Dole on Paul, Cruz, Rubio: They're not ready

CNN ^ | April 22nd, 2014

[SoConPubbie]

(CNN) - Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole argued that some of the men among the younger generation of potential GOP presidential candidates aren't quite ready to take on the White House.

"A number of the younger members, first-termers like Rand Paul, (Marco) Rubio and that extreme-right-wing guy – Ted Cruz? All running for president now," he said in an interview this week with The Wichita Eagle. "I don't think they've got enough experience yet."

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The former Republican senator from Kansas and 1996 GOP presidential nominee - who also served as a U.S. congressman as well as the GOP vice presidential nominee in 1976 - is returning to his roots this week for a nine-county tour around Kansas.

At meet-and-greet events and public discussions, the 90-year-old is sharing stories and taking questions from his former constituents.

Cruz made headlines last month for publicly criticizing Dole, as well as other failed GOP presidential nominees like John McCain and Mitt Romney. The Texas Republican said they were "good" and "decent men" but he suggested that they lacked principle and stood "for nothing," which was why they lost.

Dole told CNN at the time that "Senator Cruz needs to check the record before passing judgment."

As the former politician and World War II veteran travels around Kansas, he's emphasizing a message of bipartisanship.

"I always tried when I was the (Senate Republican Leader) leader for 10 years to of course work with my Republicans but also reach out to my friends on the other side. I found out you get more done if you sometimes have to compromise," he said Monday at an event in Olathe, Kansas.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[MeshugeMikey]

when was bob dole last ready??

[NorthMountain]

I don't think they've got enough experience yet.

So says the guy whose campaign amounted to "Vote for ME. It's MY turn!!!"

[House Atreides]

So sayeth the RINO mega-loser.

[Tonytitan]

Spoken like a true legislator/non-executive.

[Paladin2]

With all due respect, Bob Dole’s opinion on non-GOPe candidates is irrelevant.

[US Navy Vet]

STFU Dole YOU RINO/GOP-e BASTARD!

[cotton1706]

Funny how their guys are always ready but can’t quite get there.

[MNlurker]

Pretty sure it involved the swallowing of a pill...

[Cowboy Bob]

Was Obama ready? How did he do in the election?

[martin_fierro]

BOB DOLE IS ALWAYS READY.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Yeah, I always follow the advice of people who got their ass kicked who say to do whatever-they-sucked-at just like they did.

Thank you for your military service, Mr. Dole.

Now go away.

[headstamp 2]

The GOPe. Liberals that don’t like paying taxes.

[GraceG]

Dole thinks that you have to be at least 50% Fossil to even run for office.....

[ViLaLuz]

They have more than 0bama.

[webheart]

when was bob dole last ready??

When he got his Viagra prescription filled?

[GraceG]

[ The GOPe. Liberals that don’t like paying taxes. ]

NAILED IT!!!

[Responsibility2nd]

(CNN) - Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole argued that some of the men among the younger generation of potential GOP presidential candidates aren’t quite ready to take on the White House.

________________________________________________

Riiiggghht.

And when history shows a Community Organizer/state senator/freshman junior senator can get elected over Hillary who had been running for 20 years, we should just ignore it?

[pfflier]

The same could be said about our founding fathers, and notably, Harry Truman. Now compared to them where does Bob Dole stand?

[SoConPubbie]

So the Moderate’s Moderate, and a Loser of a POTUS Candidate who could not win against the extremely damaged Bill Clinton in spite of HIS experience, and directly because he had no principles is trying to tell us who can win??

I consider Bob Dole, and everyone like him to be a traitor. A Democrat Collaborating, Trojan Horse Pretend Republican.

They should be treated only with scorn. They’ve lost all respect by compromising on every principle important to real Republicans.