November 23, 2015

"At the age of forty-four, Rubio has lively dark eyes, soft cheeks, and downy brown hair affixed in a perfect part."

"He sometimes asks crowds to see him in the tradition of a 'young President who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."' (J.F.K. was forty-three when he entered the White House.) Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, is only five months older than Rubio, but nobody calls him boyish. If the Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, the Party will be offering the oldest candidate that it has ever run in a general election, and Rubio has taken to saying, 'Never in the modern history of this country has the political class in both parties been more out of touch with our country than it is right now.' But in policy terms Rubio can appear older than his years. His opposition to same-sex marriage, to raising the minimum wage, and to restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba puts him out of step with most American Latinos. In the Spanish-language media, he is sometimes described as un joven viejo—a young fogey."

From a new, long article in The New Yorker by Evan Osnos titled "The Opportunist/Marco Rubio’s political dexterity."

51 comments:

B said...

Why is the minimum wage lumped in with gay marriage and Cuba? A $15 minimum wage is a really radical idea no matter how the left tries to frame it.

"A $15 minimum wage would have a much stronger bite, with the ratio of the minimum wage to the median wage rising to 66 percent. That would give the U.S. economy a stronger minimum wage than France, which currently has one of the highest minimum wages among the OECD nations."

http://equitablegrowth.org/how-high-can-the-minimum-wage-go/

Hagar said...

The New Yorker neglects to mention that the Kennedys ran on a platform of economy in government and strengthening defenses, both of which they felt had been neglected by the "liberal" Eisenhower administration.

Well, they found that "the Missile Gap" wasn't, and when they tried to enforce a 10% RIF (Reduction in Force) in the Federal Government, the bureaucracy rebelled and sabotaged the effort so effectively that the White House had to beat a hasty retreat and no more was ever heard about either issue.

Marco Rubio is indeed a cute and articulate young senator, but I do not think he would fare even as well as the Kennedys did, having less backing to work with than they did.

Big Mike said...

"Sometimes described ..." Can that be quantified a bit more? Does "sometimes" mean hundreds? Dozens? Or is it more along the lines of one or two or three hard core Democrats?

Thorley Winston said...

But in policy terms Rubio can appear older than his years. His opposition to same-sex marriage, to raising the minimum wage, and to restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba puts him out of step with most American Latinos. In the Spanish-language media, he is sometimes described as un joven viejo—a young fogey.""

Yeah, he probably also thinks that people should finish school, stay off drugs and wait until they’re married before making babies.

Brando said...

Despite that hit job ("sometimes described as . . . a young fogey" sounds like no one actually called him that except the author) the more I read about Rubio the more I think he has the best shot at winning the general election. He's parried every shot the Left takes at him, and you can tell they're nervous about Hillary going up against another charismatic minority who can speak well.

Brando said...

"Marco Rubio is indeed a cute and articulate young senator, but I do not think he would fare even as well as the Kennedys did, having less backing to work with than they did."

Well, if it means no Bay of Pigs fiasco, Vietnam involvement and foot dragging on civil rights, that's a pretty low bar. And even if Rubio got elected and spent the next four years in a coma, it'd be better for the country than having Hillary selling us out at every step.

garage mahal said...

The fresh young face with 100 year old ideas.

n.n said...

His opposition to selective exclusion, support for wages proportional to cost-of-living, and expectation for Cuba to establish human and civil rights for its people, puts him out of step with left-wing politics. He probably opposes abortion rites and planned cannibalism, too.

Bob Ellison said...

From the essay: "When I stopped by one morning, the windows were shrouded by heavy burgundy drapes, and Rubio was worried about his voice."

He should be worried about his voice. He's no Morgan Freeman or Barack Obama. Rubio's voice and accent are not election material.

Rubio's voice is one of his two biggest liabilities. The other is his extremely youthful appearance.

But damn, that young man knows the issues. He's like Bill Clinton in 1992. I could support a candidate like that.

Limited blogger said...

So we've effectively shot down Trump as having no credibility. Now we move onto Rubio: too young, but simultaneously also too old!

Carson has been categorized as 'crazy' so he's no longer a threat.

Cruz?...... Ha ha ha ha!

rcocean said...

Rubio will start getting some "Strange new respect". After all, when confronted by the possibility of Cruz/Trump, an establishment candidate like Rubio looks good to the Liberals.

To me, he's just Jeb with a Cuban accent. (Both men speak Espanol)

Birches said...

His opposition to same-sex marriage...puts him out of step with most American Latinos

Just who are they talking to? Matthew Iglesias doesn't count.

Idiots. I have a hard time taking any of the rest of the analysis seriously after that misstep. I guess I'll have to ask my mom how many times she's heard Rubio described as un joven viejo on Univision. My guess: One time by someone not doing hard news.

Richard Dolan said...

For an article in the New Yorker about the likely Republican nominee and a candidate who could easily beat Hillary!, I was expecting a nasty hatch job. The author plainly approaches the subject from the usual lefty perspective, but despite that, the article is informative and provides as fair a presentation of Rubio as you are likely to see published in any left-leaning media this cycle. It's certainly better than anything so far in the NYTimes.

The article's main line of attack focuses on immigration issues with a glance at abortion, and the author points out that Rubio has not been consistent in the policies he has favored over the years. Rubio's response, as quoted in the article, is that times have changed, and immigration policy has to make sense for the country and the economy we have today. A lack of consistency is part and parcel of being a politician. As for abortion, Rubio's latest is that he will favor whatever policy will save the most lives, whether it comes with exceptions or not. Rubio has had his share of inconsistencies, but he is one talented dude and defends himself well.

This article will be getting a lot of attention at Hillary! headquarters, not only for what it says about Rubio and his ability to beat her, but also for the hint that some lefty outlets are not going to be completely in the tank in attacking him to benefit her.

Oso Negro said...

The Establishment pimps its new sweetheart candidate.

Dan Hossley said...

"In the Spanish-language media, he is sometimes described as un joven viejo—a young fogey."

Is he referring to Univision whose chairman is the single largest contributor to the Bill and Hillary Clinton show?

Fandor said...

The counter culture candidates are all senior citizens now.
To get here, to this time and place, their ilk have ravished the fruited plain like locusts.
They're hungry.
They want more.
But the prairie is aflame with an ill wind behind it.

Bring it on!

Hagar said...

@Brando,
Those were some of the Kennedy brothers achievements in office. I was referring to the formidable Democratic machine, Old Joe's money, and favorable, not to say fawning, media coverage they came in with.

Abdul Abulbul Amir said...

Translation: Not a real Hispanic.

The New Yorker is quite the piece of work.

Thorley Winston said...

The article's main line of attack focuses on immigration issues with a glance at abortion, and the author points out that Rubio has not been consistent in the policies he has favored over the years. Rubio's response, as quoted in the article, is that times have changed, and immigration policy has to make sense for the country and the economy we have today. A lack of consistency is part and parcel of being a politician.

Unless Rubio said “we should only have the immigration policy that was set in place at this date,” I don’t see the inconsistency. I understand that there are people who say things like “we don’t need immigration reform, we just need to enforce the laws on the books” but Rubio AFAIK has never taken that position.

chickelit said...

garage mahal said...
The fresh young face with 100 year old ideas.

Garage would prefer to see the Castro Bros (either pair) leading from the behinds.

traditionalguy said...

Trump will destroy Rubio as quickly as her did Walker, Bush and Carson. No sweat.



Balfegor said...

Rubio is a bit frustrating to me. I don't dislike him. He just seems so much younger than his 44 years. As I look over his resume, I suppose he was Majority Whip (did he "put a bit of stick about"?) and then Majority leader, and then Speaker in the Florida legislature, all at a rather young age. So he is more accomplished than he appears. But he just conveys an impression of youth and inexperience. Can't help but think he's just going to flounder ineffectually unless Congressional Republicans can smooth a path for his preferred policies. And get rolled by foreign potentates at every turn. A Republican Obama.

He'd make an excellent VP, and he's clearly a strong campaigner. I just don't think campaign skills = competent and effective president.

Writ Small said...

I found this bit interesting: "A conservative Super PAC ranked Rubio as the ninth most conservative member of the 114th Congress, but, unlike Ted Cruz, who amplifies confrontation, he excels at rounding off the corners of conventional conservative prescriptions."

We have a guy who is close to perfect on the issues, but who comes across as more moderate because of the thoughtful way he discusses them. Can't have that, can we?

In many ways, Rubio is the un-Trump. Trump's style is shoot-from-the-hip. Rubio's is thoughtful. Trump inherited massive wealth but has cultivated a regular-guy persona. Rubio has authentic blue-collar roots, but his education and ambition make him come across as middle to upper class. Trump is some kind of populist. Rubio is a principled conservative.

The current mood on the Right is at odds with the kind of strategic subtlety that would give Rubio the nomination. Unfortunately.

MadisonMan said...

Hillary is indeed a very very old Candidate. Old and out of touch.

Her time was a decade ago -- but she lost out to someone younger and more dynamic. Having not learned from her mistake, here she is again.

Qwinn said...

'Viejo' just means 'old', not 'fogey'.

Brando said...

"Those were some of the Kennedy brothers achievements in office. I was referring to the formidable Democratic machine, Old Joe's money, and favorable, not to say fawning, media coverage they came in with."

It definitely was an advantage back then--with just three networks and most of the media getting behind him, the Solid South still able to deliver (even for a Masshole like JFK), and the big city machines, he had some solid advantages. In retrospect it's amazing Nixon did as well as he did in 1960.

Amy said...

Downy brown hair? WTF??? Who writes this?
And what is it with people's hair? Hillary's, Trump's, now Rubio's?
It's only HAIR. Is it worth so much attention?
The world is in the shitter and we have to pay attention to everybody's hair?
Ugh.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Regarding fogey-ism (slighty NSFW): The problem of jeggings

[fogey part is in the middle]

HoodlumDoodlum said...

The conservative word on Rubio is "amnesty." Absent that I don't know why he wouldn't be the default non-outsider vote winner, hands down. People would get to stick it to the Establishment wing by not voting for Jeb, and still get a solid, skilled conservative with (on paper, anyway) wide appeal.
Amnesty, though, sank him before he cast off--I don't know if fear of Trump and/or anyone-but-Hillary will be enough to pump out all that excess water in time.

Lydia said...

I guess I'll have to ask my mom how many times she's heard Rubio described as un joven viejo on Univision. My guess: One time by someone not doing hard news.

I just googled ' "un joven viejo" rubio' and the only clear hits date back to a Jorge Ramos interview with Rubio on Univision this past April.

Real American said...

young people are naive and gullible, which is why they eat all that shit up.

J. Farmer said...

My favorite part of the article was when Rubio compared himself to Churchill and his opponents to Chamberlain. Seriously, this has got to be the most overused, trite, cliche metaphor in the entire grab bag of bad hawkish arguments. Never mind that the US does not face a security threat remotely close to an aggressive Germany or an imperially expanding Japan. It is fitting that Rubio has chosen the "new American century" as his slogan, given that it harkens back to Bob Kagan's and Bill Kristol's old think-tank The Project for the New American Century. Rubio is apparently content for the US to chase the same hegemonic chimera that took us over a cliff in the post-9/11 landscape.

walter said...

Hey Garagey..what fresh ideas are coming out of the Dems?
Oh yeah..climate change as the biggest threat to national security..and "free stuff"

I'd choose wise beyond his years long before that shiite.

Birches said...

@ Lydia. Dang it! I almost wrote that my guess was Jorge Ramos.

David Begley said...

I saw Marco today in Council Bluffs. The quotes from his speeches are accurate.

My take was submitted to Power Line.

Sebastian said...

If Rubio is a young fogey then Hillary! is . . .

"Rubio has lively dark eyes, soft cheeks, and downy brown hair affixed in a perfect part."

Is there any heterosexual male who gives a damn? If not, what does this kind of "reporting" say about the MSM?

Besides, our hostess has already made clear that Rubio is not attractive.

David said...

An American politician who has changed position on abortion and same sex marriage! Oh, the inconsistency, the horrid inconsistency!

Thank God the most prominent Democrats have been steadfast in believing that . . . that . . . . . that nobody would notice when they do the switcheroo.

garage mahal said...

walter
As Rubio explained, "America is not a planet". Just brilliant stuff from the 44 year old with the downy brown hair. Plainesque, if you will.

David said...

Amy said...
Downy brown hair?


He's a duck.

MadisonMan said...

I just googled ' "un joven viejo" rubio' and the only clear hits date back to a Jorge Ramos interview with Rubio on Univision this past April.

Congrats on doing more research than "journalist" Evan Osnos. :)

The Godfather said...

I would prefer a candidate with experience as a governor, but Kasich has pretty well self-destructed and Christie has never made himself credible to the Republican base. Jindal's out. Walker's out. Bush? I think his day has passed. Huckabee, Pataki, Gillmore? Can't see it for any of them.

Either the Republican party will select Tromp because he talks a good game (I love Dr. Carson, but his princpal role seems to be to make Tromp appear qualified), or we have to choose among Rubio, Cruz, and Paul. My preference for President would be Cruz, and he ought to be able to beat Granny, but this is no time to take chances.

The North Carolina primary comes on March 15. By then, I'll know who to vote for, but the contest will probably be over.

Wince said...

His opposition to same-sex marriage, to raising the minimum wage, and to restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba puts him out of step with most American Latinos. In the Spanish-language media, he is sometimes described as un joven viejo—a young fogey.

The Spanish-language media (Telemundo, Univision) in the US is essentially a Hillary push poll operation.

Big Mike said...

@MadMan, with all due respect to Lydia, that's not much of a bar to get over.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

That's a very sympathetic write-up for a magazine with zero percent of its readers who would ever consider voting for Blondie.

clint said...

So... black conservatives aren't really black. Conservative women aren't really women. Gay conservatives aren't really gay. And now... young conservatives aren't really young?!

Reality-based community indeed.

walter said...

this is your best "gotcha" gargey?

Far better than "Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket." Brilliant...

John henry said...

Blogger Qwinn said...

'Viejo' just means 'old', not 'fogey'.


depends on where you are and the context. Viejo can be used as an adjective and just means old "Un carro viejo, un hombre viejo"

Viejo can also be used as a noun to describe a person by age. "Un viejo" is an old man mi viejo, with the definite article is usually one's father roughly "my old man" el viejo means a specific old guy. "El viejo que esta cargo del garage"

Old man in this context can denote an age from abut 40 and up, though the older the person, the more likely to be called un viejo.

Un joven viejo would be a young person "youth" who appears or acts old. Perhaps like an old fogey, perhaps like a wise elder, perhaps just bossy. Un viejo joven, a youthful older person.

It's all about context.

You also have un viejo verde or a dirty old man.

This applies to Puerto Rican Spanish and I am pretty sure to Cuban Spanish. I don't know about Mexican or any other flavor of Spanish. Every country has slightly different colloquialism.

I once got in trouble leading a class in Mexico for saying I was "enfogonado un menudo" which in Puerto Rico means "a little annoyed" Enfogonado translates to "placed in an old style brick or cast iron oven (fogon) Menudo means a little bit.

One of the Mexican attendees raised his hand and asked what I was doing in an oven with Ricky Martin, of Menudo fame. Mexicans also have expressions that make no sense to me.

John Henry

Carol said...


Either the Republican party will select Tromp


It's "Trump." TRUMP. T-R-U-M-P.

The Godfather said...

@Carol: A few days ago, Althouse typoed Trump as Tromp. I announced in a comment that I liked, and would use, Tromp from now on. And I will. So don't get bent out of shape when you see me refer to Tromp in the future.

And I invite others to join in the Tromp-a-thon.

Achilles said...

Rubio will not be president. If the GOPe succeeds in destroying all of the other candidates like they did in 2012 Rubio will lose just like Romney did. Enough of the base is so tired of being screwed by the political class they will not accept someone who has already lied to them. Rubio's speeches on opposing amnesty in 2010 were eloquent. His betrayal was complete.

Democrat voters are stupid and like to be lied to. We are not them.

Mark Jeffery said...

Well yes, both Sanders and Clinton are beyond the age that would be considered reasonable for public office in most western democracies, but so were Reagan, McCain and (I suspect, without being bothered to look it up) Poppy Bush.