Althouse: Dana Milbank says "Marco Rubio was a bundle of nervous energy" who "poked his tongue into his cheek, he clenched his jaw, and he licked his lips."

January 29, 2013

Dana Milbank says "Marco Rubio was a bundle of nervous energy" who "poked his tongue into his cheek, he clenched his jaw, and he licked his lips."

"[A]s he waited his turn to speak about the bipartisan immigration plan he had helped to draft... He fiddled with his suit-jacket button once, then again, then a third time. He rubbed his fingers together, then interlocked them."

And I'm a bundle of nervous energy, poking my tongue this way and that, clenching my jaw, licking my lips, fiddling with buttons, rubbing and interlocking my fingers, as I watch to see how the media goes about accomplishing its plan to destroy Marco Rubio.

38 comments:

chickelit said...: "Dana" is awfully catty for a man...; 1/29/13, 8:49 AM
RecChief said...: This paints him as inexperienced, like a school boy waiting his turn to go to the front of class and do a presentation, i.e. not ready for White House. It has already started.; 1/29/13, 8:50 AM
Known Unknown said...: "Being all warm and fuzzy to the interests of Hispanic immigrants is antithetical to Republican nature. Just as African-Americans, our immigrant population as come to realize that Republicans are like the abusive husband who'll say anything to get back in the wife's good graces after he's been thrown out of the house.

Republicans are all about manliness and being tough. They don't do empathy. If the Republican are successful in convincing the immigrant population to let them back in the house, then it won't be long before the revert back to their nature."

Nothing quite like the WaPo comments section this early in the morning.; 1/29/13, 8:50 AM
traditionalguy said...: OK, Rubio is being depicted as childish, easily spooked with little self control and, well weird.

He does remind one of Ricky Ricardo.; 1/29/13, 8:56 AM
Insufficiently Sensitive said...: Sarah Palin was the first. After they found how effective the technique was - and that even the Presidential candidate wouldn't stir to help her - a whole string of others are fair game. How many millions were 'invested' to tar Paul Ryan? Even smart folks who should know better shudder at the name, having received their info exclusively from the MSM.; 1/29/13, 9:03 AM
Unknown said...: Another newsflash.
Lefties find, and freeze the current conservative and attack.
It's an insult to attack dogs.; 1/29/13, 9:05 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Around here, the local news reporters consider it a step up when they can finally sit around in court all day waiting for the jury's verdict so they can jot down the defendant's reaction.; 1/29/13, 9:05 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: The economic and political interests of middle and lower class whites are opposed to the interests of illegals and blacks.

So, Rubio is worthless to me and my family, isn't he?

Is there any party that might be interested in actually representing the economic and political interests of middle and lower class whites?

I really don't give a fuck whether the Republicans ever win another election, if their strategy is to leave me and my family out in the cold.; 1/29/13, 9:10 AM
Wince said...: Republicans, unnerved by the drubbing Mitt Romney received from Latino voters, are gradually moving toward the realization that they’ve got to drop their no-amnesty absolutism.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the principal difference between Romney's "self-deportation and get to the back of the line" and this proposal is that those here illegally will be granted some form of work permit while they wait here in that line.

And who is likely to oppose that aspect, especially if a link can be shown between that influx of workers and lower wages for citizens?

It ain't Republicans.; 1/29/13, 9:14 AM
Hagar said...: Senators Rubio and Flake are getting an education in taking more care who they associate with.; 1/29/13, 9:28 AM
Richard Dolan said...: "... how the media goes about accomplishing its plan to destroy Marco Rubio."

Not to worry. It won't be subtle. There won't be any softball interviews on 60 Minutes for Rubio (or any Rep for that matter). A key player will be Jon Stewart, who often sets the tone for these efforts to turn a Rep politician into a contemptible joke.; 1/29/13, 9:29 AM
edutcher said...: It makes him sound unsure of himself.

the Lefties have been doing this sort of thing since the days they went after Nixon (the first time). It was just people were smarter than.; 1/29/13, 9:36 AM
Anonymous said...: Sheesh, what about this part:

"But when his turn came to speak in the Senate TV studio, Rubio gripped the lectern with both hands and talked in a strong, confident voice about the need to “address the reality” that there must be a path to legitimacy for illegal immigrants."

or this:

"Rubio has strong credentials among the tea party faithful, and he is mentioned as the top 2016 presidential choice by some of the most conservative elements of the GOP. His willingness to risk both of these is an admirable act of political bravery."

Althouse's selective quotes from the article are dishonest.; 1/29/13, 9:38 AM
carrie said...: So Michelle's bobbing and weaving and rolling her eyes at the inaugeral lunch/dinner/whateveritwas with Boehner was cute, but Rubio's nervousness BEFORE he is even on stage is worthy of cricism. Fortunately, the MSM will continue to lose its share and the people in the red states who the MSM is trying sway will not read this stuff anyway.; 1/29/13, 9:39 AM
sakredkow said...: Well I didn't read teh article, but the quote excerpted doesn't say anything negative or poison the well against Rubio as far as I can see.

I'm starting to think your right-wing paranois is clouding your judgement. Who would have thought?; 1/29/13, 9:42 AM
MayBee said...: Is anybody saying what we'll do with the illegal immigrants who do not want to participate in th is path?

As for what Millbank does to Rubio here, you can describe absolutely anything in bow th a flattering and an unflattering way.; 1/29/13, 9:43 AM
Anonymous said...: It makes him sound unsure of himself.

Only if you are too damn lazy to read the article. If you do you realize that Althouse's selective quotation is a completely dishonest appraisal of the article as a whole.; 1/29/13, 9:51 AM
sakredkow said...: The media is so unfair to us. Look how they describe Rubio's nervous energy. We're victims boo hoo.; 1/29/13, 9:56 AM
Synova said...: "Well I didn't read teh article, but the quote excerpted doesn't say anything negative or poison the well against Rubio as far as I can see."

Really?

I could repost it on a fiction writing site I go to with the name redacted and see if people who do this sort of thing for a living see the description as neutral, much less not at all "negative."; 1/29/13, 10:04 AM
sakredkow said...: Really?

I could repost it on a fiction writing site I go to with the name redacted and see if people who do this sort of thing for a living see the description as neutral, much less not at all "negative."

Yes, really. Repost it anyplace you like. It's a description of a man nervously waiting to speak before a crowd.

I don't doubt though that these days rightwingers *feel* victimized by that.; 1/29/13, 10:14 AM
edutcher said...: Freder Frederson said...

It makes him sound unsure of himself.

Only if you are too damn lazy to read the article. If you do you realize that Althouse's selective quotation is a completely dishonest appraisal of the article as a whole.

And then

phx said...

The media is so unfair to us. Look how they describe Rubio's nervous energy. We're victims boo hoo.

If the psychosis fits...; 1/29/13, 10:27 AM
test said...: phx said...
The media is so unfair to us. Look how they describe Rubio's nervous energy. We're victims boo hoo.

Note phx's tactic: he doesn't defend the media openly, instead he attacks those criticizing media. So he protects his ally without ever honestly engaging in an evaluation of their tactics.; 1/29/13, 10:29 AM
sakredkow said...: Note phx's tactic: he doesn't defend the media openly, instead he attacks those criticizing media. So he protects his ally without ever honestly engaging in an evaluation of their tactics.

= Note phx's tactic: he doesn't ignore our misrepresentation of the media in our attacks. Instead he points out how we reinforce our victimology. Boo hoo hoo!; 1/29/13, 10:50 AM
edutcher said...: There, he said it a-gain-n-n-n.

(apologies to Vaughn Monroe and Bobby Vinton); 1/29/13, 11:05 AM
test said...: And we can note that for phx the tactic of changing the subject to protect his allies is routine. Note that even while he drones on about conservative overreach as paranoia when liberals overreach he refuses to acknowledge it. The result is a bizarre mishmash that random internet commenters paranoia is revealing of Republicans while liberal overreach by say Presidential cadidate Obama [who lied that President Bush refused to help Katrina victims because they were black] says nothing about the left.; 1/29/13, 11:09 AM
sakredkow said...: And we can note that for phx the tactic of changing the subject to protect his allies is routine. Note that even while he drones on about conservative overreach as paranoia when liberals overreach he refuses to acknowledge it. The result is a bizarre mishmash that random internet commenters paranoia is revealing of Republicans while liberal overreach by say Presidential cadidate Obama [who lied that President Bush refused to help Katrina victims because they were black] says nothing about the left.

Brother Marshal gets the last word. However incoherent it is, I have never known Brother Marshal NOT to get the last word with me.; 1/29/13, 11:22 AM
test said...: phx said...
Brother Marshal gets the last word.

Note (1) the refusal to address the substance and (2) the psych 101 effort to shut down the topic while posing as the principled party.

So transparent.; 1/29/13, 11:28 AM
dreams said...: The liberal media became fully aware of their power when they saw how they were able to destroy Bush and Sarah Palin's reputations. They were already corrupt and didn't need any more power to become even more corrupt but they seem intent on taking their corrupt power to a new level.; 1/29/13, 11:36 AM
Baron Zemo said...: What Rubio can do that Romney could not is attack the Media and shitheels like Jon Stewart directly and forcefully without being tarred as a racist.

In fact he can turn the tables and call them anti-latino and they can't say shit.

Turnabout is fair play.; 1/29/13, 11:38 AM
Bill Harshaw said...: When I read my Post this morning, I thought Rubio came off well: Milbank has him very conscious of the risk he's taking in going against the Tancredos of the party but going ahead anyway. That shows some leadership abilities.; 1/29/13, 1:44 PM
Known Unknown said...: I'm going to leave it at "Dana Milbank, Opinion Writer" that's on the web page at the link.

Your opinion may vary.; 1/29/13, 2:30 PM
hombre said...: It is difficult to believe that a grownup feels compelled to write such drivel - and gets paid for it.

However, it is undeniable that journalism is the profession with the densest concentration of dunces, followed closely by entertainers, politicians and, our hostess excluded, college professors.; 1/29/13, 3:58 PM
SukieTawdry said...: I've never observed Rubio when he's waiting to speak, but he does have an number of oral tics once he's speaking. It's very distracting and something he needs to learn to control.

He does give them great concern, doesn't he.; 1/29/13, 5:33 PM
Anonymous said...: It is difficult to believe that a grownup feels compelled to write such drivel - and gets paid for it

I agree 100%. But she really isn't getting paid for it. She is supposed to be teaching law and producing scholarly work. She just gets UW to foot the bill so she can write drivel. Unfortunately, the tenure system means it is almost impossible for the University of Wisconsin to fire her, even though she is not doing her job by any stretch of the imagination.; 1/29/13, 6:51 PM
BonHagar said...: The WAPO comments are even more depressing. The low information media has already done its job. Milbank didn't have be snide.; 1/29/13, 7:59 PM
zefal said...: As Schumer waited his turn to speak about the bipartisan immigration
bill plan he had helped to draft... He stood with arms folded, tightly clenched to his body, biting his lip once, then again, then a third time.; 1/29/13, 8:10 PM
zefal said...: Freder Frederson,

You're so witty. You should see if 'Two and a Half Men' have any internships for writers.; 1/29/13, 8:15 PM
MarkD said...: Does Dana have some sort of expertise that makes his opinion worth more than I paid for it?; 1/29/13, 8:32 PM