Rubio Feeling The Heat In Florida

AllahP explains why Trump will win Florida and Rubio has no hope in Florida or at a national convention.

Hashtag CruzControl.

Comments

[Jane]

Hey!

[Threadkiller]

Ann Coulter retweeted

18h18 hours ago

Matthew Yglesias ‏@mattyglesias

Rubio is weak in states, but strong in non-states. Beyond Puerto Rico, I’m bullish on him in DC & the Northern Marianas.

[Jane]

Is it still smart to vote for Rubio in Florida to beat Trump, or should I go directly to Cruz?

[henry]

So Kasich can karate chop in glee as his plan comes together?

[Dave (in MA)]

Referring to the Flint water supply problem, some pantsuit-load recently said of the Governor of Michigan, "“The governor of that state acted as though he didn’t really care. He had a request for help and he had basically stone walled."

Cough Benghazi cough.

[narciso]

No, he gets a copy of the home game and a case of rice aroni.

[Buckeye]

Jane

Buckeyette said yesterday she will vote Kasich in Ahia to try to stop Trump (you, Mrs. Buckeye and Buckeyette are clearly like minded).

She has inherited my smart-ass demeanor. When I said that sounds like a good idea, her response was "so did Rush's Operation Hillary in 2008, hows that working out for you?"

[hrtshpdbox]

Jane, I'd say vote Cruz if that's who you prefer. Marco doesn't look like he's going to get it done. Maybe if Jeb and Clarence Thomas and the Pope hold a joint presser to endorse Rubio...

[narciso]

Even with that effort, red queen couldn't put it away, the shield wall of superdelegates were breached by atomic.

[Buckeye]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-scalia-seat-let-the-people-speak-1457307358

Donald would be well advised to rethink his desire for a one-on-one with Cruz.

I still am off put by Cruz's mannerisms, but he can think and speak circles around Teh Donald

[hrtshpdbox]

Buckeye, I think Cruz can think and speak circles around just about everyone,

[Tom Bowler]

Jane,
I think I would go with Cruz. Rubio is unlikely to win Florida and loosing might get him out of the race sooner. I would rather not encourage him to stay in by showing him any support. That would leave Cruz in a one-on-one with Trump which I think he might win.

[narciso]

Maybe they kept retelling is this.
This is why aff is pestering the state with trump university ads.

[Truthbetold]

Trump U is just one example of why Trump said "I love the poorly educated"

Sounds like something the Clinton's would say!

[Jane]

If Rubio knows he can;t win Florida he should get out now.

Cruz it is.

[Miss Marple]

This is really a fascinating dynamic.

Lots of energy and money being expended for reasons other than supporting a favorite candidate.

[narciso]

Its four dimensional chess, as if we haven't seen how these matches play out.

[Truthbetold]

MM

Lots of money and free media went into pushing Trump on the public as well

[Miss Marple]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-to-open-second-brick-and-mortar-bookstore-in-san-diego-2016-03-07?mod=MethodeStories

[Miss Marple]

http://hotair.com/archives/2016/03/07/navy-seals-forced-to-share-rifles/

[narciso]

Bezos is quite the Mr potter, he's got the cribsheet, the distribution system, etc.

[Tom Bowler]

Cruz it is.

Good choice!

[Jeff Dobbs]

Jane - just vote for Trump. He's inevitable and you want to be on the side of a winner, right? You'll be winning so much you'll get bored with it.

Not to mention, in his last appearance in Kansas, Trump threatened the people at his rally...“After making this huge U-turn to Kansas, if I lose, I’m going to be so angry at you.”

I'm not sure if that was before or after he had attendees raise their right hand and pledge allegiance to him. When he did that he said, “Don’t forget you all raised your hand. You swore. Bad things happen if you don’t live up to what you just did.”

You don't want President Trump coming after you, do you? Probably safer if we all just accept our fate. I mean, he was probably joking. He's a kidder. But why take chances?

[narciso]

No Rubio could have done something smart and repeated the enemy action intent of zaphod, but instead he tupolev'd himself.

[Thomas Collins]

Jane, I would recommend voting for Cruz. Cruz wants Rubio out because Team Cruz has concluded that Cruz's best chance against Trumpster is mano a mano. The notion that Cruz won't be able to beat Trumpster in states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and California is misguided. Rubio and Kasich are at best distractions and at worst will facilitate convention gridlock and Mittster emerging as the nominee. Think about it this way: Cruz is unlikely to come out of a deadlocked convention with the nomination. His best chance is one on one MMA with Trumpster.

[Captain Hate]

The Top Men approved consultants are showing their usual amount of insight by not featuring Dondi's most obvious asset, Jeanette, at any campaign event with a significant male component.

[Old Lurker]

Jane, Tom Bowler said it perfectly at 10:00.

[Threadkiller]

Of the two ineligible candidates, Jane, I would recommend the one that can dial "lawyerly" up to 11.

[Thomas Collins]

And if Cruz can't beat Trumpster mano a mano in the later states, it's over anyway. Having Rubio and Kasich hanging around won't help Cruz get to 50% plus one when going into maryrose's and CH's hood.

[James D]

Having spent the mosrning thus far trying to track down all the W-2 and 1099 forms for my Mom so we can figure out if she even needs to file or not for 2015, I am totally down with the Ted Cruz abolish-the-IRS program.

So far I've got seven separate W-2 or 1099s for her, and I'm still missing one, and this for someone whose gross income in 2015 was less than $30K. It's insane!

[James D]

Its four dimensional chess, as if we haven't seen how these matches play out.

Played by a bunch of people who all think they're the smartest one at the table. Which just reminds me of a line from "Rounders":

If you don't know who the sucker at the table is, it's you.

[Thomas Collins]

If Cruz and Kasich could cut a deal now, it would be all over. Cruz-Kasich in 2016! The Strange Bedfellows ticket!

http://www.moviepostershop.com/strange-bedfellows-movie-poster-2004

[Captain Hate]

Cough Benghazi cough.

This is what happens when you put an addled drunk in highly controlled situations and she fills her Depends. She's a hopelessly toxic combination of Costanza and Uncle Leo.

[Captain Hate]

Rounders is a great movie; so much so I can even endure MATT DAMON.

[hrtshpdbox]

If she paid federal taxes, James D, she needs to file to get a refund (which she may or may not do at 30k, depending). The missing W-2 can usually be emailed to someone by contacting that company's HR dep't. Don't forget that you'll need to make sure you've at least seen all of the 1095 forms (health care availability) too. I need to do my taxes as well, guess I'll put it off for another...oh, five weeks.

[hrtshpdbox]

True, Cap'n Hate; I also liked Damon in the Mr. Ripley movie, since I can imagine he's actually just playing himself.

[Miss Marple]

Ugh.

I have to get my stuff together for taxes. I guess I will do that later this week.

[James D]

Thanks, hrt!

We've actually got an accountant who's going to determine all that, I just have to do the legwork to get the forms. Good reminder on the health care form, I'll make sure we've got that.

[Captain Hate]

Top Men are played Martin Landau in Rounders, although even that's giving them far too much credit.

[henry]

Trumpmentum, Cruz has most LA delegates.

[Tom Bowler]

Thanks, OL.

[Captain Hate]

Speaking of Matt Damon movies, I still haven't forgiven my oldest daughter for dragging me to Dogma.

[James D]

CH, that's cause for writing her out of the will.

[NK]

I actually enjoy watching Dogma. At least it posits the existence of the Biblical God....kinda.

[Porchlight]

And if Cruz can't beat Trumpster mano a mano in the later states, it's over anyway.

Exactly. You don't demonstrate your strength as a candidate by saying "well if these other guys would just drop out I'd be winning."

[Porchlight]

Speaking of Matt Damon movies, I still haven't forgiven my oldest daughter for dragging me to Dogma.

Just a horrible, horrible movie.

[Captain Hate]

Kevin Smith ranks with Shelton Lee on not knowing how to end movies except in the most gut wrenchingly sappy way possible. Speaking of which, was anybody put in a diabetic coma by the last episode of Downton Abbey, assuming anyone was still watching that state run soap opera?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Jay Cost on the race.
Makes a pretty good case Trump will have a hard time getting a majority of delegates by the convention as he will at this point need to win 58% of the remaining delegates to do so.

[Old Lurker]

TC, the problem with your Cruz-Kasich ticket, seems to me, is that for those who really like Cruz for being the conservative he is, they hate Kasich for being the opposite.

I would see it that way myself (I confess a lot of my hatred is because Cap'n told me what a scum he became, after having started out so well in the House), and I would see Kasich being a constant sea anchor for a President Cruz.

[Dave (in MA)]

was anybody put in a diabetic coma by the last episode of Downton Abbey, assuming anyone was still watching that state run soap opera?

I believe the entire series aired while I was in the room, but I paid little to no attention to it other than to notice it looked like there were rich people and servants walking around and talking a lot.

[Captain Hate]

OL, as much as I can't stand what the mailman's son has become, he could be useful to Cruz in the same way that Poppy Bush was to Reagan. I think he's smart enough to keep his RINO tendencies under wraps and his goofy persona could be an asset in debates against whoever gets to pick up the trail of empty Coronas in the wake of the HMS Pantloadsuit.

[Dave (in MA)]

TC, the hostess and host of the Globe morning radio talk show both seem to think that Kasich is going to be the VP candidate.

[Thomas Collins]

OL, Kasich may be a better pill to swallow, but I think ticket balancing is necessary. Cruz-Sessions is not going to get it done: Look at it this way: You may not like Cruz-Kasich in the abstract, but when the choice is Cruz-Kasich or Clinton-Castro, your Kasich pill will be easier to swallow. Think Reagan-Bush vs. Carter-Mondale.

[Old Lurker]

OK so long as he leaves the voodoo doll at home, Cap'n.

[Dave (in MA)]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/with-obama-visit-cubans-hope-for-home-run-in-baseball-diplomacy/2016/03/06/666c4eb2-e064-11e5-8d98-4b3d9215ade1_story.html

Fidel can probably name a few White Sox.

[Old Lurker]

I know, TC, I know. I will vote as often as I can for any R Ticket.

I had such hopes for a Cruz-Carly ticket.

[Thomas Collins]

CH, I swear I didn't see your post when I was writing mine.

I am becoming the Joe Biden of JOM. In the last few days, I have made three posts that could serve as the basis for an indictment for Bidenizing cc, Tom Bowler and CH!

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

CH - so Cruz would have to be his own attack dog against the Red Queen/Red Diaper Baby Castro duo? Kasich seems rather toothless to me. OR?

[Thomas Collins]

Dave (in MA), Kasich is a favorite of Dems who want to sound reasonable. In November, of course, they'll vote for The Hill. But in battleground states, I think Kasich will bring in persuadables.

[Buckeye]

The Top Men approved consultants are showing their usual amount of insight by not featuring Dondi's most obvious asset, Jeanette, at any campaign event with a significant male component.

They are afraid she will confirm he has "small hands".

[NK]

A woman on a Cruz ticket would bring in more suburban women votes. Carly?-- love her but she may be too hard edge to have on the ticket with Cruz. Nikki Haley?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--he could be useful to Cruz in the same way that Poppy Bush was to Reagan--

By dismantling a good portion of what Cruz does after he's out of office?
GHWB was RR's biggest mistake.

[Jeff Dobbs]

henry:
Trumpmentum, Cruz has most LA delegates.

Most district delegates. Including the at large delegates, it's tied 18-18 between Trump and Cruz.

At large:
Trump 12, Cruz 11

District:
Trump 6, Cruz 7

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Nikki Haley?--

See my 10:07.
At least Susanna Martinez would bring in a blue leaning state even if a tiny one and is a lot more conservative than Haley.
If the Reps aren't going to win SC then it doesn't matter who they run.
Martinez is a woman and a Hispanic and a governor and is fairly conservative.
Haley is two of those things.
So unless the converted Sikh vote is a ballooning demographic, what does Haley have Martinez doesn't?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Make that 11:07.

[Porchlight]

A woman on a Cruz ticket would bring in more suburban women votes.

Maybe. I think if you care about this sort of thing you're already voting for Hillary. Nikki Haley is not impressive and the opposition would rightly criticize this as token box-checking.

I like Kasich as VP for the reasons CH and TC and others have mentioned.

[Porchlight]

Would Martinez really bring New Mexico? I would think Kasich's chances of bringing Ohio would be a much bigger payoff.

[Truthbetold]

Cruz should pick Allen West.

[boris]

Carly would be better than Niki because she can construct coherent arguments and deliver punches.

[Old Lurker]

Yes, Boris.

[Porchlight]

Remember Bush didn't even win NM in 2000 due to reservation shenanigans.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I think Kasich winning OH on 3/15 goes a long way in either direction in his VP chances.

Of course, if Trump wins in OH with 33-35 and Kasich gets 30-32 - it's not like that tells us Kasich can't deliver (or help in delivering) OH in the general. But it puts a little bit of a taint on that argument if he does lose.

[Dave (in MA)]

Hillary has small hands (relative to other anatomical regions).

[boris]

Best plan for Cruz/Carly ...

Refuse to debate Clinton 1 on 1.
Only 2 debates Cruz/Carly vs Clinton/Castro.

Carly can take Hillary apart without making Cruz look mean.

[Old Lurker]

Do you think Kasich could at least get the mail delivered on time?

[Old Lurker]

All of us have small hands compared to Hillary's anatomy, Dave.

[Truthbetold]

Trump's nasty side at his namesake tower

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160305/ISSUE01/303059990/trumps-fight-with-friends-and-family-over-his-chicago-tower

[Jeff Dobbs]

Maybe Kasich's moral authority in the matter could lead to abolishing the USPS?

[Captain Hate]

Frau and Iggy, I am strictly looking at what produced landslides in 80 and 84. Poppy was a terrible President but he helped stem the flood of country clubbers to the great John Anderson as the VP candidate. I'd rather have Carly in the slot but I doubt that brings as many voters into the fold as the mailman's weird son; i.e. I think people who like Carly would vote for Cruz anyway.ppp

[Captain Hate]

Frau, don't be fooled by his goofy attitude; the mailman's son can go postal on anybody while still keeping a holier than thou attitude. If he was debating Rodham I would expect him to drop a "this is how we do it in Ohio; unlike Illinois, Arkansas, New York or wherever you've plopped down your carpetbag" on her.

[Porchlight]

I think people who like Carly would vote for Cruz anyway.

Right. If VP strategery means anything, the goal is to bring in voters that wouldn't already be on board. Kasich potentially does that for both Cruz and Trump.

[NK]

Cruz VP-- should be a woman who brings in the most suburban woman votes in Va, Pa, Ohio, Colo, Mich, Wisc and even Wash.

[boris]

Trump/Kasich makes sense.

Cruz/Carly has more of what makes Cruz formidable.

Romney had more than one disadvantage ... but the debate flub sealed his fate IMO.

The main risk with Cruz is losing the debates to Hillary because ManBully

Trump is not as vulnerable, he can lose gracefully without much damage. Debates are not his forte.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Wait, has the Webb boomlet passed?

[clarice]

I think Trump called on rubio to leave the race because he knew that would keep him in it. And with him in it, I think Trump wins Fla.

[boris]

Could be right. Trump's no saint but knows people better than anyone else.

[clarice]

I love Jay Cost, but I think Trump's about to pick up some big winner take all states.

[narciso]

Reverse psychology, that's an interesting notion, that is what happened to capt tupolev by the way, he was so obsessed with his prey, he allowed himself to be torpedoed from his own ship.

[James D]

The main risk with Cruz is losing the debates to Hillary because ManBully

Trump is not as vulnerable, he can lose gracefully without much damage. Debates are not his forte.

I think that Trump would have the advantage that he's got a reputation for being rude, bombastic, insulting, etc. So it won't be an "oh my God" moment if he behaves that way in a debate with Hillary.

And if he doesn't behave that way? Huge bonus for him, it becomes a big "man bites dog" story.

[-peter]

John Bolton would make an excellent VP nominee for any of the front runner s.

[James D]

Oh, I realized what I just said there.

Sorry for the mental image...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Would Martinez really bring New Mexico? I would think Kasich's chances of bringing Ohio would be a much bigger payoff.--

The premise of the comparison was "if you're going to pick a woman", which, unless you know something about Kasich I don't, makes him not germane.
That would explain several things, though.

[Captain Hate]

I was mucking around YouTube last night and I ran across this snippet from the Steve Allen show. First of all this was live tv and no lip syncing (note how Lesley moves the mic stand in mid stanza); the band plays the charts in a tight professional manner. Allen was a good keyboard player on his own so he'd have no slouches in the band; without looking I think Monk made at least one appearance so they were used to being on a tightrope without a net. I wish the whole song was included.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEdM6h-NPk

[Thomas Collins]

If my friends and family are an indication, NK, women like Kasich.

[Thomas Collins]

If my friends and family are an indication, NK, women like Kasich.

[Buckeye]

The main risk with Cruz is losing the debates to Hillary because ManBully

This is a real concern. Cruz has a tendency to let his inner "preacher" pop out every once in a while.

I don't think he means to come off as condescending, and I don't think he is, but people see it that way. This will provide the Dems with an opportunity to attach the ManBully label.

I hope that he can be coached to avoid this.

[Thomas Collins]

As far as I know, Ignatz, Nikki Haley hasn't been caught playing the "do you know who I am" card with the police at a staff party that got out of control. Whether or not Martinez was drunk or, as she claimed, was dancing for four hours and maybe had a cocktail at the end of the night, her behavior in my opinion makes her not eligible for Veep this time. The last thing Cruz needs is a tape of Susana trying to get the police called off played on MSM right after Cruz's speech.

http://krqe.com/2015/12/18/governors-post-party-call-to-police-call-off-your-officers/

And yes, life is unfair. If she were a Kennedy, she'd still be a viable option for the Dem ticket.

[NK]

ThomC-- hey... keep it clean .....this is a family Blog.

[Porchlight]

I just don't get the Martinez love. She seems like an opportunist and her state is tiny and votes D.

[Jane]

Martinez had a recent dust-up at some hotel where she got drunk. The left would take that to town.

I'd with OL. Cruz/Carly would be a great ticket. Both would slaughter anyone in the debates.