# Rubio Isn't The Front Runner, But Everyone Else Is Acting Like He Is **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460 "2016-02-07T20:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/61 "2016-02-10T00:44:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Marco Rubio staff assumed [the only three black people](http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/marco-rubios-staff-harassed-black-attendees-at-rally-under-assumption-they-were-democratic-spies/23783/) at his rally were spies: At least he didn’t encourage his followers to give them a beating. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/62 "2016-02-10T00:46:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > At least he didn’t encourage his followers to give them a beating. Heaven forbid that he attract some voters from another party. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/63 "2016-02-10T00:48:23Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The sad thing is that the whole Marco Roboto performance arose out of an attempt to dodge that very issue. > > One of the common criticisms of Obama is that he just didn’t have enough experience under his belt as a first-term senator. This is not a narrative that suits first-term Senator Rubio; thus, he has attempted to substitute a narrative in which Obama is a mad fiend bent on destroying the world for his own gain. Alas, in his overeagerness he has put the “too green” issue front and center. Look, all he wanted to do was dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/64 "2016-02-10T01:30:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Democrats have been attending Rubio rallies dressed as robots. Rubio staffers attacked one today and ripped up his robot costume.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/09/frustrated-rubio-staffers-attack-robot-protester-photosvideo/) Even better, the attacker turned out to be [Rubio’s New Hampshire Campaign manager](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rubes-epitaph). > [@adaher](#): > > I’ll vote for Rubio if he gets the nomination, I find him promising and hope he’ll grow in the job, but I’m not going to defend the inevitable amateur screwups. I don’t think Rubio will be getting the nomination: he needs to gain a lot of traction and his debate performance has caused him to stall. There’s also a fairly well sourced [Buzzfeed article](http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/the-anxiety-of-marco-rubio?utm_term=.uhZ0Lryv0#.dl1PbD57P) about Rubio’s struggles with anxiety. That sort of thing is disqualifying for the Presidency. For now. I find it plausible that Rubio could be a contender in 8-16 years. He has a skill set: he just has to work hard on his weaknesses. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/65 "2016-02-10T01:59:19Z")
I don’t think anxiety is disqualifying. Bill Clinton had an urgent need to seek approval, which would have actually been more damaging if Republicans or foreign leaders were his outlet instead of random women. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/66 "2016-02-10T02:19:31Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Even better, the attacker turned out to be [Rubio’s New Hampshire Campaign manager](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rubes-epitaph). I don’t think Rubio will be getting the nomination: he needs to gain a lot of traction and his debate performance has caused him to stall. There’s also a fairly well sourced [Buzzfeed article](http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/the-anxiety-of-marco-rubio?utm_term=.uhZ0Lryv0#.dl1PbD57P) about Rubio’s struggles with anxiety. That sort of thing is disqualifying for the Presidency. > > For now. I find it plausible that Rubio could be a contender in 8-16 years. He has a skill set: he just has to work hard on his weaknesses. I doubt he’ll ever put in that work. He hasn’t put anywhere near that amount of work in his paying job. I’m not taking a shot at him here. I honestly believe he doesn’t like the work. He want’s the position and power but not if it’s hard to get. No biggie, I wouldn’t want the job either but if I were in a position where I could roll the dice and maybe win the prize and if I didn’t, I’d still be set up for life giving speeches at rallies and on television, I might just roll those dice. Waiting for a “good time” to roll them would mean being bored and hating your job for 8-16 years and this would be torture, especially if funds weren’t so great right now. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/67 "2016-02-10T07:40:19Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Rubio’s campaign was touting a “3-2-1” strategy where they’d come in 3rd in Iowa, 2nd in New Hampshire and 1st in S. Carolina, riding each wave of success to get better standing. Maybe they’ll recast it as a ‘3-5-7’ strategy now? Nah, that depends on too many people staying in the race. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/68 "2016-02-10T07:48:34Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I’m as willing to pile onto Rubio as anyone, but Rubio shouldn’t be singled out. Most of these people have nuthin’ when their script doesn’t cover what they have to deal with. Rubio isn’t special in that regard and I don’t think he’s an intellectual lightweight either. He’s just not ready. > > But let’s also notice what happens to Hillary when she doesn’t have a scripted answer. “That’s what they were offering!” “What, you mean like with a cloth?” “I support DLs for illegals. Wait, Dodd doesn’t? Oh, I don’t either then.” There’s a difference between not having anything and doing the very thing he was being made fun of for doing. Couldn’t he at the very least reword his point? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/69 "2016-02-10T08:40:54Z")
_Domo arigato_, Mr. Roboto. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/70 "2016-02-10T10:02:58Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > There’s also a fairly well sourced [Buzzfeed article](http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/the-anxiety-of-marco-rubio?utm_term=.uhZ0Lryv0#.dl1PbD57P) about Rubio’s struggles with anxiety. That sort of thing is disqualifying for the Presidency. > > For now. I find it plausible that Rubio could be a contender in 8-16 years. He has a skill set: he just has to work hard on his weaknesses. Reading that article makes me really hesitant about him. It really sounds like he needs more experience. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/71 "2016-02-10T17:26:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Marco Rubio staff assumed [the only three black people](http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/marco-rubios-staff-harassed-black-attendees-at-rally-under-assumption-they-were-democratic-spies/23783/) at his rally were spies: Well of course, he was right. No black person would vote for a robot ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/72 "2016-02-10T17:35:54Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Look, all he wanted to do was **dispel once and for all with** this fiction that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Barack Obama is undertaking a systematic effort to change this country, to make America more like the rest of the world. ::bolding mine:: Marco Rubio: annoying grammar Nazis everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/73 "2016-02-10T20:17:07Z")
Apparently Rubio is not planning on running for re-election to the Senate. I wonder what he’ll do now without a job. Probably run for Governor of Florida. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/74 "2016-02-10T20:58:31Z")
[John Marshall at TPM seems to think that Rubio’s entire career probably ended last night.](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rubio-s-whole-career-probably-ended-last-night) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/75 "2016-02-11T04:21:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Apparently Rubio is not planning on running for re-election to the Senate. I wonder what he’ll do now without a job. Probably run for Governor of Florida. That’s what he needs to do. He also has a great chance at VP. VPs don’t have to be ready on Day 1, especially if the nominee is someone with lots of experience and not too old. I’d bet anything that if Rubio pulls a 5th in South Carolina that he exits and endorses Kasich. That’s his ticket right there. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/76 "2016-02-11T04:52:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s what he needs to do. He also has a great chance at VP. VPs don’t have to be ready on Day 1, especially if the nominee is someone with lots of experience and not too old. > > I’d bet anything that if Rubio pulls a 5th in South Carolina that he exits and endorses Kasich. That’s his ticket right there. I doubt it. I don’t see anyone picking Rubio as his VP. He has a taint now, one the entire country has now seen; the taint of someone who is overscripted, unable to think on his feet, sweaty, thirsty, and panicked under pressure. Who wants that to be a heartbeat from the presidency? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/77 "2016-02-11T05:07:25Z")
Democrats seem to favor that in their nominees. As Ezra Klein pointed out, some people see overscripted, some see “on message”. Bernie Sanders has literally nothing outside his core message and even foreign policy questions lead him to repeat his message. Clinton has a good grasp of the issues, but gets completely lost when talking about Hillary Clinton’s issues. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/78 "2016-02-11T06:33:08Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s what he needs to do. He also has a great chance at VP. VPs don’t have to be ready on Day 1, especially if the nominee is someone with lots of experience and not too old. > > I’d bet anything that if Rubio pulls a 5th in South Carolina that he exits and endorses Kasich. That’s his ticket right there. If he wasn’t as corrupt as the day is long, Christie would make an ideal VP. He would be the attack dog, always willing to take the low road. You know, muscle. An accomplished bruiser. Heck if Trump chooses Rubio, maybe Hillary should give Christie the nod. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/79 "2016-02-11T07:04:04Z")
Christie won’t be anyone’s VP for the simple reason that he actually is a moderate. Usually we go center right with the nominee, hard right for the VP selection. If Cruz hadn’t been in the race, he’d have had a good shot at being tapped for VP by someone, but I think he’s burned his bridges with the rest of the field. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460/80 "2016-02-11T08:17:22Z")
_Burning_ the bridge was never an issue. Thud-a-bump _ting!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubio-isnt-the-front-runner-but-everyone-else-is-acting-like-he-is/745460.md?page=5)