Posted on 03/22/2012 8:24:51 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Yesterday's endorsement of Mitt Romney by former Florida governor Jeb Bush sent the implicit message that the time had come to wrap up the nomination process and begin focusing on the general election. Bush made that more explicit in an interview with Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Salena Zito --- and Bush had an idea how to make the ticket even stronger:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says Republican front-runner Mitt Romney has earned the right to take on President Obama in November.
“It is time to get behind the nominee,” Bush told the Tribune-Review on Wednesday during a visit to Pittsburgh. “And it is time for the country to focus on the most important thing, which is to elect a president who will create a climate for high growth and job-creating abilities for our country.”
Does he want to be VP? No, but he knows the man for the job:
“Marco Rubio,” he said of the freshman Florida GOP senator, who served as a volunteer on Bush’s governor’s campaign. Bush described Rubio, 40, as “dynamic, joyful, disciplined and principled.”
“He is the best orator of American politics today, a good family man. He is not only a consistent conservative, but he has managed to find a way to communicate a conservative message full of hope and optimism,” Bush said.
No doubt, Rubio would be a popular choice for a running mate in the GOP. He routinely wins the polls here at Hot Air for the slot, for example. If Romney does win the nomination — and that seems just short of certain now — he’d need a popular figure like Rubio among conservatives, and I’m not sure there’s another choice that could help him consolidate the base as effectively.
However, I’m still not sold on this as an effective general-election choice. Rubio has not had any executive-branch experience yet, and has been in the Senate for a mere 14 months. He needs more time to garner broader experience before one can make the claim that he has a resumé that justifies him being one heartbeat away from the Presidency. (Yes, I know Obama only had two years in the Senate before beginning his run for the top spot. Look how well that’s working out.) As talented as Rubio is, he has a brilliant career ahead of him if he shows some patience and builds a record of more than just fabulous oratory. He needs a full term in the Senate with his name on significant legislation, then a term as governor in Florida. With that kind of record, Rubio might be unbeatable in any cycle. With four or eight years as VP after less than two in the Senate, Rubio could end up being a historical footnote.
Bobby Jindal makes more sense as a running mate in this cycle, or Nikki Haley, both of whom are governors outside of Washington with Southern draw. Jindal probably would be better in getting conservatives to coalesce behind him, and he has a real track record of political reform in his second term in the top spot in Louisiana.
Update: Fox asked Rick Perry about rumors of his being on the shortlist, and Perry says that rumor is all it is:
“Texas governor versus VP? The balance on that one isn’t even close,” Perry said. “I would suggest to you that’s deep in the rumor category and I got a better gig where I am, thank you.”
Perry would make a pretty good running mate, though, and would help Romney get conservative backing. I don’t see Perry in a #2 slot, however, and I doubt he sees himself there either.
Might be onto something there. Interesting he did not endorse anyone till after Ill. Perhaps he thought till then it could go to a convention and he could be the brokered candidate??
I cannot believe Newt cannot get any traction, especially in the bigoted north. The farther north the primary, the less support he gets.
“So, first the Bushes get to select our presidential nominee - they also get to pick our vice-presidential nominee?”
Your words complain about the Bushes but implicitly you insult the American voter.
I agree with you he’s a winner for us. Some here though prefer a loss in Nov. if the nominee is Romney. He wasn’t my first or second choice of the field but he’s a damn sight better than what we have.
Sarah Palin as VP.
Is Rubio an NBC?
NO
Is Rubio an NBC?
NO
Let’s see here...Hispanics married into the Bush Dynasty.
Romney Dynasty has roots to Mehican Hispanics, Rubio is Hispanic.
Not hard to see that he believes race cards are not the sole property of the democrat party and ‘we’ will win if ‘we’ play them.
Maybe the Dynasty Families should start looking for blacks to marry into their families...the perfect hat trick, Whites, Hispanics and Blacks. s/
Leave Rubio in the Senate, he’s not Presidential material! IMO Rubio will be lucky to get re-elected to the Senate, there are a lot former supporters that are turned off by him.
Leave Rubio in the Senate, he’s not Presidential material! IMO Rubio will be lucky to get re-elected to the Senate, there are a lot former supporters that are turned off by him.
No. And Sen. Rubio himself knows it too.
we don’t need a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CLARIFYING THE TERM “NATURAL BORN” today. The founding fathers had a clear understanding of the phrase, the US Supreme Court defined the phrase at least three times, the public and politicians in 1968 understood the phrase and no one denied that any citizen had standing to object to a candidates eligibility.
Or Huntsman.
The two wings of the Government Party offer you the choice of a disorganized and self indulgent megalomaniac leftwing progressive, or the focused and self disciplined megalomaniac leftwing progressive. The organized one -will- accomplish more harm if elected.
Please! Please! please! A very big shout out to the conservative party and to the constitution party, Don’t even ask her just put Sarah Palin on the ballot for your party. That would greatly increase turnout, decrease Romney’s vote count and make the Democrat’s vote fraud more difficult. Considering the strength of those currently running, Palin should be a shoe in.
Besides the Bush’s representing the upper aristocracy of the USA and not the lower millions they would, even with excellent military service, give the USA to anyone who would serve their purposes of govenment. As to Jeb pushing for Rubio, I feel he might as well push for POTUSA open to all anchor babies no matter from where or when if he would be completely true to his version of eligibility. The idea of messing around with the original ‘natural born citizen’ wording of the Constitution, even the SC, is fraught with adverse consequences a la Obama. It has often bothered me that some assume that adding an amendment to the Constitution can actually change the wording of the original Constitution. Since we were given an apple i,e. Constitution words,so to speak, to live by can/should we change that apple for any other fruit?
“Can’t stand Rubio. And now Jeb’s given me more reason to not want him to be the VP.”
Rubio has been a Bush protege since the get go. I am sure he will eventually prove to be as valuable an asset for conservatives as Colin Powell.
RE:the US Supreme Court defined the phrase at least three times, the public and politicians in 1968 understood the phrase and no one denied that any citizen had standing to object to a candidates eligibility.
______________
Well, if this is so, then someone should challenge the current occupant’s eligibility in the courts... (CRICKETS)
“It’s a neverending RINO nightmare! I want OUT!”
You are out in every meaningful sense. Although they do want you to send in your money and cast your vote for their candidates. Welcome to the GOP plantation. It is a lot like the Democrat plantation, but is on the right hand fork in the road instead of the left.
RE: “Is Rubio an NBC?”
No. And Sen. Rubio himself knows it too.
___________________
When did Rubio acknowledge this? Do you have a link or a source for this?
Your whole post is a perfect summary. ‘Boob bait for Bubbas’ indeed.
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