Posted on 03/22/2012 8:24:51 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Yesterday's endorsement of Mitt Romney by former Florida governor Jeb Bush sent the implicit message that the time had come to wrap up the nomination process and begin focusing on the general election. Bush made that more explicit in an interview with Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Salena Zito --- and Bush had an idea how to make the ticket even stronger:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says Republican front-runner Mitt Romney has earned the right to take on President Obama in November.
“It is time to get behind the nominee,” Bush told the Tribune-Review on Wednesday during a visit to Pittsburgh. “And it is time for the country to focus on the most important thing, which is to elect a president who will create a climate for high growth and job-creating abilities for our country.”
Does he want to be VP? No, but he knows the man for the job:
“Marco Rubio,” he said of the freshman Florida GOP senator, who served as a volunteer on Bush’s governor’s campaign. Bush described Rubio, 40, as “dynamic, joyful, disciplined and principled.”
“He is the best orator of American politics today, a good family man. He is not only a consistent conservative, but he has managed to find a way to communicate a conservative message full of hope and optimism,” Bush said.
No doubt, Rubio would be a popular choice for a running mate in the GOP. He routinely wins the polls here at Hot Air for the slot, for example. If Romney does win the nomination — and that seems just short of certain now — he’d need a popular figure like Rubio among conservatives, and I’m not sure there’s another choice that could help him consolidate the base as effectively.
However, I’m still not sold on this as an effective general-election choice. Rubio has not had any executive-branch experience yet, and has been in the Senate for a mere 14 months. He needs more time to garner broader experience before one can make the claim that he has a resumé that justifies him being one heartbeat away from the Presidency. (Yes, I know Obama only had two years in the Senate before beginning his run for the top spot. Look how well that’s working out.) As talented as Rubio is, he has a brilliant career ahead of him if he shows some patience and builds a record of more than just fabulous oratory. He needs a full term in the Senate with his name on significant legislation, then a term as governor in Florida. With that kind of record, Rubio might be unbeatable in any cycle. With four or eight years as VP after less than two in the Senate, Rubio could end up being a historical footnote.
Bobby Jindal makes more sense as a running mate in this cycle, or Nikki Haley, both of whom are governors outside of Washington with Southern draw. Jindal probably would be better in getting conservatives to coalesce behind him, and he has a real track record of political reform in his second term in the top spot in Louisiana.
Update: Fox asked Rick Perry about rumors of his being on the shortlist, and Perry says that rumor is all it is:
“Texas governor versus VP? The balance on that one isn’t even close,” Perry said. “I would suggest to you that’s deep in the rumor category and I got a better gig where I am, thank you.”
Perry would make a pretty good running mate, though, and would help Romney get conservative backing. I don’t see Perry in a #2 slot, however, and I doubt he sees himself there either.
If by rationalization you mean correct assessment regardless of pre-conceived biases, then I agree. Scott Brown is pretty strong against illegal immigration, so if Rubio is like him, then thats a plus. Scott Brown’s record on immigration is stronger than Reagan’s.
But who said anything about being perfect? All I said is Reagan the President wasnt quite as Reagan-like as a lot of people have made him out to be.
A single slight is enough now to make someone completely unworthy of support in the future and labeled a sell-out.
I don’t know why some people put Rubio up on a pedestal. What has he done? Has he accomplished anything other that winning the seat from Florida? He does talk a good game, however I don’t find him a great conservative. Maybe he needs to earn his accolades before ya’ll fall at his feet and crown him king.
I’m with you, Pal.
I have nothing personal against Rubio but the Senator isn't a natural born citizen of the United States and therefore isn't qualified for the office President or Vice President.
Other than these three minor issues, we could win this.
Joe we all know how bad Obama is. We have to know now how we are going to correct the situation... and win the election.
As long as someone was born in Hawaii, it doesn't matter who his parents were. After all, our slave-owning white founding fathers probably didn't even know there was an Hawaii when they wrote Article II.
Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal are therefore constitutionally eligible to run for President because they could have been born in Hawaii, if it were not for the fundamental racism of our society. Please save yourself some grief. Just call the office of your Republican representative. They will straighten this out for you.
Hawaii is the key to Constitutional Eligibility. I mean, ask John Boenher!
Second what you said!
Well said.
The republican party is NOT a Conservative party... in fact... they are progressive. They are just slightly less progressive than the dims... and their leadership hates Conservatives... and they hate social Conservatives most of all. Rush preaches it... Levin preaches it and I have seen it with my own eyes and I have felt their hate up close and personal.
The only hope that we have to save this Republic is to change the party that we have. We cannot change the party by electing those that have infected it with progressive diseases. We cannot send weak sisters to DC because they will be co-opted as Trent Lott has ordered. Why are the TEA Party candidates in DC mute today... because like our new republican Congressman Palazzo... they have been corrupted and co-opted and are in the tank with the leadership. Want to know what Palazzo said when challenged about voting for all of boehner's progressive crap for the past two years? He said, "You just do not understand how Washington works"! No Congressman... we DO UNDERSTAND and we sent you there to CHANGE DC... NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL. He walked away in silence. THAT is the face of the republican party today.
Do not ask me for pom poms and cheers. **** the republicons... I only vote for Conservatives now... I only give to Conservative candidates directly and I am having an effect. The party still calls and begs daily... but I tell them what I have told you here today... and all that remains is silence on the other end of the phone line.
LLS
Well that makes at least two of us! Thanks!
LLS
Please remember to ping LucyT over the next few days. She is able to read, but unable to post
None of that has anything to do with your original post.
Lest we forget it was good 'ole Gov. Jeb had the authority to halt the murder by torture of Terri Schiavo. True to form, he turned away from his obligation to help another human being in her final hours of incomprehensible convulsing in extreme pain, while relizing she was slowly suffocating from a swollen tongue - this was the result of being denied sustenance of any kind. Additionally, her mandated death sentence by starvation included an accompanying deprivation of any water - all a part of a barbaric court decree.
IMHO, Gov. Jeb is a spineless piece of worthless flesh, who was complicit in the heinous murder of a defenseless woman who committed no crime.
His will be a judgment I wish upon no one, because it will be eternal, and it will be painful.
You have tunnel vision and I thought we were having a conversation.
LLS
Ping.......................
Thank you, Kenny Bunk.
Good catch.
I believe you are correct in that Rubio AND Jindal know the Constitution and do not want to go against it.
They are both good men. I was very impressed with Jindal during the BP oil crisis. He is a great leader - but not eligible.
Worth repeating, and I will never forget that profile in cowardice.Without the State Police, there could be no enforcement of that illegal and unconstitutional(both Federal and State of Florida) order. And Jeb Bush was in charge of the State Police.
I mark 2005 as the watershed when the Republican Party lost its bearings. We had just reelected Bush the Younger the previous fall, and the GOP FINALLY took a stand on a social and cultural issue by trying to save Terri's life.
Then, when these spineless SOBS realized the invitations to the cocktail circuit would not be forthcoming if they did not fall into line behind pro-kill-Terri liberals, they caved like a house of cards.
Three years later they nominated John McCain, the worst possible choice to go against Hillary or Obama.
In 2010 we breathed new life into the GOP through Sarah Palin and the Tea Party, giving Boner back his stupid gavel.
As you can see, the GOP eunuchs have done nothing since 2005 to reclaim the high ground, or to "expend political capital".
I'll vote for the nominee one last time this Novemeber, but win or lose, it is high time for a conservative party to replace the GOP. The GOP has no future past November 6th. They need to go the way of the Whigs and into the history books. Nothing in life or politics is forever.
Rubio is not an NBC.
Neither is Jindal
Or Romney
Or Santorum
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