Posted on 08/02/2013 9:51:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Senator Marco Rubio’s immigration reform effort is in danger. It might seem like his presidential ambitions are in trouble, too. His numbers are down; Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz are starting to dominate the media’s discussion of 2016. In response, Rubio seems desperate to reestablish his conservative credentials, even by associating with a losing fight to defund Obamacare. That knee-jerk response calls Rubio’s political instincts into question, but his presidential chances are still alive, even if his immigration effort is on life support.
Rubio’s immigration bid probably hurt him on the right, but Rubio was never a natural fit to be the Tea Party candidate. He’s neither instinctually ultra-conservative nor a firebreather. Instead, Rubio has the classic profile of a mainline conservative: His policies represent the consensus of the Republican Party (other than immigration), and he has the temperament of a mainstream candidate. Put differently, he’s a lot more like George W. Bush or Paul Ryan than Rick Santorum or Michelle Bachman. And so long as Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, or whoever else sought the allegiance of the far right, there probably wouldn’t be space for someone with Rubio’s disposition.
But it’s not so bad to be left out of the Tea Party. Yeah, you’d rather be a Tea Party candidate than a dreaded moderate, but the optimum Republican presidential candidate is a mainline conservative—someone who’s conservative enough for the Tea Party, doesn’t scare away the establishment, and doesn’t alienate either the religious or business wing of the party. From there, the candidate either needs to build a critical mass of support within the party (the so-called invisible primary), or go out on the ground and convince voters in Iowa or New Hampshire (while hoping that no other candidate wins the invisible primary).
(Excerpt) Read more at newrepublic.com ...
I’d vote for him..I like him...don’t like EVERYTHING he says, but for the most part, he’s right on....
FUMR!! TRAITOR!!
I will never vote for the man. Ever.
FUMR!!!!!
His chances are alive and well...in Mexico.
No, they're not.
Good luck with that.......
You do know the New Republic is one of the most liberal magazines in the country, right? And that they hate Republicans, right?
I voted for my last RINO in Mitt Romney. NEVER AGAIN!
Marco Rubio is a smooth talking POS!
I take all my marching orders from the New Republic.
Not with me, they're not. He should be tried for abdication of his Oath to "uphold and defend," and jailed for treason.
;-\
I won’t vote for this traitor again. Never!
RE: I’d vote for him..I like him...don’t like EVERYTHING he says, but for the most part, he’s right on....
If you don’t like him because of his immigration stance, think about the possibilities in a hypothetical Hillary vs Rubio race:
1) Rubio wins ( no thanks to those who stayed home ).
Well, then you still get amnesty. However, you’ll have tax reform, the elimination of Obamacare, Conservative judges, less spending, gun rights intact, stricter abortion laws and the strengthening of our military.
2) Hillary wins. In which case YOU TILL GET AMNESTY, NO tax reform, HIGHER TAXES, Obamacare stays, liberal judges, more gun control, more liberal abortion laws, and the gutting of our military.
So, which is better?
And remember, when conservatives stay home, #2 will be the more likely scenario.
rubio thinks he can do the co-dependent sucker vote of mccain.
FLorida is not mccain country.
McCain did not look as bad in FL because he started to campaign his tired old BS with Palin by his side.
rubio is done.
He is counting on conference putting the fix in amnesty and gutting any house version.
Rubio is also up for re-election to his senate seat in 2016. Can he run for president and the Senate at the same time? Legally perhaps he can, but from a practical matter it’ll have to be one or the other.
RE: Can he run for president and the Senate at the same time?
Can one run for VP and Congress at the same time?
Paul Ryan did in 2012.
Gosh - it’s from ‘The New Republic’!
so it must be true.
Ditto that! McCain and Romney taught me that I should never support and vote for somebody only because they are a Republican. Those days are over.
His behavior during this immigration debate changed my views on Rubio. He showed himself to be pliable and for sale to the highest bidder. He blatantly lied to the base about the bill, and what’s in it. Then, he doubled and tripled down on a crappy bill. He shoved whatever they could get through to vote on, and ignored legitimate problems with the bill. While this bill is no Obamacare, the same tactics were used.
No to Rubio, as far as I am concerned.
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