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Dick Morris: Why Rubio can’t win
The Hill ^ | February 23, 2016 | Dick Morris

Posted on 02/24/2016 12:30:01 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Chris Christie has crashed, John Kasich is ghettoized, Scott Walker self-destructed and nobody bought the idea of Jeb Bush, and now all the king's horses and all the king's men -- and Fox News -- are trying to shove Marco Rubio down the throats of the Republican electorate.

But they'll never make the sale.

The fundamental fault line that runs through the middle of the Republican and Democratic parties is that which separates the establishment from the true believers. And nothing is clearer than the fact that nobody will cross that line unless there is absolutely no other option.

The basic strategy of the hysterics about Donald Trump's ascendance is to force an amalgamation of the alternatives into a Great White Hope who can take on The Donald. It's thought that Trump can only win a plurality and not a majority. Based on that reasoning, those who oppose a Trump candidacy posit that all they have to do is to pick off the alternatives until there is only one remaining opponent to Trump. And they have decided that his name is Marco Rubio.

The defect in this thesis is that it ignores the fault line. Rand Paul voters didn't go to Rubio, they went to Ted Cruz. Ben Carson supporters would do likewise....

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: cruz; rubio; tedcruz; trump
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1 posted on 02/24/2016 12:30:02 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Karl knows a lot about losing, that’s for sure.


2 posted on 02/24/2016 12:48:55 AM PST by ozzymandus
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"The candidates are fungible. It is the posture of animosity to the deal-making and craven refusal to stand up to Barack Obama that they oppose."

Yep.

3 posted on 02/24/2016 12:49:02 AM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rubio is running to be Trump’s VP.

He can’t win and he knows it.

Trump is the second choice for most of the Cruz/Carson voters.

Rubio is not even trying to take down Trump. His endgame is the VP slot and/or to build name recognition so he can run again in 4 years.


4 posted on 02/24/2016 12:55:05 AM PST by Helicondelta
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Each senator, congressman or governor who lines up to support Rubio brings with him the kiss of death. They announce his fidelity to an agenda and style of accommodation that is precisely what the Republican rebels can’t stand. With each endorsement, he becomes less the Marco of the Tea Party and, instead, the Marco of the unpopular establishment politics of John Boehner and Mitch McConnell.


5 posted on 02/24/2016 12:55:20 AM PST by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
No matter how you slice and dice it, the Republican electorate is 2-to-1 against the party’s leadership. Whether they express their discontent by backing Trump or Cruz or Paul or Carson or Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum doesn’t really matter. The candidates are fungible. It is the posture of animosity to the deal-making and craven refusal to stand up to Barack Obama that they oppose. Rubio can never span that divide. The winner of this race for the GOP nomination will be either Trump or Cruz — and the party establishment better get used to it.

He gets it!

6 posted on 02/24/2016 12:57:31 AM PST by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This Toe Sucker is still around?


7 posted on 02/24/2016 1:01:07 AM PST by catfish1957 (I display the Confederate Battle Flag with pride in honor of my brave ancestors who fought w/ valor)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

imagine a two person debate with Trump and sputtering little boy rubio with his canned lines standing next to him....


8 posted on 02/24/2016 1:54:26 AM PST by mowowie (`)
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To: catfish1957
Enough with the toe sucker stuff please.

I see it every time there's a Morris post.

That was 20 years ago.

Morris has redeemed himself many times over in my opinion.

He's been on our side for a long time now.

9 posted on 02/24/2016 2:11:55 AM PST by IDontLikeToPayTaxes
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Can’t believe Dick Morris is still drawing a paycheck.


10 posted on 02/24/2016 2:13:59 AM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

In way he’s right about not besting Trump, but the one thing Rubio is doing right now is severely damaging Ted Cruz. I want Ted to remain viable and in the campaign as second. With all this GOPe support for Rubio, bashing between Trump and Cruz camps, Rubio is out there lying his Amnesty Snake ass off and getting away with enough to out do Cruz.

I’ve already made my choice (yesterday when I voted early). Trump got it. But I sincerely am hoping that Ted will take a very strong second here in Georgia.

Collectively, we have to take down the GOPe Heir Apparent Rubio (now that Dauphin Jeb is out of the picture).


11 posted on 02/24/2016 2:17:45 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer
Having already conceded the probability that Trump will be the nominee and further surrendered and said that I will vote for him in the general, no one hopes I am more wrong about Donald Trump than I.

I will surrender all to this process except my self-respect.


12 posted on 02/24/2016 2:22:00 AM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: nathanbedford

I understand that and don’t disagree. Earlier this year, my perfect world was Cruz as nominee. But I voted Trump yesterday so that we do not get another GOPe quisling who will lie and cheat us, completely forsaking everything he’s told us. Will Trump do this? That’s to be seen. Would Jeb, Rubio, Kasich do this? The history of the GOPe tells me they are much more certain to do it. I want Ted to remain viable and any vestige of a viable GOPe candidate gone - off the scene and out of sight and out of mind.

As for self respect, I once felt the same. I am deeply ashamed I had to surrender it voting for John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012.


13 posted on 02/24/2016 2:32:13 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Helicondelta

Rubio is not even trying to take down Trump. His endgame is the VP slot and/or to build name recognition so he can run again in 4 years.


We will see in the next debate.


14 posted on 02/24/2016 2:45:42 AM PST by samtheman (Elect Trump, Build Wall. End Censorship.)
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To: Gaffer
I can understand a conservative who takes the point of view that Cruz is ineligible and Rubio has disqualified himself. I share that view with respect to Rubio and regard him to be a very dangerous, subversive pseudo-conservative for whom I could never vote.

I can even understand your preemptive strike in order to keep Trump going and to keep Rubio at bay. Right now, I would be very disappointed if Cruz withdrew from the race because that would put Rubio one-on-one against Trump and there are data out there that suggests Rubio would prevail, although I am skeptical.

I am very concerned with the demoralization which has occurred in the ranks of the conservative movement illustrated by the fickleness with which conservatives abandon Cruz for a man I regard to be a transparent mountebank. This is not a model of behavior which will encourage future conservatives like Tom Cotton to go on the floor of the Senate and fight for us all night long. Politicians are after all animals who know how to survive and politicians like Tom Cotton will look at the faithlessness of conservatives and conclude that the better part of valor is to cut deals with the likes of Mitch McConnell. Such a deal was cut by Marco Rubio the minute he walked into the Senate and it is being cut even now by Donald Trump before he even locks up the nomination.

This is not a good time for conservatism.


15 posted on 02/24/2016 2:47:18 AM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: catfish1957

“This Toe Sucker is still around?”

Care to share your fetish or is it that only everyone else has one? In other words, what does your comment have anything to do with forwarding the discussion?


16 posted on 02/24/2016 3:28:03 AM PST by gunsequalfreedom
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To: IDontLikeToPayTaxes

Morris has redeemed himself many times over in my opinion.

Were you paying attention to his prediction in 2012...? But all of a sudden he now has credibility...


17 posted on 02/24/2016 3:28:37 AM PST by IrishBrigade
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To: IDontLikeToPayTaxes

Exactly. I think you said it a little more politely than I did.


18 posted on 02/24/2016 3:29:10 AM PST by gunsequalfreedom
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To: Helicondelta

Good points.


19 posted on 02/24/2016 3:29:47 AM PST by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.l)
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To: fortheDeclaration

I was shocked that the goVernor of Texas endorsed Rubio.


20 posted on 02/24/2016 3:30:53 AM PST by jersey117
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