So I had basically given Rubio up for dead, but now I'm having second thoughts. He finished a really strong third in Iowa, and considering he gets almost no serious talk in the media (it's basically Trump-Cruz 24-7), that's pretty impressive. I suspect that when it really came down to picking someone, a lot of pubs just couldn't stomach either of the two front-runners, and Rubio was the electable third option. I really like a lot about Rubio, and I think he's a pretty genuine guy. I am fearful that Clinton would eat him alive in a general election because he's always struck me as being a little naive to the political atmosphere in Washington. I also feel like he's really a term away from really being a prime candidate - but obviously sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot. I'll confess some of the same non-political issues I had with Obama - new senator, minimal experience to prep for the presidency. But if he gets his name out more now in view of the Iowa performance, I'm very intrigued as to whether his campaign will get a shot in the arm.
My sincere hope is that Rubio can win the nomination. Though he's been pulled to the right in the primary, his previous positions on immigration were moderate and sensible. From a centrist perspective, though he's not as socially moderate as Kasich his short history in the Senate shows him be far closer to the middle than Cruz. I've been on record that he's at the limit of the furthest right I could potentially vote for.
He doesn't need your vote, and no other R will ever get your vote, so go ahead and wallow in your Hillary/Bernie man crush.
I have tried to like Rubio, but he comes across a less than genuine to me. If he could just stop saying in every response, "when I am President," maybe I could see him as less canned. He is riding both the establishment road and the anti-establishment crowd to an extent. I think most voters supporting the candidates about to drop out swing to Rubio. He played Iowa well, which affirms he really is an established politician..
Always the party of inclusion, huh? Is it any wonder the Republicans are staring at major demographic challenges?
Rubio has some real problems with his financing issues in Florida. When it comes down to one-on-one with a legitimate Democratic candidate, then there will be a lot of red meat there for negative ads. The next few weeks will be a good test as to whether he can hold up against those negative ads.
Seattle, I have voted Libertarian for President in each of the last 6 elections. Not sure why you think I am a Republican.
probably because of your so called response to his po Go back and read all your posts. It isn't really a stretch..
chango, I am a one issue voter, and proud of it. I detest every democrat on the national level because every one of them wants the federal government to get bigger. 18 trillion in debt and counting, and their Keynesian answer is always "we can spend our way out of (fill in the blank)". I will NEVER vote democrat because I know what I'm getting there. Most of them should be dragged out and shot in the head for treason for what they have done to this nation's economy. I also dislike the vast majority of republicans on the national level because while they talk about cutting spending, it never happens. They just spend it on different but equally stupid and ineffective ****. The sequester? That's ******* chump change, yet all you hear from republican leadership is howls of protest and indignation over it. If a republican ever convinced me (s)he truly meant to shrink the federal budget back to around 15% to 18% of GDP then (s)he would earn my vote. Most of them also should be dragged out and shot in the head for treason for what they have done to this nation's economy. That leaves me with voting Libertarian, which I have faithfully done.
And I've voted for Republicans and Independents so I'm not sure why you think I'm beholden to Sanders/HRC. Just because I defend the left against the bias brigade on this site? Look further back, I defended the right too in many situations when Bush was Pres. Situations other than the Iraq war whose evidence was clearly staged to achieve an outcome and took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan. Curious, I too consider myself a fiscal conservative. Where do you stand on defense spending?
Where do I stand on defense spending? I believe the federal budget should be about 17-18% of GDP. There are legitimate functions that only the feds can perform and they should be allowed to perform them. I believe national defense is one of those functions, but I do not believe we need to be the world's policeman. Since the 60s our politicians have tortured the hell out of the definition of "national defense" to justify our military presence in far too many places, for far too many specious reasons. I am no expert, but I believe we can maintain a highly efficient and effective defense force at somewhere around 2/3s of the current budgetary level, and I'd be willing to listen to people who can rationally propose even deeper cuts.
Democrats having fun ... just like in the old days when they gathered pregnant women to march carrying "Nixon's the One" signs.
Boy: I'll bet Marco Rubio wishes Chris Christie had dropped out of the race BEFORE the New Hampshire debate. It's no fun trying to prove you are not an empty suit.
Sanger, I guarantee that if someone with sincere designs to strategically cut out over lap, waste, and downright fraud attacked the military budget ( and the Govt in general) a 30% reduction could occur and NOT affect negatively our nations war capacity. Like if Romney took his experienced Bain auditors to the budget.
I'm surprised that Marco has not been more vocal about the fact that he does much better against Hillary in polls than any other Republican candidate.
I'm not too surprised. I like Rubio, but every time out looks like he's going to take off, something goes wrong. For example, he did very well in Iowa, and then he gets trouser chili in the NH debate and blows his chances in that state. I'm not sure he's ready to lead a national ticket.