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.
Exactly! Go Trump! USA, USA!! Say it with me! Notice there is no Canada or Cuba in there, anywhere! USA!
Never. It is clear that the GOP would be just as happy with Hillary. Anything to keep the cushy jobs and money rolling in.
NEVER....and they never will!
Choke Artist and BusTED?
Two wimps that would fold in 5 seconds dealing with the Persians, the Chinese, NORKS.
They should audition for the Powderpuff Girls voices.
:)
The east coast hotels from Camden Maine to Miami Beach have hired euro maids for the busiest season as long as there has been a busy season, summer in the north, winter in the south. It’s standard practice for the tourism industries - temp visas for college age euro’s. The season ends and they go back and finish school. If you can’t distinguish that from permanent construction illegal aliens wrecking permanent labor markets there’s simply no basis to have a discussion.
All the GOP sore losers will be a thorn in trumps side as president. Im sure he will make them irrelevant
Interesting the “political outsider” senator who says he is firmly against amnesty now thinks Rubio Gang of 8 would be a good president. Doesn’t seem Cruz is as against the establishment as he professed. Another not so true we learn about Cruz.
We will all know in approximately 108 hours, as the voting precincts will be almost universally closed by then. I'm so sick of all of this bullship, that it can't come soon enough.
Go Cruz, go Trump, go back to Florida ruby, Doctor Carson is a gentleman and John K-sick is the governor of Ohio.
Good post - says a lot.
I listen to all of the belly aching about “Trump’s plans” and how exactly he’s going to carry this out, or that out, and I think it’s just silliness.
Not one of these candidates can say exactly how something is going to unfold. Someone has to have a vision for what they want to accomplish and run with it. They have to get into the office, surround themselves with the best people, then everyone rolls up their sleeves and figure out the way to make things happen. The vision has to be shared and gone after with passion.
Now, going by recent history, the last people you want in office if you’re looking to blow up the Washington cartel is a politician/lawyer! They have proven themselves to be worthless.
That means you’ve got a much better chance with an outsider. Best to look for someone who has succeeded in the real world. Someone tough. Someone who doesn’t give a rat’s rear of what anyone thinks of him, but stands his ground. Someone who manages to make happen the things he wants to happen.
IMHO, America has nothing to lose by putting Trump into office. He would certainly shake things up. Isn’t that what is needed? I’d love to watch the Trump Adventure unfold!
Then start going after Democrats.
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/restore-the-constitution/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/second-amendment-rights/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/secure-the-border/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/defend-our-nation/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/stand-with-israel/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/religious-liberty/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/life-marriage-and-family/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/jobs-and-opportunity/
https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/rein-in-washington/
You’re talking like a Democrat. Cover blown.
Did you see a POTUS up there amongst Rubio, Cruz, Carson and Kasich? I did not. I saw zero leadership ability among the four. Worse, there is no life experience there, no business or other experience, just lawyers and pols. Were anyone to agree with your daily work here, you’d have to have someone to put up, someone better. I get that you and yours dislike Trump. But you got two has beens going nowhere and two yappy dogs ready to lose 40 states. Rubio is still a kid and Cruz belongs on the SCOTUS.
“Also, during the winter there are more unemployed people in the north who would snap at a job in the beautiful sunshine state of Florida. “
I disagree. Who, in their right mind, would move from the rust belt to southern florida, on their own nickel, pay for a place to live, on their own nickel, and make $9-$10 per hour, even if it was in the sunshine. All that for a 3-4 month job?
Would you?
Note: I have no dog in this fight. just pointing out, I don’t think many people, if any, would jump on that.
Rubio is openly for amnesty.
Then he knows how to see through the entire Ponzi scheme which is DC (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and all the other unfunded mandates which add up to...what is it by now? 70 TRILLION?)
Trump getting fined $1,000,000 for using illegals aliens was pretty interesting. As was his defense of only hiring h2b immigrants for hotel staff.
He really had no defense to this; basically used the same excuses chamber of commerce people use.
Lying about things he said that when he is on video that says the opposite shows how stupid and gullible he thinks his supporters are. We shall see if they are as stupid as trump thinks they are.
I am looking forward to your postings next Wednesday morning, with measured anticipation.
Trump is about to administer an epic beatdown to the rookies, Raphael and the Rube.
“..start going after Democrats.”
Well, I do [but Trump’s one too].
Some recent “going after Democrats” threads - un-Trump ones.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3399041/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3398583/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3396063/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3394326/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3394272/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3393958/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3393929/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3392110/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3391701/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3391310/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3390943/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3390565/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3389820/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3389588/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3388583/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3388288/posts
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