I wrote yesterday that I strongly believed that Donald Trump would choose Marco Rubio as his running mate. It would have been a move to consolidate most factions of the Republican Party, and place Rubio in a position for future residence in the White House.
Later in the day that all changed. “My previously stated reservations about [Trump’s] campaign and concerns with many of his policies remain unchanged. He will be best served by a running mate and by surrogates who fully embrace his campaign.” Marco Rubio.
The GOP became fractioned and virtually dysfunctional in 2010 with the rise of an extremist group of obstructionists who called themselves the TEA Party. Its acronym meant “Taxed Enough Already.” This alone was ignorant. The people of the United States pay one of the lowest tax rates in the developed world. It was even more insulting to those who read because the TEA Party was the creation of two of the four wealthiest men in our nation; the Koch brothers.
Marco Rubio was one of the first members of the TEA Party to obtain office. He was elected as the junior senator from Florida in 2010. Rubio was a member of the ‘gang of eight’ who drafted a plan for immigration reform in 2013. He was very proud of the bipartisan achievement; for a short time.
It was apparent that outside sources convinced him to renege his support for the legislation. He advised the House to vote against the proposal he had helped draft. This may have influenced voters in his home state to vote for Donald Trump in the Florida primary. Rubio lost by 20 points.
Rubio would have been a perfect candidate for the vice-presidency. He has a poor work ethic as demonstrated when he abstained from 40 percent of senate votes during his campaign. Most vice-presidents have little responsibility in the administration.
After Jeb Bush suspended his campaign, the Republican establishment focused its attention on Rubio. He was considered a more moderate member of the TEA Party, and the opposite of Trump. When Rubio began personal attacks towards the real estate mogul, he sealed his fate. He was not funny, and could not ‘out-Trump’ his rival.
Rubio will be out of office in January. He was once considered a ‘Republican rising star.’ If he had been selected as Trump’s running mate, and accepted, he would have remained in the public eye, making himself a vital member of the GOP. Now, out of office, he may fade away from our memory.
Who will Trump choose? I don’t believe it will matter. Whoever the individual will be, he or she is likely to be unqualified. Trump will overshadow his partner, and will virtually be standing alone on the convention stage at the end of the convention in Cleveland.
Throughout this strange campaign season, the American people have witnessed little substance from the Republican Party. This will continue now that Trump is certain to be the party’s standard bearer. In fact, he has already begun his negative campaign with attacks directed at our 42nd president. As Hillary Clinton said: “I don’t have to campaign against Trump; he’s doing it for me.”
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 