Patterico's Pontifications

6/22/2016

Rubio Running for Re-Election

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:37 am



Little Marco is running for re-election to the Senate:

Sen. Marco Rubio will announce Wednesday he will seek re-election to the Senate, reversing a pledge he made a year ago to either assume the presidency or return to private life in Florida, instantly transforming an already competitive race and improving the chances that Republicans can maintain the Senate majority.

I learned this primary season that I don’t care for Marco Rubio. I learned that he is am empty suit who will do and say anything that serves his political ambitions. I learned how deep and blatant his lies had been about opposing amnesty for illegal aliens. Finally, I watched him try to “stand by” the things he had said about Donald Trump during the campaign — including branding Donald Trump someone who can’t be trusted with nuclear weapons — yet who supports Trump today because he said he would support the nominee.

Well, Rubio also said he would not run for re-election to the Senate, too.

While I am no longer a member of the Republican party (I officially deregistered online), I also believe that it is important that they maintain control of the Senate and House. The GOP is feckless in fighting big government, but they are the most organized bulwark against big government out there. (Libertarians don’t win elections; they even argue about whether it’s moral to vote.) If I were convinced that Rubio is the only chance to hold on to the seat, then I would support Rubio.

But I’m not so sure he is. I know Mitch McConnell put out a big “draft Rubio” campaign. But Ted Cruz and Mike Lee seem . . . more lukewarm:

Marco Rubio reached out to Ted Cruz to confirm his intent to run for reelection to his Florida Senate seat, according to sources familiar with the matter.

According to two aides briefed on the Tuesday phone call, Rubio asked Cruz to blast out a statement urging Rubio to run for reelection, “so it’s not just Mitch [McConnell]” asking him to do so, as one aide described it.

Those aides say Cruz declined, as he didn’t want to be accused of nudging out US Representative Ron DeSantis, the tea-party favorite in the race for Rubio’s seat. The aides say that Senator Mike Lee of Utah echoed that concern after Rubio approached him with the same request. A Lee aide confirmed that this conversation took place.

If Mitch McConnell wants Rubio, and Ted Cruz and Mike Lee don’t, I tend to think I don’t either.

UPDATE: DeSantis is now out. Sounds like he would have been a better small-government candidate but was pushed out by Mr. Ambition. Oh well.

UPDATE x2: And with DeSantis out, Cruz is now supporting Rubio in the primary.

172 Responses to “Rubio Running for Re-Election”

  1. i got a pocket

    got a pocket full of SUNSHINE!

    happyfeet (831175)

  2. UPDATE: DeSantis is now out. Sounds like he would have been a better small-government candidate but was pushed out by Mr. Ambition. Oh well.

    Patterico (86c8ed)

  3. I want to like Rubio, but after this campaign season, I can’t. Just another statist politician.

    Dan S (e312ac)

  4. Rubio may not be the only chance to hold on to the seat for the GOP, but he is certainly the best chance: the Democrat odds of turning that seat are considerably less this morning.

    kishnevi (6fbba2)

  5. Let’s just say it…Calvin Coolidge was a RINO! (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  6. Friday June 24 was the deadline. It’s good to see that Marco Rubio is correcting a mistake. He does have the best chance, especially with all those newly registered voters who have moved from Puerto Rico, who are being registered by the Democratic Party. (people do like to vote for the re-election of famous Senators)

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  7. This is why the GOP is terrible today. Everybody’s a purist.

    Marco Rubio is ambitious. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.
    Ted Cruz shut down the government for no apparent reason. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.
    Perry said Oooops once. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.
    Romney drove with a dog on his roof 30 years ago. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.
    Christie had people that did something with a bridge. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.
    Kasich is a GOPe RINO. He’s terrible. Get rid of him.

    Well, we got rid of them all, and who’s left? DONALD TRUMP!

    Congrats Purists!!!! Good job! Good effort!

    A.S. (23bc66)

  8. Yeah, I’ll take Rubio.

    nk (dbc370)

  9. We could do worse than Rubio. A Democrat, for example.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  10. The weasel wing of the Republican Party is not a small one, at least among our leaders.

    The good news is that Shorty is doing what Romney and other nominees that preceded Romney failed to do: hammer the Democratic nominee. With both Trump and Romney, there was no shortage of material to work with, but in the weasel Romney’s case, only a shortage courage.

    The main difference between Shorty and the weasels is that Trump wears his shortcomings on his sleeve; the weasels work hard to keep their manifest deficiencies well hidden – and they do it as a team. There is an honesty to Trump’s lone-wolf repulsiveness that I like.

    Also, I find myself wondering if there had been no Cruz candidacy (or Fiorina), would I find Shorty so repugnant? If Trump were just one poorly formed ego among many vying for the nomination, would I find him so troubling?

    ThOR (c9324e)

  11. Let’s just say it…Calvin Coolidge was a RINO

    So was Reagan!

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  12. ThOR,

    Where was Trump in 2012? He could have spent a few million making speeches about how terrible Obama was. He could have gotten media attention saying “Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi!” (assuming he knew of it) and heightened awareness of the issue. But no, that would have been a selfless act.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  13. but can we count on Rubio to confirm Hillary’s partial birth judges?

    happyfeet (831175)

  14. If Pulse convinced Rubio to run for re-election, might it also elicit the answer to some questions about a famous athlete’s “virginity”:

    http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/06/22/tim-tebow-visits-high-school-teammate-wounded-in-orlando-shooting.html

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  15. Rubio is either a betrayer or a sucker on immigration. That’s different from ‘ambitious’. It’s even different freon RINO. He’s either an idiot who got taken by Chuck Schumer or a traitor who’s been against us from the start.

    Ingot (bd67e2)

  16. republicans don’t care about immigration anymore silly pickle they just want hillary to win so she can do the partial birth judges on the fetuses

    happyfeet (831175)

  17. Really, urbanleftbehind? The bar tender from Pulse talks of his respect for a guy who he terms “awesome” who flew in all the way from the Bahamas to wish a fellow classmate well and you insinuate the guy lost his “virginity” as you put it, in a gay affair? I guess you figure if the democrat moslem terrorist was a fag then it’s safe to assume the Republican Christian ball player must be too.

    Rev. Hoagie® (734193)

  18. whaa

    Tim Tebow’s been an out and proud gay person for like five years now

    happyfeet (831175)

  19. I didnt believe the rumors either, until he broke up with Miss Rhode Island (Olivia Culpo), damn what a dimepiece!

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  20. he can’t love her the way she needs so they had to reassess the relationship

    conscious uncoupling they called it

    happyfeet (831175)

  21. 13. happyfeet (831175) — 6/22/2016 @ 8:50 am

    but can we count on Rubio to confirm Hillary’s partial birth judges?

    No, he’ll vote to confirm Merrick Garland in the lame duck session in an attempt to prevent that.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  22. I like Rubio. I don’t trust him but he has a wonderful ability to articulate a positive message about America.

    DRJ (15874d)

  23. Off topic, but a pretty good speech from Trump today:

    TRUMP HAMMERS HILLARY SO HARD THAT EVEN BEN SHAPIRO IS APPLAUDING:

    “Trump, with his unerring instinct for the identifying the growling beast within us all, understands that Americans don’t trust Hillary for one crucial reason: they think, correctly, that she’s out for herself. And he hit this point over and over in his well-crafted (!) speech. Trump first had to position himself as an altruistic candidate driven by concern for country, which he did in lackluster fashion. But when he turned his guns on Hillary, he hit paydirt. He called Hillary a “world class liar,” concluding, “Brian Williams’ career was destroyed” for lesser lies than Hillary has told.

    He slammed Hillary for her corruption. “Hillary Clinton has perfected the politics of personal profit and theft,” he said. “She ran the State Department like her own personal hedge fund – doing favors for oppressive regimes, and many others, in exchange for cash.” He added, “She gets rich making you poor.”

    Yes. Yes, yes, and yes.

    He rightly attacked Hillary’s foreign policy:

    The Hillary Clinton foreign policy has cost America thousands of lives and trillions of dollars – and unleashed ISIS across the world. No Secretary of State has been more wrong, more often, and in more places than Hillary Clinton. Her decisions spread death, destruction and terrorism everywhere she touched. Among the victims is our late Ambassador, Chris Stevens….She started the war that put him in Libya, denied him the security he asked for, then left him there to die. To cover her tracks, Hillary lied about a video being the cause of his death.

    He added:

    Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy is that she refuses to acknowledge the threat posed by Radical Islam…. I only want to admit people who share our values and love our people. Hillary Clinton wants to bring in people who believe women should be enslaved and gays put to death.

    Excellent stuff.
    And here’s Trump on Hillary’s private email server:

    Then there are the 33,000 emails she deleted. While we may not know what is in those deleted emails, our enemies probably do. So they probably now have a blackmail file over someone who wants to be President of the United States. This fact alone disqualifies her from the Presidency. We can’t hand over our government to someone whose deepest, darkest secrets may be in the hands of our enemies.

    The best line of the speech, by a long shot, was this one: “She believes she is entitled to the office. Her campaign slogan is ‘I’m with her.’ You know what my response to that is? I’m with you: the American people. She thinks it’s all about her. I know it’s all about you – I know it’s all about making America Great Again for All Americans.”

    This goes right to the heart of Hillary’s failures as a candidate.

    Yes, it does.”

    https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/236857/

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  24. i abjure this marco rubio then Mr. F

    he’s not a good choice

    happyfeet (831175)

  25. Anyone who would prefer a Democrat to a Republican for ANY office is numb from the shoulders up.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  26. ugh harvardtrash ted is at it again

    this time he’s trying to make it to where loretta lynch’s sleazy fbi poofterboys can get all up into your business without a warrant

    Privacy-minded senators on Wednesday blocked an amendment that would give the FBI power to take internet records, including browser histories and email metadata, without a court order. But the victory may be fleeting.

    Critics of the proposed expansion of the FBI’s ability to demand records with national security letters, or NSLs, are urging opponents to flood their senators with calls. There were some unexpected “yes” votes, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who they hope to flip as some of the four senators who did not vote are viewed as tougher sells.

    happyfeet (831175)

  27. But he said he hated it.

    Another lying conservative who broke his word.

    DCSCA (a343d5)

  28. Also, I find myself wondering if there had been no Cruz candidacy (or Fiorina), would I find Shorty so repugnant? If Trump were just one poorly formed ego among many vying for the nomination, would I find him so troubling?

    ThOR

    Interesting. I’ve had the same thought, albeit not so much about Fiorina. But we had some great options and it feels like what could have been the pivotal year for conservatism has been wasted by many stupid people. Of course that makes Trump more unpleasant.

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  29. Little Marco has little chance.

    Trump will take him down, down ballot again.

    DCSCA (a343d5)

  30. it’s a dissapointment, for all the reasons laid out before, but we had the exciting blanc mange, mel martinez before, so if we’re looking for numbers,

    narciso (732bc0)

  31. Senator Ted Cruz’s statement today

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement after voting in favor of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) amendment that would provide law enforcement with more effective tools to keep Americans safe from terrorism:

    “In this age of jihad, the federal government has an obligation to do everything possible to keep us safe from terrorism and, at the same time, to protect the constitutional liberties of law-abiding Americans.  We should protect good guys, and target bad guys,” Sen. Cruz said.

    “Last year, I joined with Sen. Lee to pass the USA Freedom Act, which ended the federal government’s bulk collection of phone meta-data–protecting the privacy of millions of Americans.    

    “Today, I joined with Sen. McCain in voting to allow the FBI to obtain Internet search data of specifically-identified suspected terrorists as part of an ‘authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.’ The government still will not be able to collect this information on Americans in bulk, but we will have the tools to investigate specific jihadists and–with an Administration willing to confront the enemy–hopefully prevent future terrorists attacks.  

    “Both measures are positive steps to protect the rights of innocent Americans and enhance the ability of law enforcement to defeat radical Islamic terrorism.”

    Don’t you want to protect Americans from specific suspected terrorists, happyfeet? Or do you hate Cruz too much to care?

    DRJ (15874d)

  32. Banning Muslims is good if Trump wants it, but investigating specific suspected terrorists is bad if Cruz wants it.

    This is who happyfeet is.

    DRJ (15874d)

  33. Haiku @23. I think this might the speech, or is very close to the speech, that Trump postponed because of the Orlando massacre. Hillary decided to beat him to it by one day with an attack on Trump.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  34. failmerica’s trashy corrupt fbi poofterboys can’t be trusted to use tools to fight terrorism

    they let omar’s wife go!

    if they wanna see the personal data of specifically-identified suspected terrorists they can get a warrant and harvardtrash ted can suck it

    happyfeet (831175)

  35. Are you #NeverRubio, Patrick? Would you counsel against any vote for Rubio in Florida’s general election? (Obviously you would not support him in the primary there.)

    It’s pretty easy to be #NeverTrump in California because, let’s face it, Hillary is a mortal lock in this state.

    Would you still be #NeverTrump if, hypothetically, the election came down to your vote alone, and it HAD to be either Hillary or Trump? (Assume for the sake of my hypo that Hillary wins unless you mark your ballot for Trump, i.e., no third option.)

    Mitch (341ca0)

  36. I would in my quixotic way, vote for desantis, in the primary, and rubio in the general,

    narciso (732bc0)

  37. Senate dining room needs another busboy—- Re-elect Rubio!

    DCSCA (a343d5)

  38. This goes right to the heart of Hillary’s failures as a candidate.

    And as long as Trump is the candidate, nobody will notice Hillary is on stage. Sometimes sucking all the air out of the room isn’t a good thing.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  39. Would you still be #NeverTrump if, hypothetically, the election came down to your vote alone, and it HAD to be either Hillary or Trump? (Assume for the sake of my hypo that Hillary wins unless you mark your ballot for Trump, i.e., no third option.)

    Or, suppose you were GOD! Patterico? What then??? What would you choose? Would you give the Tin Man some brains?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  40. This is who happyfeet is.

    Slipperyfeet, if you ask me.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  41. “Anyone who would prefer a Democrat to a Republican for ANY office is numb from the shoulders up.”

    – Colonel Haiku

    Donald Trump is not a Republican. He’s a con artist. And you’re a chump for believing otherwise.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  42. Kevin M, my question is for Patrick, but I’ll mark you down as preferring Hillary in office to having to hold your nose and vote for Trump. My hypo, my rules. Cute snark attempt, though.

    Mitch (341ca0)

  43. Donald Trump is not a Republican. He’s a con artist. And you’re a chump for believing otherwise.

    Leviticus (efada1) — 6/22/2016 @ 12:59 pm
    ======================================

    And ALL Democrats and the assholes who support them should now be considered enemies of America, as they support criminals, aberrant behavior, and the destruction of our traditional values.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  44. Just as every Democrat politician is a criminal and all their supporters taints

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  45. “And ALL Democrats and the assholes who support them should now be considered enemies of America.”

    – Colonel Haiku

    We clearly have very different visions of America.

    Good luck with your pogrom.

    Leviticus (efada1)

  46. Yes, if you are a liberal Democrat, you certainly do have a different vision… a very short-sighted vision.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  47. Visions of money trees, fairy dust and clouds of unicorn farts…

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  48. Civil War for everyone!

    We even have a nifty movie to use as a basis.

    I call Black Panther! Because the vibranium suit is totally rad.

    Ingot (e5bf64)

  49. “12. Where was Trump in 2012? He could have spent a few million making speeches about how terrible Obama was. He could have gotten media attention saying “Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi!”

    In 2012 Trump was a private citizen, not running for office, supporting the Republican candidate Mitt Romney. How very odd that you seem to think he should have been acting like a candidate when he wasn’t.

    “27. But we had some great options and it feels like what could have been the pivotal year for conservatism has been wasted by many stupid people. Of course that makes Trump more unpleasant.”

    Pivotal in what regard? Losing with dignity and graciousness? Or winning?
    Because the greatest conservative policies and candidates in the world mean *nothing* if you don’t get elected.
    The first neccessity is to WIN the presidency. And, unfortunately, none of those great conservatives that were running would have had much of a chance of beating Hillary.

    Actually, absent Trump, none of them would have even gotten close to being nominated. Absent Trump, Jeb would be the Republican candidate.

    fred-2 (ce04f3)

  50. Of race and class division, arbitrary gender selection, anti-science, unlimited abortion, expansion of the state, trillions upon trillions of unfunded liabilities, etc….

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  51. Good luck with your unsustainable vision hallucination, Leviticus

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  52. Look at urbanleftbehind, getting his giggles on about Tim Tebow possibly being a secret homosexual simply because he visited a former high school teammate in the hospital who had been shot by the evil jihadist Omar Mir Seddique Mateen.

    What’s sick is that urbanleftbehind equates having a gay friend with being gay.

    It’s the puritans … culturally, and politically.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  53. It’s the gay agenda, CS: “Everybody’s gay! Bend over!”

    nk (dbc370)

  54. A total Crist-ian move. Disgusting.

    Given how poorly Rubio performed in the Florida primary, and with DJT dragging everything down, I am calling it now: Rubio will get his original wish. He will not be in the next Congress.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  55. Colonel Haiku – thank you for that.

    What you’re saying is there is no space for compromise; there is no room for living together; there is no room for rapproachment between the tribes. In your eyes, there is only war.

    That says a lot about *you* and not very much about anyone else.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  56. Big Ed From SFV,

    I think you’re one of those conservatives who is so conservative that you’d rather see a Democrat-controlled Senate than one controlled by Republicans.(LOL)
    Principles !

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  57. the situation is beyond dire really

    this idea that failmerica can afford four years of a stinky fascist pig like hillary isn’t realistic

    failmerica needs to do something drastic

    happyfeet (831175)

  58. fred-2,

    Trump considered running for President in 2011 and actually led in the polls in April 2011. He has run or considered running for President at least four times since 1987. Trump is a perpetual Presidential candidate.

    DRJ (15874d)

  59. Donald Trump is not a Republican. He’s a con artist.

    – Leviticus

    It’s not that I disagree, it’s just that your characterization fails to distinguish him from other pols. And I find it hard to fault him just because he is better at it than most others (e.g., the incompetent, wannabe charlatan Marco Rubio).

    ThOR (c9324e)

  60. Trump was a birther in 2011 and still is. That is his agenda, fred-2.

    DRJ (15874d)

  61. Mr. Trump’s a good person what wants to roll back the regulations that are strangling prosperity in this once-great country.

    The stinky pig-woman just wants to make everything worse.

    happyfeet (831175)

  62. ThOR,

    Republican is just a word, a label, at this point. The issue is who is conservative. Rubio is not a conservative on all the issues that matter to me, but he clearly is one on many issues. What part of Trump’s agenda is conservative?

    DRJ (15874d)

  63. but which one will close tranny gap?

    tahiti, a tiny little french fail-colony island is ahead of us with an official transvestite (mahu) per administrative district

    it’s a disgrace

    nk (dbc370)

  64. Trump is open to more gun control, he wants Congress to replace ObamaCare but he won’t promise to stop it himself, he wants to limit the First Amendment when it comes to people who criticize him, he praises Planned Parenthood, and raise taxes. I’d like a wall, too, but not at that cost.

    DRJ (15874d)

  65. Mr. Trump is really good plus he won’t appoint all them partial birth judges the stinky pig wants to appoint.

    happyfeet (831175)

  66. Aphrael, don’t succumb to hare.

    If I get you right, and that’s where you’re going.

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  67. hate.

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  68. Mr. Trump’s the candidate of love and that’s why everyone likes him so much.

    The stinky pig’s the candidate of bitterness and hate.

    Choose wisely.

    happyfeet (831175)

  69. Trump needs to do what Bernie Sanders did and focus on small donors on the internet. He needs you to stop up, happyfeet, and ropelight and papertiger, too. And Colonel Haiku and everyone else who says Trump has to win. This is your chance to make it happen. What are you waiting for?

    DRJ (15874d)

  70. Steve57 – I believe that compromise is possible and that rapproachment between the tribes is the only *workable* future, and that’s not going to change. But I also think those calling for war should be called out on it.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  71. Why should any of us care about Trump vs Hillary when his biggest supporters won’t pitch in?

    DRJ (15874d)

  72. two million was raised in one day,

    narciso (732bc0)

  73. i’m not giving any monies this year to anyone except people i know

    happyfeet (831175)

  74. my comcast gets here tomorrow this is very exciting

    u-verse is a stinky pig like hillary, just slower

    happyfeet (831175)

  75. Thor,

    Jesus Christ, Marco Rubio is totally a conservative. He’s also the most engaging public speaker since Jack Kemp.
    The gang of 8 was stupid, but you guys have to get over the “100% purity test” deal.

    Governor Reagan signed a scary abortion bill into law, as well as “no fault” divorce. As President, he compromised on an amnesty bill which the Democrats ultimately renegged on.

    Some of you guys really would be happier with no loaf a bread, rather than half a loaf of bread, huh?

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  76. lil roob roob’s a doodle poodle apple stroodle

    he does not add value

    happyfeet (831175)

  77. > Some of you guys really would be happier with no loaf a bread, rather than half a loaf of bread, huh?

    Well, see, if they just round up everyone who won’t give them a full loaf, declare them enemies of the state, and imprison them, then they can have the whole loaf rather than half!

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  78. 58. DRJ (15874d) — 6/22/2016 @ 2:48 pm

    Trump was a birther in 2011 and still is. That is his agenda, fred-2.

    I thought he stopped being a birther.

    He announced he was satisfied after the White House released this:

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf

    Note: This link will become dead shortly before noon, on Friday, January 20, 2017.

    But I see in your link that on July 10, 2015 he said he didn’t know where Obama was born, and that Obama hadn’t released his records, (saying only that he released ‘something’) but that he’s off that subject and doesn’t want to get into it.

    Donald Trump had made public his original birth certificate from 1946, and acted surprised when people told him that’s not a valid birth certificate. Obama’s family probably lost his a long time ago, (something he probably doesn’t want to say) and, besides, it no longer has any legal value.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  79. aphrael,

    I’m just wondering, when Barack asked Latino voters to get in the faces of their political adversaries, did you complain? When he said that his supporters should bring a gun to a knife fight, did you complain?
    There’s tons of examples of the Left invoking metaphors of violent conflict and confrontations upon their “enemies,” but I’m just amused that you’re flipping out about Colonel Haiku talking about a war of ideologies, when your side has been talking that way for years.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  80. aphrael I think you and I are closer than you think. There is always a price to be paid.

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  81. we’ll take white bread, when we can’t have whole grain,

    https://twitter.com/andylevy/status/745735423922626560
    I know he’s just another nbc spokesidiot aspiring to espn statUS

    narciso (732bc0)

  82. Colonel Haiku – thank you for that.

    What you’re saying is there is no space for compromise; there is no room for living together; there is no room for rapproachment between the tribes. In your eyes, there is only war.

    That says a lot about *you* and not very much about anyone else.

    aphrael (e0cdc9) — 6/22/2016 @ 2:36 pm
    ======================================

    You’re welcome. They “get in my face and punch back twice as hard” like their fearless leader orders and I’ll raise the bar as much as it takes. Democrats version of “compromise” is their way or the highway. Democrats professed desire to have an open and frank discussion translates to shut up, listen and we’ll tell you how it’s going to be.

    Eff ’em in their fat pie holes. But you go ahead and ben dover. Speaks volumes about you and your gullible, go along to get along nature, aphrael.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  83. Cruz Supporter – I would absolutely vote for Marco in this race. If nothing else, being in the Senate will force him to actually take actions which demonstrate his conservative bona fides, which is to say he will be exposed again and again, thus compromising his chances in 2020.

    I can see his new 2016 campaign motto – “Four more years!” Too bad for him a Senator’s term is 6, eh?

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  84. “I believe that compromise is possible and that rapproachment between the tribes is the only *workable* future”

    Then get with it and straighten out your tribe, aphrael. You have your work cut out for you.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  85. 64, 65… you had it right teh first time.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  86. Cruz Supporter – I’m reacting to Colonel Haiku because he is a member of a community of which I am a member, announcing to that community that I am an enemy of America.

    Should I *not* be offended by that?

    It’s certainly rhetoric I would never use, and it’s rhetoric I would call out – and *have* called out – against if my liberal friends were to use it in my presence about conservatives.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  87. But maybe my error here is in assuming that I’m actually a member of this community.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  88. you’re the best member of all!

    happyfeet (831175)

  89. From Mark Leno and Ricardo Lara, the people you ignored when they went after United Airlines and the Boy Scouts:

    California Bill Would Ultimately Erase Religious Schools

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  90. What part of Trump’s agenda is conservative?

    – DRJ

    Yesterday, Trump promised a litany of changes in a major policy speech. The list sounds pretty conservative to me, though you may disagre. Here it is:

    “Here are a few things a Trump Administration will do for America in the first 100 days:
    Appoint judges who will uphold the Constitution. Hillary Clinton’s radical judges will virtually abolish the 2nd amendment.
    Change immigration rules to give unemployed Americans an opportunity to fill good-paying jobs
    Stand up to countries that cheat on trade, of which there are many
    Cancel rules and regulations that send jobs overseas
    Lift restrictions on energy production
    Repeal and replace job-killing Obamacare — it is a disaster.
    Pass massive tax reform to create millions of new jobs.
    Impose tough new ethics rules to restore dignity to the Office of Secretary of State.”

    Yesterday, in a different address, Trump said he plans to dismantle Obama’s financial “reforms.”

    ThOR (c9324e)

  91. Aphrael, as far as I’m concerned you are a member of the community

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  92. aphrael,

    In other words, when Barack invokes metaphors of conflict and aggression, you have no objections. Okay, at least you’ve established clarity about that.

    I would think you’d have higher expectations of a President, but, I guess it’s like watching a sports game and seeing one of your favorite team’s players commit an obvious foul, but you justify it by saying, “He’s a dirty player, but he’s our dirty player.”

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  93. DJT, in his core, is NOT a conservative. He is utterly informed by “New York Values.” Among these NYV’s is a close cousin to the Islamic tenet that it is entirely OK to lie and cheat in order that an important goal be reached (destroying infidels). In NYC, the goal is wealth and power. DJT has well demonstrated total fealty to attaining these for himself. Imams everywhere recognize.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  94. DJT, in his core, is NOT a conservative.

    i don’t believe you

    happyfeet (831175)

  95. Roobs will wear the gang of eight lead weight for life.
    He would be running away with this nomination if he would have told the golden seven to eat dung and die.

    mg (31009b)

  96. so the man from phantasm, brent scowcroft, joins erdogan’s man, armitage in endorsing red queen,

    narciso (732bc0)

  97. I am one who was characterized by the leader of the Democrats as a bitter clinger to my religion, the one who is told I am a bigot because I don’t think the Scotus has the authority to change the meaning of words.

    I don’t see any request to compromise except on terms of my total surrender.

    MD in Philly (34fa24)

  98. Ed From SFV,

    Were we wrong to support a punk like Stalin over a punk like Hitler? Or should we have just waited until 1948 for better choices?
    (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  99. But, yes, I would rarely use inflammatory language,
    but maybe sometimes that is the right thing to do.

    Nobody wanted to compromise with Brendan Eich.

    MD in Philly (34fa24)

  100. narciso,

    Yeah, Brent Scowcroft, Richard Armitage, zzzzzz.
    Armitage was such a vocal proponent of truth and honesty that he allowed Scooter Libby to have his career ruined rather than stand up like a man and say, “Yeah, I was the one who spilled the beans to Bob Novak — not Libby.”

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  101. cowardly trashbiscuit colin powell is 100% responsible for his boy armitage’s actions

    happyfeet (831175)

  102. Brent Scowcroft is a “realist” a Paleo-conservative, isn’t he? He was against the invasion of Iraq.

    http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1029371773228069195

    Don’t Attack Saddam

    By Brent Scowcroft Updated Aug. 15, 2002 12:01 a.m. ET ..

    …The United States could certainly defeat the Iraqi military and destroy Saddam’s regime. But it would not be a cakewalk. On the contrary, it undoubtedly would be very expensive — with serious consequences for the U.S. and global economy — and could as well be bloody. In fact, Saddam would be likely to conclude he had nothing left to lose, leading him to unleash whatever weapons of mass destruction he possesses.

    He was also against overthrowing Qaddafi:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYPjiMKufLY

    He took what is Donald Trump’s current position.

    Both Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski were for the Iaran deal, though:

    http://www.theamericanconservative.com/2013/11/19/is-scowcroft-the-last-republican-realist/

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  103. so he’s siding with the neocons who are riding with red queen, does anybody see a problem here,

    narciso (732bc0)

  104. 101.so he’s siding with the neocons who are riding with red queen, does anybody see a problem here,

    We really should call them what they are, narciso: republicans4hillary!.

    Rev. Hoagie® (734193)

  105. hillary’s a stinky pig

    i can’t even

    happyfeet (831175)

  106. speaking of stinky pigs

    the jimmy johns sammich pig (Jimmy John Liautaud) is a good republican piggy

    good as they come

    but look how stinky he is

    happyfeet (831175)

  107. you really need to get over your birth trauma

    you know

    l ron hubbard described it

    in dianetics

    there you are all comfy swimming around in your womb

    next thing you know you’re being squeezed out of this tight nasty stinky dripping hairy thing

    and the world is now cold and dry and bright instead of warm and wet and dark

    and some squeaky-voiced soft creatures are pawing you constantly

    in intimate places

    birth trauma

    it can be cured

    call scientology for an auditing session

    nk (dbc370)

  108. Clinton republicans luv them some chamber of commerce b.s.

    mg (31009b)

  109. scientology’s just for poopers

    i heart leah remini now more than grilled cantaloupe even

    her and Mr. Angelo both

    happyfeet (831175)

  110. I don’t think it really matters what Shorty is at his core. What matters is if he feels it is in his own self-interest to follow through on conservative promises. Shorty is a salesman. If he finds something he can sell, he’ll keep selling it. Right now, he’s selling conservative Donald quite successfully. Why shouldn’t he stay the course?

    During the primary process, Trump, himself, suggested that he’ll move to the center during the general election cycle. He may, but he clearly has yet to start down that path.

    I once had a particularly narcissistic friend. I found it difficult to find gifts for the friend, even though I am a particularly clever gift giver, because my friend was always one step ahead of me in figuring out just what he wanted and buying it for himself. Trump shares just this sort of narcissism. If the gift he wants is the adulation that comes with a winning presidency (and what president wouldn’t?), he may well get a conservative President Shorty.

    And, to be fair, the possession of conservative core principles is in short supply among Republican elective office holders. Just how conservative were you expecting Romney to be?

    ThOR (c9324e)

  111. phrael

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  112. I find myself living through this election cycle day-by-day.

    Today, I am happy because Shorty has delivered a first-rate fisking of the hateful Mrs. Clinton. Because of the spinelessness of the GOPe, such take-downs are few and far between. I enjoyed reading every word of Trump’s evisceration.

    ThOR (c9324e)

  113. A person of low character and intellect will do the right thing because that is what fulfills his base instincts? Ok, then.

    nk (dbc370)

  114. Hillary is not Cruz. The media will not propagate Trump’s attacks against her, gratis. They will relentlessly “fact-check” them, if they don’t bury them altogether.

    nk (dbc370)

  115. How does me saying I would vote for Rubio in November somehow become analogous to rejecting Uncle Joe in 1941?

    Yalta would have been a very different meeting, though. I’ll certainly grant you that much.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  116. what you think they would have done so for cruz, were you around the last three years,

    narciso (732bc0)

  117. The point is that Trump’s free ride is over. If he wants to be heard, he’ll have to pay for it.

    nk (dbc370)

  118. “Clinton Disabled Security In Homebrew Illegal System; Weeks Later, A “Serious” Hacking Attempt Occurred

    Quick, let’s elect her to teach other people in the party a lesson.”

    — Ace

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  119. With Mexican pesos!

    mg (31009b)

  120. Loretta Lynch: So We Sort of Lost Track of the Orlando Terrorist’s Likely-Accomplice Wife
    —Ace

    “It looks a lot like incompetence, but it might just be tha they’re performing well for their actual employeers.

    Oh: ABCNews downplayed Lynch’s/Obama’s censorship of the killer’s 911 call.

    ABCNews/ABC/Disney/Marvel/ESPN must be destroyed.”

    http://ace.mu.nu/archives/364220.php

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  121. although, gannett, newscorps, and the journal all ignored the story, so the combine sticks together.

    narciso (732bc0)

  122. Dammit! My self aware Skynet strikes again.

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  123. carp, this is why we can’t have nice things,

    narciso (732bc0)

  124. Another comment about political compromise came to mind,

    When was the last time you heard a prominent Dem describe a “policy difference” with Republicans?
    You don’t. Republicans don’t have different ideas of how to promote the welfare of people, they want children to go to bed hungry. Republicans don’t want to debate the wisest ways to deal with the environment, they just don’t care if their children and grandchildren die from pollution. Republicans don’t discuss how to deal with Saddam and why, they just lie and people die.
    Besides, racist and homophobe.

    And we are asked to compromise?

    MD in Philly (34fa24)

  125. Sorry, apjeal, I have malware.

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  126. ThOR:

    Here are a few things a Trump Administration will do for America in the first 100 days:

    Appoint judges who will uphold the Constitution. Hillary Clinton’s radical judges will virtually abolish the 2nd amendment.

    I think Hillary will appoint terrible judges. I think Trump will appoint moderate judges like his sister. That is in Trump’s favor but it is not conservative.

    Change immigration rules to give unemployed Americans an opportunity to fill good-paying jobs

    This is too vague to be meaningful (like virtually everything Trump says), but I expect Trump will try to restrict H1b immigration. I doubt the GOPe will agree, at which point Trump will say he tried. Trump may also try to close the border with a wall and deport illegal immigrants. Maybe he can build more wall but do you really think he will deport 12+M illegals?

    Stand up to countries that cheat on trade, of which there are many

    This is not a conservative position. It is a populist position. Conservatives believe in free trade.

    Cancel rules and regulations that send jobs overseas

    Deregulation is a conservative idea that Trump pays lip service to in writing. In the real world, Trump’s solution to every problem is more and bigger government programs.

    Lift restrictions on energy production

    He probably will do this because it will help bring down the cost of energy, unless he decides East and West Coast celebrities are more important than Texas oil companies. What’s your guess on how he will decide?

    Repeal and replace job-killing Obamacare — it is a disaster.

    It is a disaster but if you read Trump’s website, all he has ever promised to do is ask Congress to repeal and replace ObamaCare. No Presidential action like waivers, apparently. It’s up to Congress and then say “Too bad, America, I asked”? And what does he plan to replace it with? ObamaCare 2.0? No thanks.

    Pass massive tax reform to create millions of new jobs.

    Liberal taxes is more like it.

    Impose tough new ethics rules to restore dignity to the Office of Secretary of State.”

    Once again, more rules. Government is his answer. That is not conservative.

    Trump is a populist, ThOR, not a conservative. Don’t confuse his authoritarianism with conservative respect for legitimate authority.

    DRJ (15874d)

  127. Trump > stinkypig

    happyfeet (831175)

  128. . If the gift he wants is the adulation that comes with a winning presidency (and what president wouldn’t?), he may well get a conservative President Shorty.

    This election proved there aren’t enough conservatives for him to care about pleasing us. He will want to please New Yorkers, celebrities and all the power brokers in Washington.

    DRJ (15874d)

  129. i do hope he pleases selma blair

    she needs a win

    happyfeet (831175)

  130. The critical fact that you identify is that Trump wants to follow, not lead. He will follow the crowd so they will give him the money, fame, and adulation he craves.

    DRJ (15874d)

  131. scientology’s just for poopers

    i heart leah remini now more than grilled cantaloupe even

    her and Mr. Angelo both
    happyfeet (831175) — 6/22/2016 @ 4:53 pm

    #ChurchOfDonaldology
    The Sea Organization Trump Organization

    L.N. Smithee (b84cf6)

  132. except he staked out a position, pretty far on the outer edge of discourse, and brought people along,

    narciso (732bc0)

  133. He will follow the crowd so they will give him the money, fame, and adulation he craves.

    how’s that any worse than the sleazy slimy food stamp slut we have now?

    food stamp doesn’t follow the crowd he acts like a c-word all the time and lets his trusty associated press propaganda sluts clean up after

    and how’s that even a smidgen worse than stinkypig?

    Mr. The Donald – he’s a wildcard – and

    we never gonna survive

    unless

    we get a lil crazy

    happyfeet (831175)

  134. #Hillary!4Evah

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  135. On Supreme Court Justices and the Second Amendment:

    Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t, didn’t, already have.

    Heller and MacDonald made a difference only in DC and Chicago*. Every state, including the State of Illinois outside Chicago, allowed greater freedoms to keep and bear arms than Heller and MacDonald recognized in the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court granted minimal crumbs. Meaningful rights to gun ownership and possession were acquired and protected in the Congress and the state legislatures. Like we’re seeing right now in Congress.

    Don’t get hung up on the Second Amendment and what a future black-robed junta will do with it.

    *In Chicago, if I possessed an unregistered gun in my home, on my land, or in my fixed place of business, and got caught, I would lose the gun and face a $500.00 fine. Realistically. If the reason I got caught is because I used it lawful self-defense, Illinois’s preemption law absolved me from criminal liability (no fine or threat of jail) and I would only lose the gun. Not a very big biggie. A filter for the super law-abiding.

    nk (dbc370)

  136. they let their sentiment and the analysis, cross over like chocolate and peanut butter, coronello,

    narciso (732bc0)

  137. conservatism screwed itself in the heinie hole (sp?) by obsessing 24/7 on homos and fetuses

    raise your hand if you helped

    don’t be shy

    happyfeet (831175)

  138. remember, good people

    all these ones what are saying Mr. Trump is unworthy of the presidency?

    they wanted to run low-class trashbiscuit sarah palin right up in there without any education lubrication or elucidation

    happyfeet (831175)

  139. actually they have done little on that front, as well, maybe bork would have provided some respite on the second issue, kennedy was the weathervane that was made to order,

    narciso (732bc0)

  140. except for Mr. Patterico

    he always had tundra barbie’s number i think

    happyfeet (831175)

  141. I know we lost your vote, happyfeet. We’ll never get over the regret.

    nk (dbc370)

  142. them’s fighting words, pikachu, the irony is she was rather let live on the legal front, but her very presence was shibboleth,

    narciso (732bc0)

  143. it’s gonna take a lot of trump Mr. nk

    to change the way things are

    it’s gonna take a lot of trump

    or we won’t get too far

    happyfeet (831175)

  144. happyfeet is right. Trump is like Obama.

    DRJ (15874d)

  145. DRJ,

    I understand that talk is cheap. Is Shorty’s talk cheaper than, say, Rubio’s? Probably, but it’s hard to know. I don’t disagree with what you have to say: Trump will say one thing and then do another. But so do most of them.

    My objections to Trump is this: I find his persona not only offensive, but potentially dangerous as a commander-in-chief. Short-sighted, short-tempered, and vindictive: he is a particularly loose, loose canon. He is a nasty piece of work, entirely unbecoming of the office . For that reason, and that alone, I will not vote for him.

    Irrespective of my personal critique, I think it is important to acknowledge how Trump is changing things for the better, in terms of the acceptable substance of the debate – something I hear referred to as opening the “Overton window.” For the longest time, Republicans have been too timid to address serious issues such as the acceptability of membership in race-based identity groups by non-Whites. Wise Latinos my @ss. Bigoted Latinos is more like it. Thanks to Trump, we now get to talk about it.

    ThOR (c9324e)

  146. Little Marco

    I see you have adopted Trump’s term of affection for Rubio. Perhaps there is hope for you yet.
    🙂

    Anon Y. Mous (9e4c83)

  147. #114 Ed From SFV,

    You know very well that in #96 I was making an analogy to your refusal to vote for Trump over Clinton.

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  148. Thing is, you got are not asking us to “vote for Trump over Clinton”. You’re asking us to “vote for Trump because Clinton”. And we say “We’re not voting for either because Trump”. “Hillary bad” does not equal “Trump ok”.

    nk (dbc370)

  149. I surely did not, Cruz Supporter. If that somehow makes me dense, so be it.

    Your analogy does not hold as the hot, clarifying war has not begun here. Once it does, I’ll be better able to identify the players. Unless I miss my guess, DJT will have long taken all his marbles home.

    Not that anyone asked, but I am soooo hoping the Brexit forces win tomorrow. The elites are almost certain to demand a do-over, despite having promised to abide by the folks’ wishes. This will set off a frenzy of populism there and if DJT has a brain, could trigger something similar here.

    Elections results are living, malleable organisms, doncha know.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  150. nk (dbc370) — 6/22/2016 @ 6:15 pm

    In Chicago, if I possessed an unregistered gun in my home, on my land, or in my fixed place of business, and got caught, I would lose the gun and face a $500.00 fine. Realistically.

    And even in the street, and even if you were a gang member, the penalty is not too great. Which is why Chicago has so many murders.

    Now it is not that way in New York City.

    http://www.queensdefense.com/nyc-criminalpossessionweapon/

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  151. Ed From SFV,

    Oh, please.
    Identifying the players“?
    Jesus, we’ll roll out the red carpet when you decide to announce to the world whom you’re voting for. (LOL)

    Cruz Supporter (102c9a)

  152. looks like I picked a wrong week,

    https://twitter.com/JustEric/status/745796820052303872

    narciso (732bc0)

  153. Hillary Clinton: see Mexican tap water… rattlesnake with a “pet me” sign… an elevator ride with Ray Rice, Bill Cosby as a bartender… gas station sushi… a Jimmy Carter economic plan… Brian Williams news reports… emails from a Nigerian princess… a prostate exam from Captain Hook…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  154. Nice, Cruz Supporter. Engage, minimize, and demean. Alinsky smiles upon you.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  155. “Clinton Disabled Security In Homebrew Illegal System; Weeks Later, A “Serious” Hacking Attempt Occurred

    This gets it all wrong. The security features were disabled, not at clintonemail.com, but at state.gov. That was because of e-mails coming from clintonemail.com, that were not being treated as legitimate.

    There was no loss of security at clintonemail.com

    http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7006105d422740f0b4b8675c90f9a154/emails-key-security-features-disabled-clintons-server

    The AP initially reported Wednesday that the emails described security features being turned off on Clinton’s own private server, but State Department spokesman John Kirby clarified hours later that the emails described “a series of troubleshooting measures to the department’s system — not Secretary Clinton’s system — to attempt to remedy the problem.”

    The Clintons are not fools. Their system was secure. It seems like the phishing attack, if that’s what it was, made against it, did not work.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  156. I completely agree Trump changed the debate for the better, and also that he is a loose cannon of dubious character and judgment. I might trust him a little if he had supported conservative policies during his life, but I don’t see them.

    DRJ (15874d)

  157. There was apparently a human being constantly watching the Clinton system for suspicious activity, perhaps on alert. The attack on clintonemail.com on Jan. 9, 2011 sounds more like repeated attempts to guess a password. The system was shut down. This happened a number of times.

    On Aug. 3, 2011, Clinton received infected emails, disguised as speeding tickets from New York. The emails instructed recipients to print the attached tickets. Opening an attachment would have allowed hackers to take over control of a victim’s computer. This apparently was not done.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  158. DRJ,

    There is something else. Above, I mention I enjoyed reading the transcript of Trump’s comments. I read the transcript because I can’t bear to watch and listen to him. There is something about his mugging and whining that makes my skin crawl.

    Also, here’s a question I’ve been thinking about: If I owned the Tastee Freez in my town, would I hire Trump to work the counter. Could I trust him with my prized customers? Not likely. Would you? I’m surely not going to vote to put him in the White House.

    ThOR (c9324e)

  159. The prize customers for a tastee freez being little league and soccer teams.

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  160. rip, david thatcher, last of the doolittle raiders,

    narciso (732bc0)

  161. Nice, Cruz Supporter. Engage, minimize, and demean. Alinsky smiles upon you.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

    Ed: 1

    (R) Supporter: 0

    Dustin (2a8be7)

  162. Just so everyone knows there is such a thing.

    http://www.guernseycattle.com/semen/

    Steve57 (ecac13)

  163. If I owned the Tastee Freez in my town, would I hire Trump to work the counter.

    How about hiring Trump as the closer at your car dealership?

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  164. This gets it all wrong. The security features were disabled, not at clintonemail.com, but at state.gov. That was because of e-mails coming from clintonemail.com, that were not being treated as legitimate

    This is because they WERE NOT LEGITIMATE. You had an external server pretending to be a source of email with “internal” status. So they had to crack open the firewalls to accommodate her.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  165. I want to call for another scorekeeper. What’s the procedure?

    papertiger (c2d6da)

  166. Kevin M (25bbee) — 6/23/2016 @ 12:05 am

    This is because they WERE NOT LEGITIMATE. You had an external server pretending to be a source of email with “internal” status. So they had to crack open the firewalls to accommodate her.

    This must have been a newly installed or upgraded firewall, because it happened in the middle of her tenure. The firewall must have been intended to prevent phishing attacks by sending e-mail from an unreliable source to spam.

    This also proves that, besides her top aides, there were any number of people, at least at the technical level, who knew about her e-mail system, which raises questions as to why FOIA requests were not answered properly, and why the State Department allowed that to happen. Of course, Hillary Clinton and or some top aides, arranged for things to happen that way.

    Sammy Finkelman (7a22e4)

  167. The likely Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in Florida is a big liar (so he would fit in well with Hillary Clinton – or maybe donald trump, biuut he’s running as a Democrat)

    http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/06/22/the-making-of-patrick-murphy

    He wasn’t really a CPA, barely getting a license, and getting one only by going to Colorado, and barely passing their test, and getting one not valid in Florida, nor was he really a small business owner.

    Sammy Finkelman (643dcd)

  168. it’s instructive, how they didn’t look at murphy when he ran against allen west, or carl domino, defede is a big lefty, so maybe he wants grayson as the nominee,

    narciso (732bc0)

  169. there are some parallels with david rivera, a gop state rep, who had falsified his sources of income, yet neither the irs nor the state atty, a reno protege, sought to indict him,

    narciso (732bc0)


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