Last Call For Solving Rubio's Cube

As Ed Kilgore points out, GOP Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is taking something of a chance running for the White House, as he can't run for Senate at the same time (and unlike Kentucky, the state GOP isn't going to change the rules for him.)  However, it may still work out for the guy.

The reason it might not be as risky as one might imagine is buried in an otherwise insufferably puffy Grunwald/Caputo piece at Politico: 

Rubio and his team do not like to talk about strategy, but in any case, the political calculus of giving up a Senate seat to seek the brass ring was not as painful as it sounds. Even if Rubio doesn’t win the nomination, he could well end up on the Republican ticket. Even if he ends up unemployed in 2017, he can run for governor in 2018 with a Republican-friendly mid-term electorate. 

So why not get the requisite training-wheels run for the top spot out of the way? If his campaign never really takes off, it will be attributed to Bush’s strength rather than Rubio’s weakness. And for a dark horse, he’s very well positioned, with surprisingly strong approval/disapproval ratios in the early states—a sign the “base” is ready to accept his backtracking on immigration reform—and the possibility of replacing either Bush—whose own numbers remain questionable—or Scott Walker—one big gaffe or indictment away from Palookaville—in the first tier of candidates.

On top of all that, he’s the candidate Republican Establishment elites are almost certain to drool over if Jebbie blows up or fades. He’s the symbol of change in the GOP, without really making many concessions that strain conservative orthodoxy. A relatively young guy with a Latino background who is (it appears) the closest thing to a Reformicon champion (though again, what Reform Conservatives offer is more an add-on to conservative fiscal policy making it even more fiscally irresponsible than any sea change), and also a favorite of Neocons, is going to get massive positive media attention if and when he becomes more viable.

In other words, should Jeb Bush crash and burn, Rubio is the establishment GOP's plan B.  That's not really a great fallback plan given Rubio's dismal polling numbers, but worst-case scenario Rubio succeeds Batboy as governor in the next midterm election, he figures.

Could be worse for him.  Marco will land on his feet after he lands on his face.

The Man Without Fear, The Show Without Peer

Absolutely devoured Marvel's Daredevil series on Netflix over the weekend, and I cannot recommend it enough as a complete redemption of the Ben Affleck/Jon Favreau 2003 film that all but wrecked the character and put Marvel in the dumpster in early 2003 (before X2 2 months later and Spider-Man 2 the next summer started the company's revival).  Is it any good?

Short answer: it's the best super hero show on TV right now, DC or Marvel (Sorry Agents of SHIELD, Arrow, and The Flash...) and it's worth a month of Netflix just to watch this.

Long answer, after the jump (mild spoilers ahead.)

The Running Woman

"Hillary Clinton running for president" is the least surprising headline of 2015 so far, but at least her announcement video is pretty well done and contains a couple of nice messages.




So a couple of same-sex couples in the video, and Hillary pledging to "get out there and earn your vote".  A far cry from 2008, and differences that move her campaign in the right direction.

Because earning my vote in the primaries is what she has to do.  If she is the nominee then I'll support her certainly.  The DNC convention in Cleveland is 14 months off however.  A lot could happen between now and then, and a lot needs to happen before I mark her square here in the primary.

We'll see.  As for now, she's in.

StupidiNews!

• 21-year-old golf phenom Jordan Spieth has finally claimed his green jacket from The Masters, setting new 36- and 54-hole record scores on the way to another record 28 birdies.
• Republican presidential candidates wasted no time in attacking Hillary Clinton within minutes of announcing her own candidacy for president on Sunday afternoon.
• Iran is calling for a new government in Yemen and implying it can assist in setting one up as Saudi airstrikes against Houthi rebels continues.
• A new Virginia Commonwealth University study finds that the higher your income, the healthier you are overall as incidences of diseases are less in those of incomes above $100,000.
• At least one of California's public utilities commissioners says that the Comcast/Time-Warner merger should be scrapped due to monopoly concerns in the state.