “gang of (enter appropriate amount)”. Without them, the Republicans could do NOTHING. Republicans would have to cave to the terms of the “Tea Party”.

We have to start this transition sometime, why not now? The sooner we start, the sooner we achieve success. I was talked out of it last time with all the old, tired, worn out excuses. Not anymore. Third party, Tea Party candidates or I will vote for the Democrat. It's the best way to get rid of RINOs if no third party or Tea Party candidates have any shot at winning. VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT. Bye, Bye RINOs.

Yes, polls of likely voters are accurate! “I don't believe the polls”. Over sampling of Democrats.... Blah, Blah, Blah. Yeah, sure, President Romney is doing a fine job isn't he?... but wait.....

SUCKERS!

[zerosix]

I personally am tired of the wizards of smart picking out the "beauty contestants" for me in advance, then telling me who won, i.e. who will win the GOP Primary for 2016, before I even get to hear what the various candidates have to say.

All of this buzz regarding Rubio will suck up $$$$ beforehand, then they will tell me, "Rubio is the only 'electable' candidate in the pack!"

I'm no fan of Rubio's already, especially since he's pushing Amnesty, even after "guaranteeing border security."

Amnesty after anything basically means Congress lied to us in the 1986 Immigration Security Act (Simpson/Mazzoli) which promised NO MORE AMNESTY EVER, period!

Say that you will vote to enforce Simpson/Mazzoli now, Rubio and see how popular you are with the GOP "leaders" or the Hispanic community.