Rubio, "This man is a wingnut"

"Rubio’s supposedly “moderate” tone, his purple state background and his rags to complicated riches personal narrative may prove too compelling for the Democrats to effectively overcome in November, the general thinking goes."

But as Rubio’s star rises and rabid right-wing Republicans begin to finally let go of their rage over his traitorous immigration expedition, he is now making moves to firmly placate the base by shaking off the image of a moderate he so carefully crafted years ago.

"'Marco Rubio is the conservative’s conservative,' his campaign manager said the day after the debate, fending off attacks from Ted Cruz."

His latest effort has even gone so far to assuage the concerns of conservatives that Erick Erickson applauded it as a “home run.” What did Rubio do? He named his campaign’s director of faith outreach, Eric Teetsel, a prominent evangelical who warns that LGBT Americans will “suffer” if they don’t find “a better way.”

As the Huffington Post notes, Teetsel’s hiring “signals a heightened appeal to evangelical voters” — an especially impactful voting bloc in Iowa. But based on his existing record, Rubio should have no worries appealing to the most right-wing voters in his party as he holds some of the most extreme positions on issues like abortion, marriage equality and climate change: . . .

Rubio has long denied that human activity contributes to climate change. . . .

He has been referred to as the “real marriage champion” by the National Organization for Marriage and has opposed gay adoption to protect children from what he described as a "social experiment."

"This man is a wingnut: Why Marco Rubio is as extreme as the rest of the lot." See also "Rubio reaffirms opposition to rape and incest exceptions: He backs abortion ban “irrespective of the circumstances" and "Marco Rubio says he opposes abortions in all instances."




"Florida has one of the worst-paying economies in America"

Scott Maxwell writes that Rick Scott, when he shows up for the grand opening of a convenience store, claims "that even low-paying jobs are good jobs."

This is why Florida has one of the worst-paying economies in America ... because we set the bar so low.

"Subsidizing below-average-wage jobs is nuts."




"Rubio's sweet tooth"

The Orlando Sentinel's editors: "Florida Sen. Marco Rubio so far has proved himself skilled at ducking punches concerning his missed Senate votes and his use years ago of a Republican Party credit card. But last Tuesday's debate among GOP presidential candidates featured a new line of attack — Rubio's sweet tooth."

We're not talking about leftover Halloween candy. We're talking about Rubio's eagerness to gobble up contributions from the sugar industry while supporting a federal program to protect the U.S. sugar industry from foreign competition. It's a program that many Republicans — including one of Rubio's key rivals for conservative voters — have called "corporate welfare."

"Support for sugar policy hurts Rubio."

And the Orlando Sentinel's twin editorial board, the Sun Sentinel editors, share the same words:"Ted Cruz exploits sweet opening against Marco Rubio."




Judge says "no" to FlaGOPers

"A Leon County judge on Friday quickly rejected a Florida Senate request to bring in an outside expert to redraw the Senate’s 40 districts." "Judge rejects Senate request for outside map expert."




Rubio slams gays and choice, brings FlaGOPers to their feet

"Florida's U.S. Sen Marco Rubio began the day with a smaller crowd, and he didn't bring his audience to much enthusiasm until he moved from his dire warnings for dramatic changes in foreign affairs, military spending and the size of government and switched to social issues: gay marriage, abortion and religious freedom." "Trump, Carson draw big crowds at GOP summit."




Laff riot: "Macho Jeb emerges"

"The Dick Cheney Empire Strikes Back in FL -- Marco on ‘amnesty’ defense –Macho Jeb emerges – Wilcox gets Swiftboat help – House: we’re done on redistricting." "Florida Playbook."




"Other candidates chose more discreet paths"

"Trump, who has been the target of Bush criticism in recent days, took the stage after making a grand entrance through one of the busiest hallways of the summit, where he shook hands and signed autographs on just about anything his fans could find. It was a unique entrance after other candidates chose more discreet paths." "GOP contenders make their case at Florida forum."




Cheney "wows" FlaGOP

"To Darth Vader’s theme music, Dick Cheney wows GOP crowd." More: "Dick Cheney headlines Florida GOP dinner, attacks Barack Obama."




Lopez-Cantera takes off gloves

"In a change of tone, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is set to give a speech Friday at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit that's laced with shots at his GOP U.S. Senate opponents, according to an advanced copy of his prepared remarks provided to POLITICO Florida."

[Lopez-Cantera] will go after U.S. Reps. David Jolly and Ron Desantis, his two highest profile opponents.

"In change of tone, Lopez-Cantera set to take off the gloves."




Scott follies

"Scott sets aside poor relationship with state GOP to open presidential summit." Meanwhile, "Scott’s office mixes up Miami, Hialeah mayors in economic incentive release."




Dismissive, condescending, mean, cringe inducing, foolish and grotesque

Joe Henderson reminds us that the Jeb! we used to know was "abrupt, dismissive and condescending to those on the other side of an argument." "Whatever happened to the Jeb! Bush we used to know?"

Other terms to describe Jeb were, "King Jeb," "mean," "cringe" inducing, "stupid," "devious" (his word), as well as "foolish and grotesque."




Yee haw!

"59 percent of the bears killed statewide were females, while 21 percent were lactating females, meaning they were caring for cubs." "State calls bear hunt a success; opponents call it a slaughter."