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.
Yea, because things like making illegal immigration illegal again is too straightforward for liberals and career politicians who prefer "comprehensive immigration reform" as a slimy way to avoid getting results.
Career politicians want to repeal the 20,000 page Obamacare and sit with lobbyists and craft a new government boondoggle which will probably be 40,000 pages and even worse yet.
Trump explained during the debate that it is a civil suit that he can easily settle out of court. On principle he is allowing the suit to go forward. We only know that a suit was filed. We do not know both sides of the case. We do not know if there was fraud.
Why is it suddenly a given that big government has to be in charge of everyone's healthcare and insurance?
"Comprehensive" this, "comprehensive" that... translated into English means "sit with big money backers and craft enormous new laws and regulations that will further screw the people"
What I heard from the other candidates for their plan details for domestic and foreign policy was nothing new for decades now. The only thing different was said by Cruz, he will abolish the IRS which I favor but I doubt he can do it. Trump in office will review every issue and determine the best course to achieve the goals just as he has done so successfully in business.
Cruz looked maniacal last night. Especially after the debate, when he accused Trump if tax fraud. Even Chris Matthews said Cruz was guilty of McCarthyism, with no proof whatsoever. His true dirty politician colors are showing.
Let me know when this circular firing squad runs out of bullets. I'll vote for the sole survivor, but I'll need a long hot shower afterward.
If you are talking about the Polish construction workers, they were undocumented, illegal, no work permit, etc., and Trump lost $1 million because of it, should have been more.
If you are talking about the seasonal workers for his FL properties, no one has claimed that they were illegal.
Rubio and Cruz tore him up!
Imhotep! Imhotep! Imhotep!....
The USA was a great country while it lasted. Our mistake was assuming that the low information voters were all Demonrats by affiliation. Little did we know that there were sooooo many willing to vote in GOP primaries to nominate trash like TRUMP!!!! He is every bit as "establishment" as El Jebbie but TRUMP!!!'s "establishment pals are Demonrats who desperately cling to power and $$$$ in competition with their "Republican" counterparts. One group of these hacks is no better than the other.
Last time, the GOP-E nominated Moral Monster Mitt Romney to lose to Obozo by using their traditional tactic of flooding the primaries with corrupt $$$$$. That did not work for El Jebbie this time and so they have an alternative in TRUMP!!! The beauty art for the GOP-E is that the marks hallucinate that TRUMP!!!! is somehow a tribune of the people and he is such an experienced media hound that he does not even have to spend much of his own money much less further drain Muffie's trust funds which have already been weakened by the amounts given to El Jebbie.
When this is over, whether Her Satanic Majesty or His Teflon Garbagemouth is sworn in as POTUS, the Uniparty "establishment" will be gathering at the Union League to celebrate their latest victory over the marks.
I concur. I have a substantial area of disagreement with trump on his proposed take over.
I concur. I have a substantial area of disagreement with trump on his proposed take over.
I believe the attacks against Cruz in the media are to insure that their candidate, will win. Regardless of whether its a D or a R beside the name, it’s still a DEAL made in the back rooms of New York and Washington. I thought better of Trump before he started calling Cruz a liar, instead of debating, and showing himself to be right by the words out of his mouth, all I see is name calling, bullying,and manipulation of the press.
That said, I can be persuaded by facts.
Cruz/Rubio 2016. There, I said it. They are teaming up, will beat Trump, and will win BIG in November. We HAVE to win in November.
Trump provides a target-rich environment. It's fun to see the arrogant blowhard and fraud get hammered and exposed.
HA HA HA HA.
Congrats, CW. As of last night, the veil came off. Cruzie went and endorsed amnesty-boy Rubio for when he fails.
BWA HA HA HA HA.
Boy, he fooled you but GOOD!
BWAAAAA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Hear, hear! Cruz/Rubio ‘16! Rubio can do the Veep stuff and enjoy it while Cruz rolls back all of Zero’s damage.
The cult’s bewildered now that their admittedly unconservative hero has driven away his opposition and their supporters. Now they have to defendDT’s scam all alone.
[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.)]
Trump is such a complete sleaze. This is why so many will vote for him under zero circumstances.
There has been lots of talk about Cruz & his eligibility to be President of the USA.
Time for people to look long & hard at Rubio-—
Rubio’s parents got their citizenship in 1975. I don’t know when they arrived in the USa from Cuba.
However—Rubio was born in 1971-—4 years before his parents got their citizenship.
IS Rubio eligible to be President??? Or is he an anchor baby only????
You live in Maryland, right?
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