Every feature story on Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) includes the same, obligatory references to him being a "rising star" with a very bright future in Republican politics. He appears to have national ambitions -- Rubio added a prominent neocon to his foreign policy team this week -- and enough institutional support from his party to go far.
But I remain convinced that the hype surrounding the Florida Republican has outpaced his ability to keep up with it. Did you catch Rubio's interview with Bill O'Reilly this week?
I won't fact-check the entire 10-minute discussion, but focusing on the White House's efforts to reduce gun violence, Rubio specifically said President Obama proposed a "gun ban," despite the fact that President Obama did not, in our reality, propose a gun ban. The comment was followed by this rather hysterical rant.
"I actually think the President and he doesn't have the guts to admit it -- he's not a believer in the Second Amendment although he states that he is. And that's what I'm saying. Is these guys don't -- the Second Amendment is in the Constitution. I didn't write the Constitution. Neither did you, neither did he. If he doesn't want the Second Amendment to be in the Constitution or if he wants reform the Second Amendment then have the guts to admit that."
This school-yard bravado probably impressed the GOP base, but this rhetoric is incoherent. As Rubio sees it, the president is secretly opposed to the Second Amendment, but the senator who didn't read Obama's policy has unique insights, can read between the lines, and knows the truth that the rascally president is hiding.
Rubio also feels comfortable delivering this unhinged message with chest-thumping bluster about Obama not having "the guts" to admit a belief that doesn't exist.
Can someone remind me why the political world expects voters to take this guy seriously as a national leader?
During his tenure in Washington, his most notable legislative accomplishment has been sponsoring "a resolution designating September 2011 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month." Rubio hopes to build on this record by copying President Obama's immigration policy.
His breakthrough moment in 2012 came when he seemed troubled by a question on how old the planet is, which came on the heels of Rubio arguing that George W. Bush "did a fantastic job" as president.
Rubio may have national ambitions, but I'm not convinced he's ready for prime time.
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He is NOT ready to 'lead'. He and his fellow 'obstructionists' are all about bullying. The GOP has set him up to THINK he can 'lead' because he's Hispanic. But...there is the rest of the country...and we ain't buying it.
It seems like only yesterday that we were being told that Paul Ryan was a "rising star." Whatever happened to him?
"Can someone remind me why the political world expects voters to take this guy seriously as a national leader?"
Because the GOTP have learned that if you repeat the meme long enough, the sheeple will believe him. That strategy has been working for decades, and while many Americans are awakening from that slumber, there are still enough sheeple up in arms about "da gov'rmint taking away thair guns" - just look at Wayne LaPierre's incoherent rantings....
Rubio doesn't have the guts, or the self awareness, to admit that he is a colicky cry baby without an original thought in his confused, (but mostly blank), mind.
guts indeed. A sound-bite programmed jerk.
Sounds like Rubio is squaring up to be the next best Republican Presidential candidate, of the same caliber as Bush Jr. and Mitt Romney.
If you look closely you can see the warning label
WARNING: This candidate will self destruct in four years (if not sooner)
I think that Rubio is only a "legend" in his own mind -- meaning, there is no "there" there. He is an intellectual lightweight and doesn't have the political skills to distract observers from noting that over and over. He also doesn't seem all that good at employing the typical verbal abusive strategy that the GOP usually chooses. He's just lame. I can't imagine that he will draw much of any following. As hinted, he is just window dressing for the GOP that has no vision, message or plan -- not much of a compliment.
it doesn't matter if there is no "there" there. Rubio is the Republican Great Hispanic Hope. Regardless of his merits. And frankly, I can't blame the repubs given their problem with hispanics (and women, and blacks, and everybody else who isn't white, protestant male).
It's the conservative movement overall that uses gasbags like Limbaugh, Hannity, The National Review, and former Group-Think Tank (soon to be Anti-Think Tank) The Heritage Foundation to support each other with epistemic closure gases.
Epistemic closure gases and extremely narrow thought which produces Hot House flowers like Marco Rubio.
It's all face. Repubs think he's cute enough to win the Hispanic vote. We all know what he is but they will still try to sell him. He's too self centered to be believable...like a male Palin version without glasses.
Once again the TeaBaggers fabricate a mythical Obama, as bad or worse than the mythical Obama Romney ran against. And, their low-information followers don't bother to actually fact check, they just take whatever is on the Conservative Right Wing Entertainment Complex as Gospel. Faux News and others continue to use words like "Gun Grab" to rile up their base and the base responds accordingly. Would we have this much trouble if President Obama was President Smith and a lighter color?
I'm not only the President, I'm also a client!
-Marco Hairclubio
Doesn't the word, "token" belong in front of what he is? The average Hispanic puts it there because they know what he is. There's Hispanics and then there's Cubans. The R's sent a Mormon, son of a missionary to Mexico. When they send the Cuban he'll get the same results. Maybe he'll self deport to Cuba since Castro will soon be gone. They need a good man like him to be their next dictator. But then he may be our president. That's certainly a cheery thought.
Zero Dark Thirty was an interesting movie. But for them to say that torture found Osama Bin Ladin is still a load of crap. Because if that so-called torture helped in any, then how come it still took too long to find Bin Ladin. When all you had to do was listen to Bush when he gave an indication of where Osama Bin Ladin was. Plus for these people to have been murdered by the result of Bush and Chenney denying to do anything about 911 is the most disgusting part of it. Way too many innocent people already have been murdered from this load of crap that Bush, Chenney, and their cronies dished out with their lies and deceptions.
Off topic much ..........................................
Deb plus 7 numbers does it all the time. I do believe there is some manner of cognitive dysfunction.
Marco Rubio doesn't have the "guts" to be respectful of the POTUS. A little adult behavior would impress Democrats enough not to write him off. Just saying.
Pretty sad, considering that he's a Senator.
That's what struck me. Who does this guy think he is, accusing the President of not having "guts." He thinks he has to talk that way on Fox to a bully like O'Reilly, but to non-Fox viewers, it's very offensive.
It was interesting in the interview how the congressman first brags about his state's strict law that gives jail time for criminals who have or use a gun in a crime....and then later he emphasizes the fact that criminals do not consider the law before they commit a crime! (of course he was refering only to the laws the President proposes...).
This malfeasance is metastable, and rapidly accelerating!
Rubio is no friend to our Constitution,
and no ally to a just society!
Marco Rubio is a political whore! -Kevo
Rubio simply sees dollar signs in his future if he runs for POTUS. Look at Santorum, the dude made bank. I say let the goombahs dream of Rubio as POTUS...
We in Florida know that his rhetoric will catch up to him in the next election cycle. You can't distort the truth as often as he does without fallout.
"You gotta lotta splainin to do Marco"
Yet another Republican who does not understand video tape, and how it can be played back at some future date.
But Republicans have an Etch-A-Sketch.
I think we're missing the underlying story here.
The Republican Party operates its Presidential candidate selection process on an "heir apparent" basis. McCain came in #2 in 2000, so he got to run in 2008. Romney was #2 in 2008, so he got to run in 2012.
Santorum came in #2 in 2012, so the Powers That Be are frantically scurrying for someone else to annoint in 2016, and since the 2016 Presidential race is already more than two months old they don't have much time.
They tried a woman in 2008, and that was a disaster. They floated an African-American in 2012 and that was a non-starter. They tried running a non-Christian in 2012, and that failed. Besides, they need an Hispanic. Pretty much the only ones they have to work with are Cuban so Rubio gets put out to test reactions.
It's his to lose, unless they get desperate enough to run Susanna Martinez (Jan Brewer is a non-starter. Likewise Nikki Haley.)
I'm not convinced he's ready for prime time.
So??? Can you name ANY republican leader who IS ready for prime time? When has not being ready for prime time ever stopped them from advancing in the party?
Wait a sec, isn't this "rising star" the same guy that played fast and loose with his GOP FL state credit card? Something about not being able to differentiate it from his personal card...
Marco Rubio's existence proves that Fidel Castro was right when he labeled the morons in Florida "gusanos" (Spanish for "worm").
Hi. I'm Dave from Sandy Hook. Thank you for all of the respect and compassion you've shown to my community and to the need for change. Wonder if I can ask one more thing of you. There is a grass roots Gun Control March on Washington happening on Jan. 26th (www.guncontrolmarch.com). A number of Newtown families will be leading this march. It has not received much publicity (we are not affiliated with an political groups, so we have no money!). Any chance you can help me to mobilize your viewers by mentioning the march on your show? And would you like to lead the march with us?
Thanks again and keep up the good work.
So let's recap: He has a troubled relationship with the truth and objective facts, and anytime he speaks to, or about the President, it's with a tone of open disrespect and condescension.
Sounds like he's definitely ready to run as a national candidate on the Republican ticket.
"....the Second Amendment is in the Constitution."
Ohhhhh...that's what it amended. Got it. Thanks for the clarification, Marco.
I certainly hope that Obama isn't a 'believer' in the 2nd Amendment. It's not an article of religious faith, or a spiritual principle, or anything of the sort. It is extremely creepy and disturbing the way wingers speak of the 2nd Amendment in religious terms. I don't know what's worse: worshiping guns or (tongue slightly in cheek) sleeping with them.