Rubio Still Dumb

I am not surprised when Marco Rubio says dumb things. The man is not smart. For instance: Rubio has never opened a history book.

America is pretty much the only military power in human history that has not used his power to conquer land and grow it's territory.

Military power was used to take land from the Mexicans and Indians. The fact that a United States Senator is unaware of this is disturbing.

Rubio supports drilling off the coast of Florida. The Daily News editorial board was shocked to learn that Rubio was unaware the Air Force was against offshore drilling because of military exercises.

But he was unaware of military officials’ concern about expanded drilling, which complicates the issue here on the Emerald Coast. In June, the commander of Eglin Air Force Base’s Air Armament Center told our editorial board that more drilling in water ranges that are used for training will, “at some point,” have an impact on national defense.

Mr. Rubio said he would have to research the matter.


The Miami resident also seemed unfamiliar with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s recent shutdown of amberjack fishing, which has riled folks in Destin. The most he could muster was a one-size-fits-all observation that federal officials were “overreaching.”

Rubio actually believes in trickle down economics. Rubio explained to talk radio host Jim Defede that the poor live off of "other people's leftover money." Bruce Bartlett has advocated for supply side economics to die a policy death. Bartlett also has stated that Republicans have gone too far with tax cuts. David Stockman said trickle down economics doesn't spur growth or reduce the deficit. The economists that designed the Reagan and Bush I economic policies don't believe in trickle down economics. Bartlett wrote an op-ed calling the George W. Bush tax cuts a flop.

Republicans are heavily invested in permanently extending the tax cuts enacted during the George W. Bush administration, all of which expire at the end of this year exactly as the legislation was written in the first place. To hear Republicans, one would think that the Bush tax cuts were the most powerful stimulus to growth ever enacted and only a madman would even think of allowing any of them to expire.

The truth is that there is virtually no evidence in support of the Bush tax cuts as an economic elixir. To the extent that they had any positive effect on growth, it was very, very modest. Their main effect was simply to reduce the government’s revenue, thereby increasing the budget deficit, which all Republicans claim to abhor.

Despite empirical evidence, Rubio believes in trickle down economics. Not only does Rubio support more tax cuts, he told the National Review he is an admirer of George W. Bush.

Beyond that pair, Rubio has recently read Decision Points, the autobiography of George W. Bush. Bush’s brother, Jeb, the former Florida governor, is one of Rubio’s mentors. The senator also deeply respects 43. In January, Rubio hired Cesar Conda, a former adviser to Dick Cheney, to be his chief of staff.

“I think history is going to be much kinder to George Bush than his contemporaries have been,” Rubio says. “Maybe this year, as we reach the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, it will be a good time to reflect on what the world looks like and the very real challenge we continue to face with terrorism.”

“It is so important that conservatism does not translate into isolationism,” Rubio asserts. “Isolationism has never worked for America. It is not going to work in the 21st century.”

Anyone who has a grasp of fiscal and foreign policy would not be a self-professed admirer of George W. Bush. Rubio can not bash President Barack Obama on the deficit and then sing praises about George W. Bush. A man that is clueless on fiscal policy can. Rubio would let the debt ceiling expire if he doesn't get the cuts he wants.

The irony is rich for a former Florida House Speaker that had his budgets with deficits. What would happen is the U.S. government would default on all bonds. The bonds are insured and would have to be paid. This would increase the debt, shutdown government and put the world economy into a financial crisis. This is not fiscal conservative. However, Rubio had a home foreclosed and is being investigated for spending $100,000 on a Republican Party of Florida credit card. Stupidity with finances is the norm for Rubio.

Another disturbing item from the National Review story is Rubio citing Jesse Helms as a foreign policy role model.

“Politicians are not heroes,” Rubio says. “But if you look at Jesse Helms, he had a tremendous amount of influence in this place.”

Helms is remembered as a racist and gay basher. I have never heard anyone praise Helms' foreign policy skills before Rubio. Peter Schorsch has a rundown of Helms' shameful history.

Lowlight: Helms run-in with Carol Moseley Braun. A black woman and former U.S. Senator.

Helms ran into Moseley Braun in an elevator. Helms turned to Senator Orrin Hatch and said, “Watch me make her cry. I’m going to make her cry. I’m going to sing Dixie until she cries.” He then proceeded to sing the song about ‘the good life’ during slavery to Moseley Braun.

Schorsch is shocked that Rubio would cite Helms as a role model. I have come to expect Rubio to say stupid things. Rubio isn't aware that Texas was taken from the Mexicans. Why should I be surprised Rubio thinks Helms is a foreign policy wonk?