Posted on 08/26/2015 3:04:21 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Is Marco Rubio sure about that? The 2016 cycle appears ready to boil down to the question of whether the US electorate is an angry one. Rubio’s betting on no — and strategizing on it as well:
In his stump speech to fewer than 100 people in the northern part of the second presidential nominating contest, Rubio gently poked at the real estate tycoon who is towering over the Republican field in the polls, portraying Trump’s message as one of anger as opposed to the senator’s message of hope and opportunity.
“There’s another gentleman running for president whose slogan is Make America Great Again. And I understand what he’s trying to say. But I would remind him that America is great,” Rubio said. “Ask yourself this question: who would you trade places with? Would you rather be China? Would you rather be Brazil or India or anyone else for that matter? There’s no nation on earth I’d trade places with. The issue’s not that America isn’t great. The issue is that America has the chance to be greater. And we’re not fulfilling our potential.”
Well, perhaps that may be true by the time the primaries begin in early 2016, but the summer of 2015 suggests something different — and not just among Republicans. Bernie Sanders has become the Democrats’ Trump without even being a registered Democrat. The socialist rhetoric from which the Democratic establishment has mainly shied over the past few decades turns out to be a big hit this year. This cycle, at least in the early stages, reflects a rising populism in the country that spreads across the political spectrum, and populism definitely comes with an angry edge. At least, it does this year.
Nonetheless, Rubio’s so convinced of this that he’s demurring on battling Donald Trump, or anyone else. Trump took a shot at Rubio for not attacking Jeb Bush, which Rubio shrugged off. Instead, Rubio told reporters, he wants to focus on his own message and let voters decide for themselves:
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
Rubio brushed it off Wednesday when asked about it. “I’m running for president. I’m not running against anybody,” he said. “I’ll continue to talk about my message.”
That’s a smart move for Rubio, and for the other Republican candidates as well. Both Rand Paul and Jeb Bush have tried frontal attacks on Trump, which plays right into Trump’s confrontational strategy. Bush has plenty of resources to sustain himself even if his numbers drop, but Paul’s all but disappeared from view after attacking Trump in the debate. It’s akin to the film War Games — the only way to win is not to play. Rubio’s smart enough to figure that out.
That still leaves the question as to whether a Republican can survive in this field without giving vent to the obvious anger within the electorate. Rubio’s betting that a positive vision combined with a tremendous talent for communicating it will eclipse anger and retribution. That was true in 1980, and perhaps might be true now, but it’s no sure thing, either.
Rubio is a complete idiot! Even if some folks hare Trump, you all have to admit that he’s flushing out the RINOs
Yeah, this is actually a pretty angry nation right now. If you want to see real anger, wait til you try to cheat a duly nominated Trump out of the nomination.
Marco, exactly what country have you been residing in?
You could’nt be referring to the USofA and say that we are NOT an angry nation.
Adios Rubio. Don’t let the door hit your RINO ass on the way out.
Anger is sometimes a very appropriate emotion, Marco. Now happens to be one of those times.
Yes we are angry - and rightfully so.
A majority of our nation has elected twice the most anti-American president in our history, a full Marxist who detests everything about our nation’s history and values, and who, with the full support of all his Democrat co-conspirators and a totally passive opposition party brought our nation close to total collapse.
All of these have all but ruined our nations future, destroyed the prosperity of the middle class, forced hundreds of thousands into poverty, and ........I could go on for hours.
Yes we are angry. I don’t support Trump and frankly he scares me. But his success and popularity is simply because so many are so angry.
Clueless, you are...
Hope and change is what got us Obama, Rubio.
And anger is what got you elected, Rubio. How blind are these people?
Patriots need to encourage presidential candidates like Rubio and Clinton to express their opinions as much as possible.
Actually, yes, yes we are an angry nation.
Mr gang of 8 is a loser..
I have been pretty damned angry for at least the past 6 years.
Good God, this guy is a dumb as Jeb.
Not angry? Really? Want to see anger, tell your illegal aliens they are not getting amnesty!
Rubio, it is precisely because of elected office holders such as yourself that so many are angry.
You are all ineffective, liberal-leaning, idiots!!
So is Rubio now going to be a “joyful tortoise” just like his mentor Jeb! ?
We MUST change leadership if we hope to change the suicidal trajectory this country is on.
There are absolutely, positively NO reasons to vote for the establishment's candidates. Not a single one.
Trump punched Rubio in the throat last night. Not his turn. No loyalty to Jeb.
Rubio swings and misses.
What you said.
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