Posted on 02/26/2016 1:10:17 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Over the course of the last 48 hours, the Rubio campaign pulled one of the great head-fakes in recent political history by telegraphing that they weren't at all interested in attacking Donald Trump at tonight's debate.
Technically, this wasn't a ruse because Rubio didn't just attack Trump. He went after him with a chainsaw. And Ted Cruz brought a pair of pliers and a blowtorch.
If the normal laws of politics applied to the 2016 race, it would have been a catastrophic night for Trump. By any reasonable measure, Trump had a meltdown. He was exposed as a policy lightweight on a host of issues: A health care repeal plan which consists entirely of "removing the lines." He defended Planned Parenthood (again!) by claiming that abortions are only a small part of what the organization does. Most amazingly, he claimed that his sister, who is a judge, "signed a bill" with Judge Sam Alito. Two judges ... "signed a bill." It's enough to make you wonder: If a single exchange between Rubio and Chris Christie two weeks ago cost him several spots in New Hampshire, how could this two-hour demolition not cost Trump a great deal?
But will it hurt him? Probably not by itself. But if tonight's debate is the beginning of a sustained counterattack against Trump-by Cruz and Rubio themselves on the stump, by their campaigns on the air, and by reluctant donors who now see that there's a blueprint for dismantling the orange menace-then it could mark the beginning of the end for Trump.
What's the blueprint? Stylistically, Rubio showed that you don't need to out-argue Trump. You can mock him. And over the course of the debate, Rubio and Cruz put into play a number of issues that are real problems for Trump:
* His fishy tax returns, which he falsely insists he can't release because he's being audited.
* His total lack of a plan for replacing Obamacare.
* His lies about supporting/opposing both Iraq and Libya (which he repeated during the debate).
* The continuing charges of fraud (and lawsuit) concerning Trump university.
* Trump's use of illegal immigrant labor to build Trump Tower.
Why are these problems? Because the average voters doesn't know about most of them. Because they go to the heart of Trump's appeal. And because some of them-such as the tax returns and Trump University-are ongoing stories in which there are plenty of details still to be reported. The Cruz and Rubio campaigns ought to push these issues relentlessly at campaign stops, through surrogates, and in ads because their attacks will, in turn, force the media to finally confront (rather than enable) Trump.
Trump's rise has been powered by his dominance of earned media-and not just his perpetual access to it, but the obsequious toadying of TV hosts who don't want to lose their ratings chum. But a sustained campaign which focuses on these specific and detailed charges about Trump will force the media to start actually asking questions and pushing back against Trump when he dissembles or evades. In short, a real campaign against Trump will force the media to start treating him like a real candidate. And once that starts happening, Trump will be much less eager to submit himself to real questioning.
The final step to beating Trump is that his rivals have to tie their attacks to a central idea of what Trump really is. As effective as Rubio was in torching Trump at the debate, Cruz did a better job of this tonight. Cruz used all of Trump's problems to support the argument that Trump is a liar and a negotiator who is going to sell out his supporters the first chance he gets. (And believe it or not, that's the most charitable interpretation. Throw in his squeezing grandmothers to build casino parking lots, his penchant for bedding married women, and his four bankruptcies and you can grope your way to much worse characterizations.)
Yet Trump cannot be destroyed in a day. No matter how disastrous tonight's debate was, defeating him will require time, resources, discipline, and initiative. Cruz and Rubio have, finally, shown how it can be done.
But if this debate isn't followed by a pro-longed counter-offensive, then it will serve as nothing except a preview of what the Democrats will do to Trump in July.
Have his chickens come home to roost?
Nah. Cruz is cracking up under pressure. Damaging Trump is all he wants. Then the left wins.
When Cruz is finished, are you guys gonna start demagoguing for Rubio?
I think speaking the truth is much more honest.
Yeah, Cruz is going kamikaze for Rubio’s sake. It’s all he has left.
Is that a yes?
Probably another disappointing night for you on Tuesday, advance condolences.
After all of the caterwauling and screaming is done Trump will roll through the primaries and take it handily.
Denial is the most predictable of all human response.
Cruz finally had his Cage Fight and the numbers are in. He got his ass kicked.
sure you do.
Folks with TDS will think tonight was wonderful. Beginning of the end of Trump. Folks that are damn tired of DC aren’t suddenly going to run and embrace a senator because Trump isn’t flawless.
The senators have accomplished basically nothing in their careers. If the Cruzers were instead singing the praises of a governor with executive experience, they might be a little easier to tolerate around here.
Stuart Stevens’ plan. Hey, it worked on behalf of Thad Cochran. And Cruz has gone full establishment by signing onto this despicable plan.
Apparently it was more of a cage dance with Rubio. Ew.
Cruz is ahead of Rubio, so the argument that Cruz needs to bow out is wishful misinformation and spin.
Ideologically, Rubio lines up more closely with Trump.
Cruz truly is the outsider - the one the GOPe/Dems/MSM hates and fears.
Thanks,I forgot about the senator in the high heels.
Trump was exposed time and time again tonight as a liar and hypocrite.
Cruz & Rubio acted like BLM activists last night, IMO. Cruz might still win Texas but that will be it for him. Rubio won’t win anything. Trump’s going to be ahead after Tuesday by “a lot” & no matter how much Mittens tries to be relevant, or how many lies Cruz or Rubio tell, Trump and by extension America wins.
Until June 16th, no one was even discussing our borders and national security. Today, Trumps orange comb-over is one of the more important topics in the political discussion.
After a Trump loss, when another city has a burning pile of smoking rubble, the Trump bashers can sleep in peace knowing they voted for the most qualified lawyer politician.
“After a Trump loss, when another city has a burning pile of smoking rubble, the Trump bashers can sleep in peace knowing they voted for the most qualified lawyer politician.”
Well, at least they remained true to their ‘principles’. No matter how many lives and livelihoods it cost.
Disgusting.
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