BYE BYE, MARCO

I actually wrote this post some time ago, but the time did not seem right.  It is now though.

During the three hours of idiocy last night on CNN, did anybody notice the one answer to a question that really meant something to Floridians?  Trump criticized and challenged Marco Rubio for his voting record and absences from the U.S. Senate.  In attempting to excuse this, Rubio responds  that he is dedicating his life to running for  President.  He stated:  "I am leaving the Senate.  I am not running for reelection, and I am running for President . . "  In other words the representation of the people of Florida is inconsequential, and he doesn't care about his duties to us anymore.

Has anybody wondered why it is that no Republicans have declared to replace Rubio as the junior Senator from Florida, and only one Democrat (Murphy) has declared his candidacy?  What's going on here?  Have Scott and Rubio reached some sort of accommodation?

Pursuant to Sec. 99.012 F.S., Rubio must resign his Senate seat immediately upon qualifying for another office, like if he places his name on a ballot anywhere for the Presidency of the United States (New Hampshire sometime around December 11, 2015).  He can not withdraw that resignation, and thus can not run for re-election for the US Senate.  The statute prohibits an office holder from either running for two offices at the same time, or maintain an elective office beyond the effective date of the office holders prospective effective term of office for which they are running. (His term in the Senate ends on January 1, 2017 and the inauguration of the next President is not until January 20, 2017)  So why hasn't Rubio offered his resignation?  Why aren't Republicans knocking down the door to run?

Is it possible that Scott has agreed to re-appoint Rubio, if his Presidential bid is unsuccessful?  That would create a new "term in office" and allow Rubio to run in November, 2016 (if he meets the qualifying deadline) to retain his newly appointed office.  (By the way, under Senate rules he loses whatever seniority he has obtained.)  Or is it possible that Scott intends to appoint himself, and run to be retained in November, 2016?  Either scenario would keep leading Republicans who know of the deal from declaring.

The Captain seems to be very attuned to Republican politics.  Maybe he has some inside info, or a hint from one camp or the other.

It is time for the press to ask Rubio the question and insist on an answer?  (But he won't.)  "Are you stating that, even if your bid for Presidents unsuccessful, you are telling the people of Florida, you are not  running for re-election?"  I would say they should ask Scott, except he would only say, "Let's get to work."  Anything else is off-script.