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Campaign Crawlers
Rubio Knows Where He’s Going
No what-do-we-do-now problem here.
TAMPA — “Marvin, what do we do now?” This is one of those memorable lines, familiar to most movie-goers of a certain age. The line concludes the 1972 Robert Redford movie, The Candidate, and is uttered by Redford’s much compromised liberal senator-elect Bill McKay.
Florida’s new senator-elect, Marco Rubio of Miami, doesn’t have McKay’s problem. Rubio is not a liberal. And he in no way compromised his conservative principles to win big last Tuesday, though his main opponent, partyless Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I-Narcissus), compromised whatever principles he may have once had by floating, unsuccessfully, a series of bogus charges against Rubio during the campaign.
Crist’s political career is almost certainly over. Few here are weeping for the guy who changed his political positions so often, so completely, and so opportunistically that Brit Hume called him “the most flexible politician I’ve ever seen.” In a column this week George Will referred to Crist as “Plasticman.” In Florida politics, Crist is so 2006.
Rubio knows exactly what he wants to do now, which is to work to bring about a clear alternative to the toxic leftist agenda of President Obama and the Democratic Congress, an agenda which is turning America into something that it’s never been and that most Americans don’t want. After the election Rubio said his first priorities would be to cut federal spending, to see that the Bush tax cuts are made permanent, and to repeal and replace ObamaCare.
In his acceptance speech last Tuesday Rubio called the Republican surge “a second chance for Republicans to be what they said they were going to be not so long ago.” Exactly. Rubio realizes the profligacy of Republicans in 2006 and 2008 is partly responsible for the country’s woes. “Our nation is headed in the wrong direction and both parties are to blame,” he said repeatedly on the campaign trail. If most members of the Republican Class of 2010 understand this, and I hope and trust they do, the better the chances Washington’s wild spending will be brought under control.
Showing the influence the rookie senator-elect has in the new Republican Party, he was chosen to deliver the weekly Republican address Saturday. In it he said the Republican Party had given nothing less than a promise that if given power again “we would not squander the chance you gave us… we must not. Because nothing less than the identity of our country and what kind of future we will leave our children is at stake.”
Marco gets it. And he invites voters to “hold us accountable to the ideas and principles we campaigned on. This is our second chance to get this right. To make the right decisions and the tough calls and to leave our children what they deserve — the freest and most exceptional society in all of human history.” (And if the Brits or the Greeks want to complain that we go on too much about our exceptionalism, they can complain to President Obama, who agrees with them.)
Timing is critical in war, love, and hitting a baseball. It’s no less so in politics. And Rubio was the guy in Florida’s three-way Senate race whose time had come.
Democratic Kendrick Meek watched Obama’s dramatic win in 2008, in which he won 52 percent of red-state Florida’s vote, and concluded it was time for another black liberal candidate to win state-wide in Florida. But the air went out of “that hopey-changey thing” (thanks to Sarah Palin for the expression) so fast that all Meek could scare up in 2010 was 20 percent of the vote in the Senate race.
Crist, who has never had a fixed ideological address, listened to the Republican establishment, and therefore thought 2010 was the year for moderate Republicans. When it turned out not to be, he tried to out-conservative Rubio to win the Republican nomination. When he fell hopelessly behind, he became an independent, gussied up all new liberal positions, and tried to fish for Democratic voters. He got more of these than Meek did, but ended with only 30 percent of the vote, a full 20 points behind Rubio.
Looks like Rubio was right when he repeated on the campaign trail, “We already have a Democratic Party. We don’t need another one.”
Rubio pledges to pursue policies that will help grow our economy, policies that re-assert our reliance on the free market and limited government. In addition to reigning in spending and extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, Rubio would like to cut corporate taxes to make American companies competitive, end the death tax, end double taxation, reform the U.S. Tax Code, stop consideration of the value-added tax, repeal regulations that hurt job creation, reduce barriers to free and fair trade, and fix entitlements.
These may not be all the actions and answers we need. But they’re good ideas, and enough to keep Rubio and the Republican Class of 2010 off of K Street for a good long while. Maybe until another of Rubio’s campaign suggestions is fulfilled. He said on the trail, “If you don’t like the Republican establishment, get another establishment.” Who said there are no new good ideas?
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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MoeBlotz| 11.10.10 @ 7:36AM
Maybe Lisa Fabrizio missed the details of Marco Rubio's win or just chose to ignore the implications.
LisaFab| 11.10.10 @ 8:46AM
How about Rand Paul's win and the implication of his stance on earmarks?
I love Rubio and look forward to electing more like him.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 10:20AM
Dr.Rand Paul On Earmarks:
"Kentucky’s incoming Senator is pushing back hard on critics who claim he has sold out when it comes to earmarks. Republican Rand Paul told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer today that concerns that he backed away from his pledge to refuse federally-funded pet projects, a key tenet of his tea party-fueled campaign, just aren’t warranted.
“I won’t use earmarks as a senator,” Paul told Blitzer. As he had on the campaign trail, Paul said earmarking “shows some of the abuse of Washington” and promised he won’t be among the Senators who participate in the process. But that doesn’t mean he won’t try to get money for Kentucky through the open appropriations process.
Conservatives got upset at Paul after a Wall Street Journal article from the weekend reported Paul had offered a “shift” on “his campaign pledge to end earmarks.” That led National Review to worry Paul was “selling out already.”
On CNN, Paul dismissed the article. In a flashback to the campaign trail — when Paul’s early national media appearances haunted him for months — the Sen.-elect said the Journal had misquoted him and demanded a correction.
“We called him and asked him to correct that,” Paul said of Journal scribe Matthew Kaminski, who conducted the interview. “I never, ever said earmark,"
Buck Schotte| 11.10.10 @ 7:39AM
Tallahassee's loss is Tarpon Springs' gain? Now maybe Chain Gang - Wind Sock will have time to get a tan the natural way. Rewalking Lawton Chiles' routes would get him a lot of exposure.
William R| 11.10.10 @ 10:26AM
Florida Senate-elect Rubio moves away from tea party label
http://www.miamiherald.com/201.....moves.html
Rubio will be the first to disappoint. Soon he'll be calling for war against Iran. The Weekly Standard Senator.
Ramon| 11.10.10 @ 12:34PM
What's wrong with clobbering Iran to keep them from getting a nuke? Having studied the Koran, the Hadith of 'al Bukhari and other related works, I can tell you that the world view of the Shi'ite rulers of Iran makes it very possible that they will use their capabilities on the dar 'al Harb (House of war). That means not just Israel but any non-Islamic country. We need to confront them before they get 'the bomb.' Tim*'s comment makes me think of the old saw, "When they came for the socialists, I did nothing, because I was not a socialist..." As a veteran of more than one war I can truthfully say, I'd rather grease hadji's in their homeland that have to kill 'em over here.
William R| 11.10.10 @ 1:34PM
Iran hasn't launched an attack on someone in over a thousand years. The simple solution to the nuke problem in the Middle East is to turn it into a nuke free zone. Israel should give up its nukes in exchange for 100 percent access to all of Irans facilities.
JmsA| 11.10.10 @ 3:56PM
William R,
Are you truly that naive? Just asking.
William R| 11.10.10 @ 5:21PM
Nope. Makes perfect sense. Resolve the issue peacefully. I realize the NeoCon wing of the GOP wants another war because they're not happy with the twin disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan.
RCV| 11.10.10 @ 4:34PM
This is quite possibly the most absurd suggestion made on this site, and that's saying a lot. In the first place, Iran has made clear its unwavering commitment to Israel's total destruction. Secondly, to even suggest to the Jewish people that they ought to place their fate in the hands of such a regime is like suggesting to them that things would have been different if only they had trusted Hitler. Israel has only survived for 60 years by being militarily stronger than the surrounding states which have repeatedly sought its annihilation. A people whose grandfathers were baked in ovens within memory isn't about to trust in the goodwill of its enemies. What planet are you from, William?
William R| 11.10.10 @ 5:25PM
You listen to too much talk radio and FAUX News. Iran has never said it wanted to wipe Israel off the map. What it has said over and over that in time the Zionist regime would vanish. How?? Through demographics. Without a two state solution Jews will become a minority in Israel. Two former Israeli Prime Ministers, Ehud Barack and Ehud Olmert have said the same thing.. Time is not on Israels side.
RCV| 11.10.10 @ 7:21PM
No, William, you've mistaken me for one of the rightist regulars at TAS. I don't listen to Fox News or talk radio, at least not for information as opposed to entertainment. I read things like transcripts of Ahmadinejad's speeches to find out what he has to say. It is indisputable that Israel cannot absorb the West Bank and Gaza and remain a Jewish state. It obviously, in retrospect, would have made more sense to return the West Bank to Jordan after the 67 War (sans Jerusalem). Egypt wouldn't have taken Gaza back, so that's a problem. A two-state solution is clearly the ultimate answer, but that's a different issue than "trusting" Iran, and giving up your military advantage, something Israel should not and never will do.
William R| 11.10.10 @ 9:09PM
Israel can live under our nuclear umbrella like Japan, Korea, and most of Europe has. Resolving the Middle East nuclear problem in peace is very important. If the NeoCons get their way and we attack Iran we might be paying 10 dollar a gallon for gas. Iran could close the Straights of Hormuz thus throwing our already very depressed economy over the cliff.
The solution is for the United States to really get tough with Israel. Tough love. The problem is really the NeoCons.
Roy| 11.10.10 @ 10:56PM
We'll be paying $10 for gas(maybe; the isolationists made the same claim about Saddam and it didn't happen), and Ahmadamagourd will be dead. I think even he knows that doesn't work for him. Gives us negotiating leverage.
Christopher Holland| 11.10.10 @ 7:56PM
The Nazis said that they wanted the Jews to disappear. They weren't talking in riddles. Why do you think Iran is? Time is not on Israel's side because people like you never are. You always have an excuse to do nothing. Your specialty is hand wringing.
JmsA| 11.10.10 @ 6:24PM
Well put, RCV.
Christopher Holland| 11.10.10 @ 7:59PM
You aren't smart enough to come in out of the rain. Stay away from used car salesmen, you don't stand a chance.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.11.10 @ 11:18PM
I doubt that you believe what you are saying, William R, for I believe that no one can be that stupid. And if you don't believe what you are saying, then your motive is not peace, it's the destruction of Israel.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 6:37PM
Aaaand, just what comment was that Ramon.
I was discussing Dr. Rand Paul and The Earmark Controversy.
By The Way, The Men In My Family Have Been Fighting & Dying In Combat Since The Civil War.
Christopher Holland| 11.10.10 @ 7:52PM
Good on him. Iran has been calling for war on America for decades now. If Rubio wants to give them what they ask for then I won't stop him.
Smirking Weasel| 11.11.10 @ 2:40PM
No.
Senator Wetback.
He'd be a great Democrat, the way he hustles at ethnic politics.
When Fidel finally kicks off, Stupid Mario and his 'refugee' kin should be tied up, put on boat, taken to 100 yards off Cuba's shore and dumped, with orders to go home and make something of their land of origin.
Osamas Pajamas| 11.11.10 @ 11:21PM
Florida was injun and then Spanish before it became Yankeeland, no reason for the injuns and Spanish-blooded to "go home" -- they are already "home."
Smirking Weasel| 11.12.10 @ 11:54AM
No, it became 'Florida' after whites, including Spaniards, became the dominant racial type there.
By your logic, the Spanish either should have 'gone home' or weren't actually Spanish. Either way, Rubio is a hack panderer more loyal to 'Hispanics' than Americans.
Bunky| 11.12.10 @ 6:24AM
Fool.
Occam's Tool| 11.10.10 @ 10:34AM
My name is Wiiliam R. I think it's a great idea that little girls get acid thrown in their faces when they try to go to school and that they are forced to marry at age 9. I also think it's a great idea to give a group of 7th Century whackjobs access to Nuclear Weapons. I'm William R, and I approved this message.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 10:46AM
You don't speak for William R. Israel Firster Tool Job. You speak for yourself & your Israel Firster Agenda.
As an American Freeman William R. can speak for himself.
RCV| 11.10.10 @ 4:36PM
"an American Freeman'?? what silly little games you guys play at, Timmie. More like an American Madman.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 6:28PM
Hey, ObamaBoy LawBoy RCV Has A Problem Now, With American Freemen .
You're A Smacked Ass.
RCV| 11.10.10 @ 7:25PM
If you're talking about the nutcase "Freeman Society" -- as opposed to American free men, as we all are -- well, yes, I have a "problem" with them, much as I have problems with paranoid schizophrenics, delusional psychotics and people like you, Timmie.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 8:23PM
Aaaand, I have trouble with pseudo-intellectual, obsessional, bipolar, panic ridden, projecting, schizoaffective, verbal-physical masturbating Stinky Doo Doo Dog Humpers like You.
Freeman: a person who is not a serf or a slave.
Something, You Plantation ObamaBoys wouldn't know about.
Roy| 11.10.10 @ 10:57PM
Maybe seeing one unread trillion dollar government takeover a year for the last four years has made some people think the Left wants the government to take over everything? Wonder what would give them that impression?
Christopher Holland| 11.10.10 @ 8:04PM
What is this American Freeman? I know lots of Americans and they have always been free, the lot of them, without question. I have never heard anybody outside of a lunatic asylum say anything to the contary. How do I recognise this Freeman species, does he carry a flag and use special signs so I will not mistake him for an American Slaveman, which I have never heard of either.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 8:46PM
Look it up Asswipe !
Freeman: a person who is not a serf or a slave.
You must be One More AgendaBoiy , if ya gotta try to question it.
A. C. Santore| 11.10.10 @ 10:40AM
Fascinating misspelling-becomes-truth:
The Progressive Democrats already "reign" in spending. We now hope that conservatives will "rein" in spending.
LK| 11.10.10 @ 11:32AM
Rubio is right on the mark. Defund/abolish Nixon's EPA; Carters Dept of Education. Eliminate Corporate Income Tax, and capital gains tax. Either eliminate personal income tax, or have one flat rate for ALL. Lets have real tort reform. Stop class action lawsuits, punitive damages and contingency fee agreements. Not so long ago we made everything here in the US , and we did it better than anyone. Forty years of bad govt policy has left us in the present condition. If we dump the policies which destroyed us we can create a better future for our children and grandchildren. We are still the greatest nation that ever existed.
รับทาสี | 11.10.10 @ 12:06PM
I love Rubio and look forward to electing more like him.
Roy| 11.10.10 @ 10:51PM
TAS..for pete's sake..some type of authentication..
JJ| 11.10.10 @ 1:11PM
-- Brit Hume called him "the most flexible politician I've ever seen." In a column this week George Will referred to Crist as "Plasticman." In Florida politics, Crist is so 2006. --
Here in the Sunshine State, we just refer to Crist as "Flipper". One local talk radio host played the TV show theme with a recording of a dolphin superimposed every time he did a story about Crist. He was also called the Co-Dependent candidate for senator.
-- Rubio is right on the mark. Defund/abolish Nixon's EPA; Carters Dept of Education. Eliminate Corporate Income Tax, and capital gains tax. --
When a Roman legion disgraced itself, it suffered the punishment of "decimation", literally a reduction by ten percent. The troops were counted off into groups of ten, and the tenth man was clubbed to death by the other nine. We need something like that (albeit less bloody) in the Federal system.
Someone needs to walk through every civilian Federal agency that we don't abolish outright and count off every FIVE employees, then fire the fifth person on the spot. (We'll be nice, and give them a 60 day severance package. By then we should be seeing more jobs in the private sector.)
We'll save a ton of money and the agencies will run more efficiently. I assume there is some kind of "national emergency" escape clause in most federal union contracts that would allow the next president to do and prevail in the inevitable lawsuits that would follow. Reagan clipped PATCO's wings, after all.
I made my first contribution to Marco's campaign over a year ago, before he made the cover of "National Review" and I've been watching his steady march to victory ever since. I fully expect to see him march all the way to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue someday. (But not too soon. )
Later,
Joe
Margie| 11.10.10 @ 9:12PM
The usual anti-semite scum Tim* and William R. are out in full force tonight and revealing who they are for all to see.
God is watching you, scum.
Tim*| 11.10.10 @ 9:23PM
Get Bent Anti-Catholic Israel Firster Apocalyptic Crank Lady Victor-Margie.
Tell God where Your Personal Margie Religion of One thinks Practicing Jews & Muslims Go When They Die.
Then God Will Straighten Your Fat Bigoted Ass Out.
art| 11.12.10 @ 6:29AM
Please, more apocryphal aphorisms. Please. More.
Margie| 11.10.10 @ 11:33PM
Preach it Timmy* Boy.
LOL.
He's watching you.
Tim*| 11.11.10 @ 12:43AM
Aaaand Bite It Fat Ass White Trash Joisey Bigot Broad.
God's Got Your Number Hypocrite.
Margie| 11.11.10 @ 12:12PM
"By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the Devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother." 1 Jn. 3:10.
ルイヴィトン | 11.11.10 @ 7:21AM
God's Got Your Number Hypocrite.UGG
Margie| 11.11.10 @ 12:14PM
"By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother." 1 Jn. 3:10.
Caroline| 11.11.10 @ 4:53PM
It is indeed amazing how any discussion of the Middle East brings out the anti-semitism, anti-zionism, or whatever you want to call it.
It seems that the focus immediately turns away from Iran's threats to how bad Israel behaves. This is a diversionary tactic and is absolutely wrong.
Israel deserves a homeland in which she can dwell in peace, but her neighbors openly threaten to drive her into the sea. If that isn't annihilation, I don't know what is.
jgo| 11.12.10 @ 11:38AM
There's one mistake in this article. Only a few areas of Florida are still dominated by the reds. The reds do not have a majority in the legislature, and there are no reds in the cabinet.
Christian Louboutin | 6.23.11 @ 5:42AM
Florida's new senator-elect, Marco Rubio of Miami, doesn't have McKay's problem. Rubio is not a liberal. And he in no way compromised his conservative principles to win big last Tuesday, though his main opponent, partyless Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I-Narcissus), compromised whatever principles he may have once had by floating, unsuccessfully, a series of bogus charges against Rubio during the campaign.