GOP Disavowal Week Continues
First, Chris Christie was out. Then Sarah Palin, as Diane notes below. But for those of us who thought those earlier announcements were inevitable, this may actually be the biggest revelation of the week:
Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican and tea party favorite, has said he will not be the GOP’s nominee for vice president in 2012.
“I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee,” Rubio said at The Atlantic’s Washington Ideas Forum, according to the magazine’s Mark Ambinder. “The answer is going to be no.”
I hope that resolve weakens. Rubio is as good a choice as we get for the bottom of the ticket. He's great on the merits (conservative, principled yet pragmatic, intelligent, a gifted speaker) and makes irrefutable sense politically (young, telegenic Hispanic from the nation's largest swing state). What do you think? Will Rubio's protestations weaken when the voice asking him the question belongs to the next Republican presidential nominee? And, if not, who makes the short list when Rubio bows out?
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Oct '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
As much as I like his policy positions and his public personality and appeal, we should carefully season and vet our Presidential ticket candidates - even if others do not.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 4:20pmMar '11
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
This is TERRIBLE news. I REALLY LIKE Rubio.
I don't even have a second choice for Veep.
Jun '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
He would give great credibility, not to mention his considerable political skills, to whomever the Republicans choose to head the ticket. This is a real disappointment.
Nov '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Oct '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Rubio will do much more for the Republic in the Senate than eight years attending funerals as Vice President. He's young; he has many options, including perhaps Secretary of State in the second Cain administration. For any of the front-runners: Cain, Perry, or Romney: Bolton is the obvious VP choice as none of them has the foreign policy credentials the 'stache will bring to the ticket.
Aug '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
So Palin won't run for President and Rubio won't run for Vice-President. Rubio-Palin 2012 anyone?
Dec '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
What is going on here?! Rubio was a sure thing!! This isn't optional. The reason to make him VP now is to season him and position him for 8 years from now when we need to replace President Romney/Perry/Cain. C'mon.
Why are top conservatives declining to run when the Social-Democrats are reaching their nadir? What do they know?
I've gone from desperation to freaked out.
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Western Chauvinist: What is going on here?! Rubio was a sure thing!! This isn't optional. The reason to make him VP now is to season him and position him for 8 years from now when we need to replace President Romney/Perry/Cain. C'mon.
Why are top conservatives declining to run when the Social-Democrats are reaching their nadir? What do they know?
I've gone from desperation to freaked out. · Oct 5 at 5:32pm
Rubio may think that Romney is the likely nominee, and he may not want to have to defend what Romney does and does not do.
May '11
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
I met Kevin McCarthy a few weeks ago and told him that I had been posting on Ricochet that he would be the Republican VP nominee. He laughed and thanked me for my support. I think he would be perfect in showing support for the House agenda. Being a Washington insider is helpful for a VP candidate and he has been well vetted and is generally liked by the press (as much as any Republican is liked).
Nov '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
May '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
That's it. It's Romney / Cain.
Mar '11
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Can somebody tell me why the job of VP is so prestigious?
The main advantage of Rubio as a VP candidate seems to be his ability to push the Republican ticket. The subsequent 4-8 years of purgatory seem to be forgotten.
As to grooming a rising star to be president: who was the last successful president to spend 8 years as VP first? Maybe there is a positive precedent, I just can't think of one.
To me, making someone VP seems like a fast track to halt a promising political trajectory. I would much rather see an elder statesman like John Boehner be picked--someone who knows Washington, and who isn't needed elsewhere at the moment.
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
A couple of possibilities come to mind. I have argued elsewhere that Herman Cain might be of use both during the campaign and after. He knows a thing or two, and what he does not know he could learn while Vice-President. Governor Mitch Daniels is another possibility. He opted not to run for the Presidency. Being the Vice-Presidential nominee would be less onerous. There is also Governor Haley Barbour.
Nov '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
May '11
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Rubio is staying in the Senate as my senator. Thank the heavens!
If he became VP, FL would almost surely elect a Democrat senator to replace him. We've been trying to get rid of Bill Nelson since he was a freshman congressman and can't seem to get that done. We were darned lucky someone of Rubio's quality came along. Remember, FL elected Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (Debbie Downer).
Jun '11
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
I don't think you need an "attack" VP this time. Anyone that wins the nomination will beat President Obama because our president grows weaker by the day and he can't bring himself to pursue policies to help alleviate the economic pain. Also, there is enough scandals uncovered to get us through the election.
We need a new president willing to be bold and make cuts vertically and horizontally to the federal budget.
Potential Vice President Forrest Gump would look good against Joe Biden.
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
I have the uneasy feeling that Obama wins unless the V.P. is a superstar like Rubio.
Jul '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
I don't understand that at all.
I'm with Mendel, VP don't mean squat. How many people vote for a party just because of the VP? When has ever anyone stated that what pushed them to vote for a party was the VP?
I bet more Republicans refrained from voting in '08 because of McCain than Palin sent to the polls.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 8:00pmAug '10
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
I still think Rubio could be convinced to take the VP spot despite his protestations. However, if he declines my next picks for Romney's running mate would be Cain or Bolton with Susanna Martinez as the darkhorse (I'm assuming she's not another Palin).
Romney/Cain would be one heck of a business ticket!
Re: GOP Disavowal Week Continues
Western Chauvinist: What is going on here?! Rubio was a sure thing!! This isn't optional. The reason to make him VP now is to season him and position him for 8 years from now when we need to replace President Romney/Perry/Cain. C'mon.
Why are top conservatives declining to run when the Social-Democrats are reaching their nadir? What do they know? ...· Oct 5 at 5:32pm
These are my concerns exactly. Things are being "fundamentally transformed," at a rapid pace right under our feet, and if we don't get this turned around quickly, it will be too far gone. By the time they're "seasoned," we may be cooked! Honestly, it's getting irritating. Our troops face far greater danger every day, and they don't get to say, "Maybe next time around,..I'm not seasoned yet." When your country needs you, dammit, answer the call. I need another tylenol.
Edited on Oct 5, 2011 at 8:09pm