We ought to keep reasonably open minds this go round. Rubio is not the ogre you are making him out to be. I think we all want the very best candidate we can nominate. Few of us want Jeb Bush because of the combination of disqualifying qualities and issues. He is yet another Bush. He brings the family baggage. He stubbornly supports Common Core. He praises Obama. He is up to his eyeballs in Chamber of Commerce $$$ and Wall Street $$$. For many, his immigration policy alone would disqualify him. All true but he is not Romney. I would reluctantly vote for Jeb but did not vote for Romney. In 2016, we need realism.
I would love to see Ted Cruz in the White House as would many here. I need proof that he can be nominated. Cruz has a compelling story which he told in his announcement at Liberty University. He has a far more distinguished resume than most Americans realize. He is fully qualified. No one terrifies the left more than Ted Cruz.
Rand Paul has so far done a reasonably good job of distinguishing himself from his Fruit Loops daddy. I would not mention him if he had not. That said, Rand Paul brings a number of issues and qualities to this race that command respect and attention. He has brought libertarianism into the public square without its obsession with drugs, weird sex, and prostitution. He paints his policies as necessary to the future of Americans who have fallen by the wayside. His ideas on urban education, outreach to blacks and Hispanics and even college radicals are impressive. More than any other senator he has championed individual liberties against Leviathan government. A Rand Paul presidency would be an interesting ride indeed. Not my candidate but an exciting force nonetheless at this point.
Dr. Carson has a role to play in public life but is far too inexperienced in politics to credibly run for POTUS. He can run and tell his very compelling story. He should then bow out early.
Rick Perry has long and successful executive experience but I just don't see America falling in passionate love with Perry.
Chris Christie? Not in my lifetime. Not in God's lifetime. He should be encouraged to run to dilute Jeb's support. Ditto Donald Trump.
Carly Fiorina serves a purpose in mercilessly zinging Hillary. She said the other day that she is more representative of American women than is Hillary in that Carly does her own laundry and her own shopping and her own driving and what not. Her actual POTUS credentials are thin and she should get her fifteen minutes of fame and plan an early exit.
Marco Rubio is a far more talented young man than many here give him credit for. He is charming, charismatic, and has a great back story. He can easily campaign to the Hispanic vote in Spanish, the language of his upbringing. He has engaged in big issues in his freshman term. Many here see him only as a member of the Gang of Eight trying to bring many more Hispanics across the border. I accept that he has learned his lesson. Better that he should not have made the mistake in the first place but it is what it is. His oratory as to making this century another American century and as to his generation taking up the task of making it happen is the most driving dream being expressed by any 2016 candidate. He is giving up the Senate seat. I believe he will be Walker's running mate.
The ideal race for the GOP POTUS nomination would feature a civilized but spirited contest on the issues exposing to the public all of the many good policy ideas and their differences from the policies of the Hildebeast. When the die is cast and the nomination has been secured by one of these candidates, the rest would ideally be committed to campaigning their backsides off to secure a victory for the nominated ticket. Then some would go into the cabinet and others become administration allies in other offices. We need this or the Republic is gone.
God bless you and yours.
OK, I forgot Bobby Jindal who is one of the most impressive GOP major office holders. I don’t think he will run yet. Senator Vitter is going to run for governor. They may swap jobs. Also no one is better qualified than Jindal for the job at HHS of wiping out Obozocare. Before he became governor of Louisiana, he cleaned up the corrupt mess (decades old) of Louisiana health care. He was fresh out of college when he did it. Formerly Hindu ad now Catholic. Jindal reacted to Obozo’s prayer breakfast call for Christians to get off their high horse and accept blame for the Inquisition and the Crusades (both Catholic events) by saying something to the effect that he wanted to report to the President that Louisiana had complete control over wild-eyed Catholics roaming the land seeking victims to torture and kill. Then he said: “How are ya doin’ on the Middle East, Mr. President?” Jindal got a bad rap on a nationally televised response to a State of the Union Address when he was inexplicably not on top of his game. Make no mistake. Jindal is very smart and articulate and sometimes quite humorous and his day may well come when the public nationally is more familiar with him.
He can easily campaign to the Hispanic vote in Spanish
Problem is he says something different when speaking in Spanish than he does when speaking English. He’s a duplicitous hack who schemed with Schumer against the citizens.
He should have tried to keep his Senate seat.
Your remarks are the top of the mark! What can be added?
I believe Cruz speaks for me, so far, by every jot and tittle, but he has been in a career box different from Governor Walker, who from a position of power as governor, was able to carry a big stick and to commandeer action. He actually performed near miracles and did so with drama and flair, in Wisconsin, of all places! Now, that is a tough act to follow.
Cruz has rhetorically faced off against the lions of the Establishment, just as Walker faced off against the union, the Marxist lobby and the Democrat machine, but Cruz was not able to effect that kind of sweeping success and needed change, as a senator confined to the senate.
The rest of the candidates are laudible and decent, including Rubio, whose energy is absolutely catching, is a movement type of speaker never to be discounted during an era of certain and sure generational change that is coming.
You are spot on, as usual.