Rubio Puts the Lid on VP Speculation

Rubio swats away VP chatter
Washington (CNN) - There are many reasons to place Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, at the top of any 2012 vice presidential shortlist. He's young, telegenic, a talented Fundraiser, and appealing to the Conservative Base. And perhaps most importantly, he's a Hispanic hailing from the nation's largest Battleground state. But Rubio, who has yet to take a vote as a U.S. Senator, was eager to shoot down the speculation in a Radio Interview Monday. "Are you at least open to the possibility?" asked Panama...

US Senator Marco Rubio (FL-R) Says He Has No Interest in Being Republican VP
Tea Party favorite and new Florida US Senator Marco Rubio says he has no interest in being a Republican VP nominee in 2012 . And why should he? Fresh off his landslide victory in the 2010 Florida Senate race over Crist and Meeks, the political world is Rubio’s oyster.  Marco Rubio is a star in the GOP and has a shining carrer ahead of him. There is no reason why the conservative Rubio should spend 2 years in the Senate and bolt for the useless position of VP. The 39 year old Rubio has

Rubio Not Interested in V.P.
Newly elected Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whose meteoric rise has made him a star in Republican circles, said Monday that he isn't interested in being the GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee. "Are you at least open to the possibility?" Panama City Radio host Burnie Thompson asked Rubio Monday, referring to a vice presidential run....

Obama Softening on Cuba?
Does President Obama want to change the status quo on Cuba? From the Miami Herald (via Politico’s Ben Smith): Newly minted Florida Sen. Marco Rubio went on friendly airwaves Tuesday Morning, in a Spanish-language Radio Interview to discuss U.S. policy toward Cuba. Speaking on WAQI-710 AM — better known as Radio Mambí — Rubio said the Obama Administration was already putting out “trial balloons” to feel out new members of Congress on their feelings toward loos...

Marco Rubio: Obama administration putting out feelers on changes to U.S.-Cuba policy
Newly minted Florida Sen. Marco Rubio went on friendly airwaves Tuesday Morning, in a Spanish-language Radio Interview to discuss U.S. policy toward Cuba. Speaking on WAQI-710 AM -- better known as Radio Mambí -- Rubio said the Obama Administration was already putting out "trial balloons" to feel out new members of Congress on their feelings toward loosening U.S. economic and travel restrictions on Cuba. But the feelers won't go anywhere, Rubio said, because he and other like-mi...

Marco Rubio rejects talk of a veep bid
The new Florida senator did a round of Radio Interviews in Florida today, telling one Talk Show host that he wouldn't accept an offer to run as vice president -- should someone offer. "No," Rubio said to Trey Radel in Fort Myers. "I don't spend anytime thinking about it. I'm flattered people would ask that question cause I think that they mean it in a complimentary way. But by the same token, I recognize that this...

Marco Rubio Not Interested in 2012 Vice-Presidential Slot
Marco Rubio is the highly-regarded new pro-life Hispanic U.S. senator from Florida who many political observers say is on the short list for a vice-presidential slot in 2012. No longer. Rubio, who is attractive because of his social and fiscally conservative views and his status as a Latino with excellent communications skills who could appeal to Hispanic voters against pro-abortion President Barack Obama, says he’s not interested in being the Running Mate for a presidential hopeful in the...

Huckabee Poised to Neutralize Palin for 2012
A familiar dynamic is emerging in the GOP’s 2012 presidential primary: Mike Huckabee could be the spoiler who delivers the nomination to the party establishment’s favored horse. According to a recent PPP poll (h/t Andrew Sullivan), the former Arkansas Governor is running strong in the early Battleground of Iowa: The key to Huckabee's success is the ability to unite the disparate ideological factions of the Republican Party. 31% of voters think the party's too liberal and with them ...

McDonnell's approval at 51%; Obama's at 44.2%
Gov. Bob McDonnell starts his second General Assembly session with a majority of Virginians approving of the job he's doing, while support for President Barack Obama has waned, according to a recent poll. McDonnell, a Republican, has a 51 percent Approval Rating, with 25.1 percent disapproving of his job performance in a Christopher Newport University survey of 1,097 Virginians taken Dec. 14-19. Obama, who in 2008 became the first Democrat to win Virginia's Electoral Votes since 1964, had a 44....

Jeb Quietly Eyeing 2016?
It seems to me that if someone as close to the Bush inner circle as Mark McKinnon is referring to Jeb as “45,” there’s a good chance that the GOP may see yet another Bush presidential run as early as 2016: The first Governor ever re-elected in Florida’s history, Jeb focused intensely on reform of education, the Budget process, civil service, and Health Care. These are issues that need to be addressed on the national level. He appeals to the establishment and the Tea Party m...

Sen. Rubio not tempted by '12 VP nod
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would turn down the chance of being on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket.  The newly elected Republican said he has no interest in being his party's vice presidential nominee.  He explained his reasoning to Panama City radio host Burnie Thompson: "To be the senator from Florida is a big job. In addition to the votes you take in Washington of national importance, our state has a multitude of issues.  "I mean, it will soon be the third largest state in the count

Politico Polishes Boehners Knob
The shooting and Boehner’s handling of the response has served to underscore just how tightly run the GOP House operation has been so far. 2. Both took the oath “via the teevee machine” while attending a Fundraiser at the Capitol Visitors Center organized by the campaign of one of them, a location with a mission that expressly forbids political events. 4. The constitution reading the GOP leaders were so proud of, done at the behest of their Teabagger base, skipped entire pages ...

Jennifer Hudson headlines Emanuel fundraiser
Jennifer Hudson headlined a Fundraising concert for Mayoral Candidate Rahm Emanuel tonight at the House of Blues. He introduced the Chicago native, Academy Award winner and new face of Weight Watchers, but Emanuel did not appear on stage with Hudson. She wore a svelte black dress and opened the brief show with her hit single "Spotlight." Read more in Clout Street. ...

Disarm the Mundanes!
New York Republican Congressman Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and long-time Fundraiser for the so-called Irish Republican Army, reportedly plans to introduce Legislation making it a federal crime for Mundanes to carry Firearms within 1000 feet of a federal official. That proscription wouldn’t apply to the armed goons employed to protect such sanctified personages, of course. ...

GOP Donors Prepare For A Rowdy Sensenbender
When it comes to the art of the rager in Washington, D.C., no one throws down harder than Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.). At least that's what Carole Goeas & Associates would have you believe judging from the title of a planned Fundraiser benefiting the 67-year-old former House Judiciary Committee chairman. An e-mail titled "Martinis & Mayhem with Rep. Sensenbrenner Jan. 25th" went out Tuesday Morning to potential guests for the get-together slated at the Grill 75 Room of the Capitol ...

Citing shootings, Sen. Sanders solicits campaign donations
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) issued a Fundraising plea Tuesday in which he cited the Tucson shooting and accused "right-wing reactionaries" of contributing to a threatening political climate. "Given the recent tragedy in Arizona, as well as the start of the new Congress, I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few words with political friends in Vermont and throughout the country," he wrote at the opening of the lengthy plea for campaign donations. Sanders, who is up for Reelection i...

Sen. Leahy sees a downside to more security
Washington (CNN) - A senior senator, who had full-time security after 2001 deadly Anthrax attacks, cautioned Tuesday that lawmakers run the risk of becoming isolated from their constituents if they were assigned that level of security. "I think it puts you in a cocoon and separates you from the people you serve. I think you have to be accessible," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, told CNN. Leahy was reacting to proposals to strengthen security for lawmakers in the wake of the alleged Assassination...

Farewell Comrad Crist and good luck on your next assignment.
Last week, we said goodbye to our Republican mole and former Governor of Florida Charlie Crist. Comrade Crist served our Great Leader on many occassions, but now steps down and hands over the Governor's office to the Rick Scotthitler. Who can forget this tender moment when the Great Leader came to Florida to promote his shovel-ready high speed rail project? Comrad Crist gave him a warm welcome. And who can forget Comrade Crist’s sudden Endorsement of John McCain during the Repub...

US: Snow In 49 States Right Now (MAP)
A map of Snowfall in the United States is revealing right now: 49 states have snow on this 1/11/11 and only one does not. From the southern Snow Storm heading north, which is affecting Air Travel, to the pending storm in New York City, and flurries out west, there's plenty of white stuff going around. The lone state without a flake? It's the Sunshine State...Florida. Locals are celebrating the fact, though interestingly, parts of the state saw snow just days ago. Even Hawaii has snow, in Mau...

Snow In 49 States Right Now (MAP)
A map of Snowfall in the United States is revealing right now: 49 states have snow on this 1/11/11 and only one does not. From the southern Snow Storm heading north, which is affecting Air Travel, to the pending storm in New York City, and flurries out west, there's plenty of white stuff going around. The lone state without a flake? It's the Sunshine State...Florida. Locals are celebrating the fact, though interestingly, Jackonsville saw a dusting of snow just days ago. Even Hawaii has snow, i...

Gedmin to depart as head of Radio Free Europe
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced that Jeff Gedmin will step down as the head of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the Prague-based organization he has led since 2007. Gedmin will move to London to become CEO and president of the Legatum Institute, a research organization focused on understanding free markets and promoting the issues of Democracy and civil society. He starts in his new role March 1. In an interview from Prague, Gedmin said that his decision ...

Adam Borelli: Committing to a Movement
Those in public service often sacrifice -- whether time with family, more lucrative careers, or their Privacy -- but they should not have to sacrifice their lives. In light of tragic events like the shooting in Arizona on Saturday, we are faced with a challenge: to shy away from true discourse and retreat into fear, or push forward to make changes and build a better future. I have been honored to work with fearless young leaders across the country who are standing up to do just that. New Lead...

Marco Rubio: I want to be a senator, not president or vice president
Will writes for The Daily Caller. Newly inaugurated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says he has no interest in being the Republican vice Presidential Candidate in 2012. “I’m flattered that people would ask that question, because I think they mean it in a complimentary way. But, by the same token, I recognize that this job — this one job that I wanted, I wanted to be a U.S. senator, not a vice presidential Candidate, not a presidential Candidate,” Rubio told 92.5 radio in Fort My...

Rubio says no interest in being VP, but what else is he supposed to say?
Domenico Montanaro writes: Marco Rubio (R-FL) says, per the St. Pete Times, flat out, that he is not open to the possibility of being the vice-presidential Candidate in 2012. Answer: "No, I'm not. Pretty definitive, no? Sure, but honestly, what else is he supposed to say? He was just sworn in as a U.S. Senator, and the naming of a presidential team is a year and a half away. Rubio continued, "And I'll tell you why I'm not. ... To be the senator from Florida is a big job. In addition to the votes...

BREAKING: No Rubio in 2012
Marco Rubio has flatly said that he does not want to be the Vice Presidential or Presidential Candidate in 2012. How definitively? He said: No, and I don’t spend any time thinking about it…I’m flattered that people would ask that question, because I think they mean it in a complimentary way. But, by the same token, I recognize that this job — this one job that I wanted, I wanted to be a U.S. senator, not a vice presidential Candidate, not a presidential candidate…...