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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2016 / So, What About the Media Villagers’ New Man-Crush, Rubio?

So, What About the Media Villagers’ New Man-Crush, Rubio?

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Greg Sargent, in the Washington Post, on “Why Marco Rubio is so effective and dangerous“:

Marco Rubio bashed the mainstream media with great gusto last night, eliciting roars of approval from GOP voters. Amusingly enough, the emerging media consensus appears to be that his attacks on them were brilliantly executed, never mind that they were pressed into service to evade just the sort of legitimate questions the media has been pressing him upon.

But it’s worth drilling down on one key reason why Rubio is so effective and dangerous — to his GOP opponents, and potentially in a general election as well. It’s this: Rubio knows how to feed the angry preoccupations of many GOP base voters while simultaneously coming across as hopeful and optimistic…

This isn’t just because Rubio is young and Latino. His formula is a bit complicated. Last night, Rubio, in what appeared to be an appeal to the deep resentment of many of these voters, skillfully converted legitimate questions about his personal financial management into evidence of Democratic and elite media contempt for his relatively humble upbringing, which he proceeded to explain he had overcome through hard work. Rubio’s narrative is both laden with legitimate resentment and inspiring!…

Rubio certainly wowed the Grey Lady:

… In a deft show of forcefulness and diplomacy, Mr. Rubio managed to seem both respectful of the older candidate and politically more imposing.

“My campaign is going to be about the future of America. It’s not going to be about attacking anyone else on this stage,” Mr. Rubio said.

And then he all but smothered Mr. Bush with esteem.

“I will continue to have tremendous admiration and respect for Governor Bush,” he said. “I am not running against Governor Bush.”

Mr. Rubio lifted his arms to his left and right. “I am not running against anyone on this stage,” he said.”

The crowd offered a thunderous round of applause…

Mr. Charles P. Pierce brings the reality:

… If I had to guess, I’d say Rubio probably will be said to have had the best night. He really slapped around Jeb! Bush when the latter called him on Rubio’s confessed dislike of the job of United States Senator. He looked directly into the camera with his young man’s sincerity, and he parried questions about his personal profligacy in just the way guaranteed to appeal to the audience in the hall. He blamed the media for bringing it up.

Of course, when it comes to the actual things he would do as president, Rubio once again is a shoeless, blindfolded kid in a wilderness of rakes. John Harwood–for whom I am going to buy a beer the next time I see the guy–pinned Rubio on the fact that the Tax Foundation scored Rubio’s tax plan and found that it would send the deficit careering off into the Van Alen Belt, as well as shoving even more of the country’s wealth upward. In response, Rubio told Harwood he was wrong. (He wasn’t.) Then, Rubio started talking very fast, mentioned something about his dry cleaner and small business, and probably got more points for being tough with Harwood than he did for his tax plan, which is exactly as bad as the Tax Foundation said it was…

Jamelle Bouie, at Slate:

… Rubio looks like the natural choice: He’s a young, gifted communicator with a strong biography and orthodox Republican views. But Rubio the candidate hasn’t caught up with Rubio the idea. His fundraising lags behind that of his rivals; in the last quarter, he raised $5.7 million, compared to $20.8 million for Ben Carson, $13.4 million for Bush, and $12.2 million for Cruz. And like Bush, most of this cash comes from the wealthiest contributors—just 22 percent of Rubio’s support came from small donors. That said, he also falls short on super PAC support—Carson’s super PAC raised $11.3 million, while Cruz’s raised $13.8 million.

Rubio’s modest fundraising translates to a slim operation. Compared to his competitors, he has few offices and staff, focusing on volunteer recruitment. The upside is that—if Rubio can attract substantial volunteer support—he can quickly organize in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he’s spent relatively little time. The downside, as one GOP source explained to Politico, is that this is an “unpredictable and risky bet that traditional campaign organizing doesn’t matter.” If it doesn’t pay off, the junior senator from Florida is finished…

Of course, there are Those Rumors — the persistent-yet-unverifiable theory that Rubio’s longterm financial thimblerigging was intended to hide the existence of what the genteel media refer to as “a second family”. But the GOP operatives best known for spreading such rumors have already signed up with Marco Rubio. Buzzfeed‘s McKay Coppins, before the debate, on “Marco Rubio’s ‘Knife Fighters’”:

… The Rubio campaign is being helmed by a combative strategist, Terry Sullivan, who once (allegedly) dispatched interns dressed in prison stripes to crash a 2007 Mike Huckabee rally and protest the former governor’s controversial parole record.

The leading pro-Rubio super PAC is headed by Warren Tompkins, an infamous South Carolina operative who was widely suspected of orchestrating a whisper campaign during the 2000 Republican presidential primaries to convince voters that John McCain was hiding a black love child.

And in a more recent episode that could have lasting political repercussions in next year’s primaries, Rubio’s chief digital strategist, Wesley Donehue, is said to have actively hyped unsubstantiated rumors in 2010 that Nikki Haley had an affair with a local South Carolina blogger.

All three of these operatives in Rubio’s orbit have roots in South Carolina’s notoriously noxious political scene, where down-and-dirty campaign tactics are not only tolerated but often celebrated as tributes to the legacy of Lee Atwater — the legendary, impish GOP strategist who masterminded campaign victories for both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush…

Who to trust?

Reader Interactions

149Comments

  1. 1.

    Omnes Omnibus

    He perhaps had the least worst performance in the debate. But that is a tallest midget contest. The man is devoid of substance and has a closet full of skeletons. If he gets the GOP nom. either Clinton or Sanders beat him to a pulp.

  2. 2.

    feebog

    It’s one thing to get off a zinger or two over a two hour debate with nine other morons. Quite another to face a tough, prepared candidate like Hillary Clinton over two hours when she will have all the ammunition she needs to blow you out of the water.

  3. 3.

    Jon Wiesman

    So after Zandar’s thread about Rubio, I said that he was the one candidate I really feared.

    Then after the debate I repeated that he really seemed like he could win and we should be very scared.

    Hopefully Bill Kristol will call him a sure thing so I can relax.

  4. 4.

    NotMax

    which he proceeded to explain he had overcome through hard work

    Granted, it does take some work to locate and kowtow to a reliable sugar daddy.

  5. 5.

    FlipYrWhig

    I think my comment got eated in classic FYWP fashion. But Marco Rubio is a lispy charisma-challenged nonentity who shouldn’t strike fear into anyone.

  6. 6.

    dubo

    It was actually amazing to see the mefia go from 100% in the tank for Jeb to 100% in the tank for Rubio in ten short hours. Politifact giving a “true” rating to Rubio’s claim that Obama was responsible for business closures occurring im 2008 is just incredible.

  8. 8.

    dubo

    @feebog: It really baffles me how the GOP seems to want their candidate to face off against Hillary without ever having to face a “mean, unfair” question in previous debates. Hillary ain’t beanbag

  9. 9.

    burnspbesq

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Marco Rubio is a lispy charisma-challenged nonentity who shouldn’t strike fear into anyone.

    Except for one thing: if he’s the Republican nominee, at least 57 million people are certain to vote for him in the general election.

    Complacency is still the enemy. That will never change.

    If you’re ever tempted to slack off, say these four magic words: “Justice Janice Rogers Brown.” When you’re done vomiting, clean yourself up and get back to work, whether it’s canvassing, phone-banking, or whatever.

  10. 10.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @dubo:

    Politifact giving a “true” rating to Rubio’s claim that Obama was responsible for business closures occurring im 2008 is just incredible.

    Why would you say that?

  11. 11.

    PeakVT

    I still can’t care about which conservatard is up or down. The fact that we are talking about a 10+ candidate primary field a full 12 months before the election shows that our political process is broken.

  12. 12.

    Kropadope

    @dubo:

    It was actually amazing to see the mefia go from 100% in the tank for Jeb to 100% in the tank for Rubio in ten short hours. Politifact giving a “true” rating to Rubio’s claim that Obama was responsible for business closures occurring im 2008 is just incredible.

    So, he’s responsible for business failures a year before he was sworn in as president? Sure, he was 1% of the upper legislative chamber, but I didn’t know he was THE 1%; you know, the 1% that controls everything.

    It’s all coming together…

  13. 13.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @feebog: Rubio’s TV persona strikes me as smarter but less likable than George W Bush’s, by that I mean that’s how they come across to people who don’t follow politics or care about issues. I always found the Shrubb smarmy, condescending and obnoxious, and I’ve seen enough of Rubio to know he’s not that bright. Rubio is more glib and not as thin-skinned as Bush, I can’t imagine him getting cornered like Bush did in that “Do you know the name of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan?” interview: “No, do you?”, or a personal favorite where someone tried to get him to answer a question, and he looked frightened and then hit on what he clearly thought was a brilliant response: “You’re trying to get me to answer the same question twice!”. Rubio’s better than that, but he’s definitely weak in moments he’s not prepared for (“I”m not a scientist, man!”). If Clinton can get him off his talking points, he could flounder in a debate, especially a town hall.

    And does anyone want to have a beer with him?

  14. 14.

    trollhattan

    Who, who, who gets to have his balls kicked through his skull by Hillary? If it’s to be li’l Marco, I’m completely at east with that.

  15. 15.

    srv

    Trump will have no problem getting more non-white votes than W.

    1. Goldman Sachs
    2. Microsoft

    And Goldman Sachs was one of Obama’s top contributers too (#2, in fact). Of course, that’s different.

  16. 16.

    Marmot

    Amusingly enough, the emerging media consensus appears to be that his attacks on them were brilliantly executed, never mind that they were pressed into service to evade just the sort of legitimate questions the media has been pressing him upon.

    Yeah, why is it this works again?

  17. 17.

    burnspbesq

    @Kropadope:

    So, he’s responsible for business failures a year before he was sworn in as president?

    Do you think he was handed his Kenyan Mooslim mind-control powers by Chief Justice Roberts on 1/20/09? Of course he was responsible. For Lehman, AIG, the whole shootin’ match.

  19. 19.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    I’m still hoping my wish will come true and Jindal somehow limps into next fall as the nominee. I’d love to see that sad sack get beaten up by Sanders or Clinton. He’s a guy whose greatest dream in life is to someday have as much charm and charisma and raw magnetism as Scott Walker, and can’t even reach that low threshold. I mean, shit. Walker is like a black hole of charisma. Anybody who comes within 15 feet of the guy will come away duller for having been in his orbit. And Jindal is even less appealing than Walker. We need scientists to study this guy.

  20. 20.

    Smiling Mortician

    @srv:

    Trump will have no problem getting more non-white votes than W.

    That’s cute. But maybe you meant “Trump will have no problem getting more non-white votes than W votes.” Cause yeah. He might get either one or two.

  27. 27.

    gf120581

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Not likely, because Rubio doesn’t look old enough to actually have a legal beer. He always looks like a teenage boy who dressed up in one of his dad’s suits to get past the bouncer.

    Rubio may well end up being the establishment choice for lack of other choices (Jeb is tanking like a brick, Christie is too damaged, Kasich is too much of a loose cannon for their liking), but let’s be honest, it’s not for anything he’s done. His weaknesses are too big and too tempting for his opents. Hell, I wouldn’t be shocked if, out of spite, Jeb napalms him and takes him down on the way out.

  28. 28.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @amk: You know that I am not. Where is it? One or two people being panicky don’t count. Cole’s house contains many mansions.

  31. 31.

    amk

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You know that I am not.

    Good god, everything is literal with you, ain’t it?

    As for the proof that you demand as this blog’s hall monitor, read the threads, will ya? After all, you are an old hand at this.

  32. 32.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @gf120581: Christie is too damaged, Kasich is too much of a loose cannon for their liking)

    I’ve seen a couple of people saying that Christie is now angling for Anybody’s Veep spot. I don’t think he would ever accept that particular bucket of warm piss, and I don’t think anyone wants him (or Florina) as anything but a surrogate, too much baggage.

    With Kasich, given his history and current position and the general MSM love he inspires (I guess a lot of that could be nostalgia), I was surprised at the negative comments I saw about him from conservatives last night. His people don’t seem to like much. I don’t think it was just his “crazy” comments yesterday, I wonder how much of it is Medicaid, how much his tendency to pop off at people in a personal way– I think it was the owner of the AZ Cardinals he yelled at for criticizing that same medicaid expansion, calling a cop who pulled him over a jerk in front of a lot of people, and cameras.

  34. 34.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @amk:Dear god. Read the whole comment and if you feel I was being a hall monitor, it is on you. But it makes you a rather silly person.

  35. 35.

    Steeplejack

    @Kropadope:

    Here’s the actual link to the Politifact item under “discussion.” Rubio used murky language. He doesn’t directly “claim that Obama was responsible for business closures occurring in 2008,” but he does give the impression that the problem belongs to Obama, even though it has been going on for quite a while and predates his administration. Politifact basically lets Rubio off the hook because of the wiggle room in what he actually said.

  36. 36.

    Thoughtful Today

    God Bless Greg Sargent:

    Amusingly enough, the emerging media consensus appears to be that his attacks on them were brilliantly executed, never mind that they were pressed into service to evade just the sort of legitimate questions the media has been pressing him upon.

    I assume Bezos will be firing him soon and replacing him with Megan “2×4” McArdle.

    And anyone else surprised that the very conservative John Harwood, after some relatively tough questions, is suddenly painted as a liberal pansy?

    ‘Working the refs’ ….

  38. 38.

    srv

    @Omnes Omnibus: Poll doomsayer, commenter nazi, bed wetter, poor thing has a lot on its mind.

    It’s best to follow Noonan’s advice and keep on walking when you see someone so tortured.

  39. 39.

    Suzanne

    Rubio scares me. He is that kind of brainless cipher that too many people love, for some reason I can’t comprehend, other than that they’re stupid, too.

    Cruz actively pisses people off. Rubio is unctuous and spineless.

  42. 42.

    dubo

    @Steeplejack: Rubio’s full quote was

    That’s an interesting question. That’s exactly what the Republican establishment says too. Why don’t you wait in line? Wait for what? This country is running out of time. We can’t afford to have another four years like the last eight years.

    You have small businesses in America that are struggling. For the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses closing than starting. We have a world that’s out of control and has grown dangerous and a president that is weakening our military and making our foreign policy unstable and unreliable in the eyes of our allies. And our adversaries continue to grow stronger.

    That isn’t “murky”. Not only is he DIRECTLY blaming Obama for it, saying something is happening “for the first time” when it’s been going on for close to a decade is a bald-faced lie.

    So there’s multiple angles from which Rubio’s statement is absolutely false, and the “fact checker” is covering for him.

  43. 43.

    Petorado

    Too much is being made of the audience response to Rubio’s remarks about the press in last night’s debate. The venue, the CU’s Event Center, has a capacity of 11,000 seats. For last night’s debate, the capacity was whittled down to a minuscule 1,000. The University was given a total of 150 seat, very few going to students. The remainder were mostly apportioned to big money donors and party bigwigs. Even folks in the state party apparatus complained they were shut out of any access as well.

    The roars of approval were mainly issued by those wealthy enough to cheer on the horses they bought for the race. Very few in attendance could be considered rank and file voters.

  45. 45.

    Thoughtful Today

    …

    “Politifact basically lets Rubio [right-wingers] off the hook because of the wiggle room in what he [they] actually said.”

    Call it “Kessler’s Rules”. Aka: IOKIYAR(ight-winger).

  48. 48.

    srv

    “There are two types of politicians,” Bush said during a brief appearance Thursday outside Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop. “There are the talkers, and there are the doers. I wish I could have done a better job talking on the stage. I wish I could talk as well as some of the people on the stage — the big personalities. But I’m a doer.”

    I hope that clears everything up for you talkers.

  49. 49.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Thoughtful Today :I asked what was a reasonable question, and you accused me of working for a GOP law firm. Interesting. You did say that three Republicans were part of the Dem debate, didn’t you? Must I provide a link?

  50. 50.

    Steeplejack

    @dubo:

    What was “murky” was not Rubio’s blaming Obama but Rubio’s wording of how long the problem has been going on. I am not defending that weasel Rubio or the slippery equivocations of Politifact. But it is clearly false (a) that Rubio said Obama was responsible for businesses closing in 2008 and (b) that Politifact gave “a ‘true’ rating to Rubio’s claim that Obama was responsible for business closures occurring in 2008,” which was your original point.

  52. 52.

    Thoughtful Today

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Omnes Omnibus, I dub thee “The Trey Gowdy of Balloon-Juice.com”.

    Badgering, sleazy lawyer tactics used for naked political purposes while pretending otherwise.

    Your argumentation tactics are straight out of a Republican’s playbook.

  56. 56.

    srv

    Bush held a conference call with top donors Thursday afternoon, vowing to improve as a candidate and saying he’s looking forward to being back on the campaign trail, where his supporters believe he shines.

    The doer is talking to people about being a better talker. Someone better check Putin’s sheets tomorrow.

    Late Thursday night, it seemed that Rubio had heard the criticism — his staff said the senator was canceling a campaign event in Iowa on Friday to make time to be in Washington for the early Friday vote

    Well that’s inconvenient.

  58. 58.

    Redshift

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yes. Basically, Politifact is useless in dealing with bullshit, because unless something is a clearly an intentional lie, they’ll always call it at least half true. Likewise if the precise things cited are not incorrect, but the statement creates a completely false impression.

    Essentially

  59. 59.

    Mandalay

    Ruh-roh…the GOP candidates are going rogue:

    Republican presidential campaigns are planning to gather in Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening to plot how to alter their party’s messy debate process — and how to remove power from the hands of the Republican National Committee.

    Not invited to the meeting: Anyone from the RNC…

    http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/gop-campaigns-rnc-debates-215371

    It’s like living in Syria except the bullets aren’t real.

    Imagine what any of these my-way-or-the-highway psychofucks would be like if they actually became president. They’d make Putin look like an amateur.

  60. 60.

    Thoughtful Today

    Exactly:

    if he’s the Republican nominee, at least 57 million people are certain to vote for him in the general election.

    And in 2018, unless there’s a tremendous amount of excitement for the Democratic Party, Congress is going to be even deeper red.

  62. 62.

    Thoughtful Today

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    As I’ve noted before, you’re a Corporate Troll, at least that’s a step above Creepy Stalker, but you’re edging closer to the latter….

    But sure, if you want to put on your Trey Gowdy mask and badger an uncooperative witness…

  63. 63.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Suzanne: Thank you! I may not comment as frequently as in the past, but I’m still around lurking and commenting occasionally.

  64. 64.

    Elie

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Child, you do NOT want to go there with this commenter… just back away slowly….

    Seriously… I do not normally warn folks about other commenters, but take it from my experiences, just walk away.

  66. 66.

    Mandalay

    @efgoldman:

    which essentially gave him almost a year to find a new job. Must be how Reince feels

    Except Reince doesn’t have a year. I think he may be spending a lot of quality time with his family this Christmas.

    Priebus is so worthless he makes DWS look good.

  69. 69.

    Steeplejack

    “Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” – Schiller

    As I said earlier, the blog IQ has been wallowing through a bit of a trough tonight. I do not except myself.

  72. 72.

    Thoughtful Today

    @efgoldman:

    Speaking of Creepy Stalkers.

    Could someone explain to him that demanding personal details in a comment section (let alone anywhere on the Internet) is seriously creepy.

  74. 74.

    SFAW

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Oh, Christ, will you just answer the goddamn question?

    Which three (nominal) Dems are Republicans?

    Amazingly enough, one does not have to be a lawyer to want you to cut the crap already.

  80. 80.

    SFAW

    @redshirt:

    I wonder if Thoughtful Today and Right To Racism touched, would they annihilate one another?

    You appear to be laboring under the misconception that they are not the same person. But answer me this: have you ever seen the two of them in the same room?

    ETA: And what of Lazarus?

  81. 81.

    Eric U.

    I am starting to wonder how many of the Sandersnistas are actually republican trolls. This also got me thinking that the PUMAs had some republican trolls in their numbers as well

  82. 82.

    Thoughtful Today

    ?

    I’ve read enough of Trey Gowdy / Omnes to know that his argumentation tactics are a rabbit’s hole.

    It’s the kind of tactic that would claim that taking rights away from LGBT’s is actually helping them.

    Queue umbrage at factual statement in … 5 … 4 ….

  84. 84.

    Eric U.

    @Thoughtful Today: this is the kind of comment that makes me wish I had access to IP information for this blog. A new person shows up, butts their way in and starts being nasty. I really don’t think there are that many people that would do that.

  86. 86.

    redshirt

    @SFAW:

    You appear to be laboring under the misconception that they are not the same person. But answer me this: have you ever seen the two of them in the same room?

    ETA: And what of Lazarus?

    They do behave sometimes in a similar fashion.

    But the Jeb! troll seems to experience actual emotions when things go bad for his guy. Whereas the Sanders troll floats above everything all the time, dropping Bernie posts wherever and whenever, and yet doesn’t actually seem invested in a Bernie 2016 moment. No emotion, only trolling.

  88. 88.

    SFAW

    @Eric U.:

    this is the kind of comment that makes me wish I had access to IP information for this blog.

    Working on it …

    Should be interesting.

    Legit Bernie supporters are worth debating/arguing with, but a Rethug pretending to be one (cough* Thoughtlos Today *cough) is just a waste of oxygen and pixels.

  89. 89.

    redshirt

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Creepy, creepy stalking.

    This is the other trick in this troll’s bag – accusing you of something horrible.

    None of it’s real, it’s just a troll trolling.

    Would you blame a duck for ducking?

  91. 91.

    Thoughtful Today

    Wow.

    Rather than doing creepy dox’ing, perhaps all of you Hill supporters should insist that John make this a private comment section.

    That way you can just talk to yourselves and don’t need to listen to anyone you feel is ‘shouting’ at you.

  92. 92.

    SFAW

    @redshirt:

    You may be right. But both are devoid of facts (or lie outright) in their comments, both get progressively angrier when challenged (although their “reaction” is slightly different – Racist Above seems to get angry and starts insulting people, Trollful Today just throws out idiotic “accusations”).

    Either one would be moire useful as a paperweight. Well, except that he/they is/are so lightweight, would only be able to hold down a sheet or two.

  93. 93.

    redshirt

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Wow.

    Rather than doing creepy dox’ing, perhaps all of you Hill supporters should insist that John make this a private comment section.

    That way you can just talk to yourselves and don’t need to listen to anyone you feel is ‘shouting’ at you.

    Can you answer even a single question?

    How about: Are you a US citizen, or not?

  94. 94.

    SFAW

    @redshirt:

    This is the other trick in this troll’s bag – accusing you of something horrible.

    Which we’ve seen Racist Above also do.

    TT = RA — looks like it’s confirmed.

    The only remaining question is: is it DougJ? (Just kidding – DougJ would never pull that racist shit.)

  95. 95.

    Nate Dawg

    Trolls are gaining steam around here.

    I’m a bit interested to see if the media can give Rubio the momentum needed to rise above the single digits he’s occupied.

  98. 98.

    Duane

    Three debates, three times it’s the media’s fault.
    “Mama, they’re lookin’ at me funny”.

  101. 101.

    SFAW

    @Nate Dawg:

    I’m a bit interested to see if the media can give Rubio the momentum needed to rise above the single digits he’s occupied.

    It won’t be for lack of trying, that’s for sure.

  103. 103.

    SFAW

    @redshirt:

    Sorry for LePage

    Why, did you vote for him? Or Cutler, for that matter?

    If not, then you have nothing to say “sorry” about. (Well, at least as far as LePage goes)

  105. 105.

    Thoughtful Today

    @redshirt:

    Thank you for the apology. LePage /facepalm.

    FTR, I never do ASL questions.

    Though … I do like the idea that I’d be the matter to r2r’s anti-matter….

  107. 107.

    Eric U.

    we had a temporary situation here in Central PA where the incumbent republican was in trouble. As I recall, that was when someone decided to run as a Green, and got 5 percent of the vote. Republican was reelected. Huh.

  108. 108.

    SFAW

    @redshirt:

    Show me anywhere in America where a 3rd party has made things better.

    Nader in 2000.

    Oh, you meant “better for America, or at least for the 99 percent”?
    Never mind.

  110. 110.

    Goblue72

    Rubio doesn’t scare me. Only guy I was worried about was Jeb!, until he opened his mouth.

    Bernie will call them out as corporate jackals to their face while telling the MSM stooges to STFU. Hillary will geld them on stage without anesthesia while pummeling the moderators with sacks filled with rocks called facts.

    Our top two candidates are a guy completely unafraid to say “WTF is so wrong with Scandanavia? Free college is some good shit. Banksters are shysters. GFY. You ever shop at IKEA?” And the other is the liberal second coming of Margaret Thatcher who carries an extra set of brass ones in her clutch.

    We’ve got Rocky Balboa AND Apollo Creed. What do they have?

  111. 111.

    Thoughtful Today

    I assumed as much:

    “I didn’t vote for LePage of course.”

    I voted for Gore in 2000.

    I still feel guilty he wasn’t rightfully sworn in.

  112. 112.

    NotMax

    @redshirt

    IIRC, Angus King wasn’t a disaster.

    Philip LaFollette was successful as Wisconsin governor in implementing a Progressive agenda.

  115. 115.

    NotMax

    @redshirt

    Was more responding to your asking where a 3rd party has made things better than targeting Maine specifically.

    Could also well be argued as well that, while never elected, Eugene Debs was successful as an instrument in gaining acceptance and support for eventual implementation of policies making things better.

  116. 116.

    Thoughtful Today

    @redshirt:

    Unless the answer is: Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, or New Hampshire, I suspect most of the country won’t get a vote.

    Anti-democratic Superdelegates are clearly annoyed even those states get a vote….

  119. 119.

    redshirt

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Unless the answer is: Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, or New Hampshire, I suspect most of the country won’t get a vote.

    Anti-democratic Superdelegates are clearly annoyed even those states get a vote….

    Jeepers. You just won’t do it, eh?

    I don’t get it. What’s the big deal?

  121. 121.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    @redshirt:NotMax lives in Hawaii, on Maui. I assume he votes there.
    I live in Washington near Seattle and everyone here gets to vote by mail.

  122. 122.

    Betty Cracker

    @redshirt: I’m all for arch conservatives leaving the GOP in a huff and fielding unelectable third party candidates. That would do the country a great deal of good.

  123. 123.

    dogwood

    I’m way late to this thread, but I’m wondering, given Vietor’s comparison of Rubio to John Edwards, if that’s why Florida Joe Scarborough was bad-mouthing Rubio this morning.

  129. 129.

    Thoughtful Today

    @Amir Khalid:

    “This is just like you calling me a Malaysian slaver. “

    You think slavery is funny, Amir.

    The nation you live in is riddled with slavery.

    You explicitly joked about slavery under the photo of an adorable black American child.

    Maybe your balloon-juice fans think that’s okay.

    I don’t.

  130. 130.

    SFAW

    @Amir Khalid:
    Nicht wahr?

    I’m still not convinced he’s not Racist Above. The “conversation” with redshirt was just a ruse, notice how little he actually said? Nice bit of attempted misdirection.

    Be that as it may: how are things in the Malaysian slaver business, these days?

    ETA: And while I was writing, I see Racist’s sockpuppet has now decided to attack you. Outstanding. Just another attempt to misdirect. And, I noticed, the same pattern/form of lies.

  131. 131.

    Thoughtful Today

    ” how are things in the Malaysian slaver business, these days?”

    Unfortunately TPP essentially codifies Malaysia’s slave trade.

    …

    And, Amir, for the record, I’ve never called you a “Racist’s sockpuppet”.

    “Overwrought personal attacks” indeed.

    heh

  132. 132.

    SFAW

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Hey, sockpuppet: it would be great if you could understand the written word, including when it has an upper-case letter at the start of a word – that indicates a proper noun.

    The more you write, the more obvious it becomes that you’re just another Republican troll, and almost certainly a sockpuppet for Racist Above.

    You can un-clutch your precious pearls now, your fainting couch has arrived.

  135. 135.

    Sherparick

    After his breakdown of two weeks ago, David Brooks is now saying that all is well in the Republican Party, saved by Rubio and Ryan, two young Paladins, who will go out with the their shiny BS to crush the Hilary Monster in 2016 and bring Republican control of the Government from top to bottom in 2107, ready to give the People what they want, good and hard.

  137. 137.

    SFAW

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Whatever you say.

    So, is your theme for today “I know you are, but what am I?” Seems to be about your level – well, maybe a little too advanced for you. But it’s always nice to see a toddler as he progresses through stages.

    Overwrought? Right. But thanks for the comic relief, R.A.

  138. 138.

    SFAW

    Amir –
    You’ll doubtless notice that, as Gedankenlose Heute gets pressed more and more by the non-trolls here, he starts pulling out the same “arsenal” (if a figurative water pistol can be called an arsenal, that is) of personal attacks that Racist Above uses when people mock his lying and general cluelessness.

    More evidence that they’re the same person – a Rethug troll.

  139. 139.

    brantl

    Rubio’s TV persona strikes me as smarter but less likable than George W Bush’s, by that I mean that’s how they come across to people who don’t follow politics or care about issues.

    How hard is THAT?

  141. 141.

    SFAW

    @Mike E:

    Obama!

    Oh, did you mean that you think the latest (so to speak) troll is really DougJ? I would be surprised – personal attacks on commenters here (except for the ones who really deserve it, of course) do not seem to be DougJ’s style.

  142. 142.

    Thoughtful Today

    >

    SFAW appears to have taken offense to your word, “Overwrought”, Amir.

    Did I just get Huckabee’d?

  143. 143.

    SFAW

    @Thoughtful Today:

    Reince called, he says you’re doing a great job. Pretending to be a Sanders supporter really boosted you in his eyes.

    So, you’re doing pretty well.

    For a third-grader.

    How’s that fainting couch working out for you, by the way? “Overwrought”? Do tell.

    OK, now it’s time for you to toddle off and post the latest Jeb! PowerPoint delusion. Your Mommy will be SO PROUD of her little man.

  144. 144.

    cmorenc

    Rubio is a smoother, more polished version of Eddie Haskell (character from classic “Leave it to Beaver” sitcom).

  145. 145.

    Thoughtful Today

    Amir’s word “overwrought” appears to have set someone off.

    I condemn myself for laughing.

  146. 146.

    SFAW

    @Thoughtful Today:

    You should switch back to your Racist Above persona, at least you’ll do something other than repeating the same tired – but intellectually challenging for you, of course – horseshit.

    And, don’t worry, I won’t tell your Mommy that you don’t know what “overwrought” means.

  148. 148.

    Pie Happens (opiejeanne)

    @Amir Khalid: I didn’t see where you used that word but I was just skimming the comments.

    And I also read your German word as Thankless because of the “dank” in the middle. What little German I retain after not using it for 40 years is very rusty.

  149. 149.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @SFAW: DougJ’s trolling is much more sophisticated than a simple personal attack. In his classic mode, he appears to agree with the target, but words his troll in such a way that it’s obvious to the discerning (which of course the target never is) that he’s attacking the target directly from their blind spot and they never even pick up on it, but the discerning observer is desperately trying to suppress chuckles so as not to give the joke away.

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