Rubio/Kasich 2016 — A Strong Republican Team
To borrow loosely from Sherlock Holmes and his process of deductive reasoning, if you remove all of the other candidate possibilities as either unacceptable or impossible, the individual you are left with, no matter the challenges he or she faces ahead, must be the best choice to vote for on Super Tuesday. This may or may not be “elementary,” but it helps clear an anxious voter’s mind.
Like many voters leading up to tomorrow’s Republican Presidential Primary, I had to start over in my selection process after my first choice dropped out of the race. I started with looking at only three criteria – positive vision, political temperament, and experience – but reality could not be ignored at this point in the political season and a fourth issue of electability had to be considered. Applying these four criteria helped me clear the field in selecting not only my choice in tomorrow’s primary but the strongest Republican ticket this November.
Positive Vision: In politics one can choose to campaign by multiplication or division. Donald Trump would lead by the latter. His opponents are not just the wrong choices; they are immoral, stupid, lazy, weak, or simply short. In the course of this campaign, he has insulted Hispanics, POW veterans, women, Muslims, etc. in an attempt to prey upon and manipulate the darker and more desperate emotions of the electorate. Because of this, Mr. Trump should be told he is fired (yes, it’s a cliché, but I just could not help myself) and sent to the side-show carnivals, hustling infomercials, and shouting reality shows where he is better suited.
Political Temperament: Legendary humorist Will Rogers never met a man he didn’t like. Will Rogers never met a man like Ted Cruz. The Senator is running on the Hollywood Western myth of the lone lawman riding into town and single-handedly cleaning up corruption. Real life does not work that way. Yes, we need a leader but we need a posse as well and Ted Cruz has proven incapable of working well with others. No doubt, he has brains and passion but more is needed. A defeat this year will not finish him politically but it may – hopefully — provide him with the necessary humility to return to the Senate, repair burned bridges, and become an effective conservative public servant. Until then, we need to let him ride off alone into the sunset.
Experience: Ben Carson has a brilliant medical mind and a compassionate conservative heart but the presidency is not an entry-level position into politics. He would make a great cabinet officer or Surgeon General but more political experience is needed to successfully handle the presidency.
Electability: It is hard not to admire John Kasich. Throughout his political career he has shown how to effectively govern successfully as a conservative. He believes in pulling people together and tackling head on real world problems –but for some reason he has gained little political traction in the race for the Republican nomination. He demonstrated promise in New Hampshire but dropped like a rock in South Carolina finishing fifth. As a result, a vote for John Kasich on Tuesday only strengthens Donald Trump’s march to the Republican nomination and that is unacceptable. It’s better to hold Governor Kasich in the wings for the Vice Presidential spot in the General Election where his style — and his home in pivotal Ohio — is likely to be greater appreciated by a broader electorate.
This leaves us with Marco Rubio who I will vote for on Tuesday but not just because Sherlock Holmes’ reasoning led me here. Senator Rubio can capture the imagination of the American electorate and make us proud of our vote with his optimistic conservative message. As Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and U.S. Senator he has proven that he can build the necessary relationships needed to be successful. As a presidential candidate he has shown toughness when he got knocked down in New Hampshire but came back strong in South Carolina. While he does not have the day-to-day governing experience that a governor would have, his background and broad endorsements demonstrate he can pull men and women of talent together to form a strong governing team — and he can demonstrate that quickly and clearly at the Republican Convention by putting John Kasich on the ticket with him.
Rubio/Kasich 2016. Now that is a strong Republican team who can win in November. Let’s go for it.
About Author
Edward
Edward Lindsey served in the Georgia House for a decade and as House Majority Whip for three terms. He currently practices law in Atlanta.
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Rubio / Kasich would give the GOP a big advantage in two swing states (although if Rubio can’t beat Trump in FL this is debatable). Winning Florida and Ohio gets you a lot closer to the nomination.
That would surely give the Repubs a good shot a snagging OH/FL. I’m concerned with Rubio’s recent insult-fest against Trump. I think it lessens him. We’ll see manana.
I just love how Rubio’s insults lessen him, but when Trump does it, he is a great man who speaks his mind.
What world am I living in?!
Lea, where did I say Trump’s antics made him great? I was commenting only on Rubio. Relax.
Though I replied to your comment, it wasnt directed at you per se. Relax.
It should be switched. It should be a Kasich/Rubio ticket in all reality. 16 possible years in the White House. Kasich and Jindal are the two most qualified candidates we had in this race.
I also think Kasich would come across way more presidential ready than Rubio in a general. I agree, he should be the top of the ticket.
I am happy to see the Kasich support by Mr. Lindsey, thank you. I will pull the lever for him and let the chips fall where they may – If we see Mr. Trump prevail on Tuesday, will the GOP nominate him or will it become ugly?
WE are at a crossroads in our history, once again. I think that we will see more legislation through regulation and Exec Orders abound, regardless of Party, because neither side seems willing to meet in the middle, thus forcing the Exec branch to action.
There is a fundamental divide in how we perceive ourselves, as Americans. Instead of seeing ourselves as Americans, we identify as apolitical, Dem, GOP, and maybe some Indies. Until we begin to think of ourselves as Americans first, we will perpetuate division.
Some have said gridlock is GOOD, prevents Congress from spending more money we don’t have. Hogwash.
Some say that the Dems are evil, or that the GOP has no soul. Hogwash.
Some even say America’s best days are behind us. More Hogwash.
All we need is to remind ourselves how Americans respond to catastrophe to know the goodness of this Nation. One President won’t change that, even for two terms, as we have seen.
Unless you are from the Big Apple you can’t emulate that sort of regional humor. NY’ers grow up hating everyone, equally. That’s why he can crack wise on so many and call it anti-PC.
Most people are sick of having to kow-tow to the PC Po-po that say “No Green/Red ribbons in the Company breakroom at Christmas.”
Me: Honey, does this shirt make my hands look small?
Speaking of PC, do you think it’s appropriate that the elephant above has an American flag for shorts?
You’re right, B, I prefer to see it being worn as a bikini by some gorgeous bombshell!
If I voted early, I would have voted for Rubio. After his ridiculous antics and following Trump down the rabbit hole I will most likely cast my ballot for Kasich. I can understand “fight fire with fire” but Rubio has taken it far beyond where it should have gone. This is not befitting the President of the United States.
Rubio has some legitimate political chops but he’ll believe anything and he’s green as a gourd. I’d vote for Kasich.
Since Kasich is in his 60s (63 or so I think) and Rubio is only in mid-40s, maybe more sense for Kasich to be at the top. Pete points out Florida and Ohio are swing states, but moreover, no Republican in modern times has been elected without carrying those two states; in fact, no Republican has ever been elected president without winning Ohio—and here we go back to 1860 with Lincoln. Since 1928, no Republican has been elected president without winning Florida, Ohio and Virginia—that list includes Herbert Hoover, Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and both President Bushes. (Gerald Ford of course was appointed, never elected, president; in 1976, when he sought election to a full term, he lost Florida and Ohio but narrowly won Virginia.) But Rubio and Kasich are flying against political history in the sense that since 1980, no Republican has won the presidential nomination without winning at least 1 of the 3 early voting states in the nomination battle—Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina. Both are 0 for 4 so far in the nomination process—and it is possible both will be shut out tomorrow (in terms of winning a single state) on Super Tuesday.
eh, I should have said Ford was appointed vice president, not president. Ford took over from the resigned Vice President Agnew, and then the following year, Nixon resigned as president and Ford of course took over.
Two votes from our household for Rubio last Thursday. Just say no to dumpster fires and dominionists.
By process of elimination of the GOP’s deep field of strong candidates ….it’s the kid calling Trump a spray-tanned pants wetter with a small…..