Posted on 01/22/2016 1:25:03 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Via NRO, the key bit comes at 1:22. I think what he says is half true: Establishmentarians are "lining up behind Trump," as Cruz claims, only if you accept Cruz's self-serving premise that this is already a two-man race and he's the sole alternative to Trumpmania. Rubio doesn't accept it. In reality, the GOP leadership and most Republicans in Congress would probably prefer any Republican candidate except Cruz to Trump, starting with Jeb Bush and Rubio himself and on downward to Kasich, Christie, and the rest.
The reason Rubio seems to be giving Trump some political cover here is because he thinks he still has more to fear from Cruz than Trump, both in New Hampshire and beyond. If Trump wins Iowa and New Hampshire but Rubio finishes a strong second in NH, that's just fine. Cruz will have been effectively vanquished and Rubio will zoom into South Carolina as the only non-Trump game in town. Rightly or wrongly, every man in the field (starting with Jeb) thinks he'll beat Trump head-to-head in a long race on the theory that the 65 percent or so of Republicans who aren't supporting Trump right now have already made up their minds against him and will accept any alternative. So Rubio's trying to do here to Cruz what Cruz has been doing to him -- kill him early by blunting Cruz's populist talking points against Trump.
The truth, says Rubio (in so many words), is that Ted Cruz is a snake, a guy who puts his own political interests above all other considerations, starting with his party's. If it helps him to push for work permits in 2013 and then claim now that that was just a poison pill, that's what he'll do.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
I prefer Rubio to Cruz and especially Trump. I believe he has the best chance of winning, and if we don’t win, nothing else matters because we won’t have a country. So flame away.
Yep. He, Huckabee, and Santorum are playing for Trump’s VP... or a cabinet position!
Correct.
Cruz still trying to play the outsider despite the news cycle proving him otherwise. Maybe he's 'one of the good ones', but he's still a insider like Rubio, and in the end Rubio IS the more electable of the two.
Thanks for noting these. I know there wa a conservative against Ayotte in the primary.
Cruz has done exactly what he promised when ran for the Senate. Name one other politician in Washington who has kept their promises like Ted Cruz.
Rubio and Jeb are the worst of the group. Rubio is an empty suit who speed talks memorized speeches and has achieved nothing special, could not even handle his Senate job and personal finances. There are far too many red flags that point to potential scandals.
I don’t trust the establishment. It is corrupt and spineless.
What!! You don’t trust him to kick out and keep out 20 million illegals?
You don’t trust him to keep muzzies out?
You don’t trust him to build the wall?
Do you trust him to make Mexico pay for it?
Do you trust him to tax imports 45 %?
Do you think he will force Apple to build in the USA?
How about anything he has promised on the stump? Anything?
Well, I am really surprised at you!!!!! /S hehe I don’t either. It is ALL BS.
I don’t trust Trump.
I have concluded that Rubio is trying to eliminate Cruz. Then,with the Establishments backing, will go head to head with Trump. Remember what he is, a junior senator elected by the Tea Party and no sooner in office but he turned traitor and became part of the gang of eight. He doesn’t bother to turn up for votes in the senate because he is too busy campaigning for the big seat, the presidency. He can’t even balance a checkbook and is supposed to be able to lead this country back to economic soundness? WHY do you think he and Bush are so far behind in their home state of Florida? Floridians know what they are. Both are RInos.
I’m growing increasingly disgusted by the entire process.
I think Rubio is right, the establishment is kind of in a confused panic right now, with several factions all running around like chickens with their head cut off.
One faction is more resigned to Trump winning and thinks they can make deals with them, this group in cozying up to Trump. (See Bob Dole)
One faction is aghast that Trump will win, but they hate Cruz just as much (if not more), so they have nobody to back and is having a tamper tantrum (See National Review, George Will).
One faction is hoping for all the establishments candidates to drop off so they can all coalesce around one. (This is the faction that is leaking all the stories about the demise of Jeb, hoping he’ll drop off quickly).
And he REALLY IS balding. LOL
Rubio brings youth and his Latino heritage. He’s also an excellent speaker and well versed in national security. IIRC, internal polls always show Rubio favorably. That’s about it. I am NOT promoting Rubio.
Very nice.
I don’t trust Cruz, with his floppy head and beady eyes. Canadian? Cuban? American???????
Trump, all American. Lives and breaths America. His whole life has been about making money and he does that by employing thousands and thousands of Americans.
Cruz has to have his wife get him money from her boss to campaign.
If you Cruz, you lose.
True he really hates the job. But instead of going laterally he wants to move upward without putting in the work to merit the move
“I don’t trust Rubio.”
I don’t either. He seems to loose interest in jobs he’s held far too quickly. There appears to be a scintilla of truth to Boosh’s ascertion that he’s an absentee Senator, and he himself has said he’s lost interest in the job. I don’t know about you, but we have a president right now who lost interest in the job about six years ago and we can see the results of his decision.
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