No, don't laugh. Jeb Bush presented Rubio with The Sword of Chang years ago. See the picture below. Jeb Bush told Rubio, in front of 100s of people,
''Chang is a mystical warrior. Chang is somebody who believes in conservative principles, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism, believes in moral values that underpin a free society.
''I rely on Chang with great regularity in my public life. He has been by my side and sometimes I let him down. But Chang, this mystical warrior, has never let me down.''
Bush then unsheathed a golden sword and gave it to Rubio as a gift.
Wow! I wonder what the retiring Pope thinks of his Catholic sons, Jeb's and Marco's, reverence for the Mystical Sword of Chang? This mysticism seems similar to the Bush family membership in the all-rich/powerful-white-man mystical Bohemian Grove summer camp. But that is another story.
It is no secret in Florida that Marco Rubio is Jeb Bush's protege. I highly recommend that you read and bookmark this in-depth report of Rubio's shady dealings prior to becoming Senator. Only in Florida could this grifter get elected!
Though the media in Florida tends to romanticize 39-year-old Marco Rubio’s rise through politics, what is often underplayed is just how thoroughly the young Cuban-American’s path has been paved by Bush cronies.
He was “discovered” by Al Cardenas, Jeb’s money man and one of the most influential players in Republican politics as the former party chairman, when a young Rubio interviewed for a job on the 1996 Bob Dole presidential campaign. It was Cardenas who first brought the young man to Jeb’s attention.
And Rubio has the full backing of the Bush machine’s ultimate operative, Karl Rove, including all that secret money Rove is pouring into Florida on Rubio’s behalf.
It is also no secret that Jeb Bush has not discounted running in 2016. Years and lots of money have been invested in Marco Rubio by Bush and his cronies. No wonder Marco Rubio appeared almost terrified. He owes his soul to the party!
Rubio and his Bush backers had a lot riding on last night's speech. Too much, apparently, for Marco's nerves to handle. Did his handlers let him down. A simple mint, some gum, and maybe a titch of xanax could have helped. So much for Rubio's reputations for being The Telegenic Tea Party Senator!
What is true is that there is NO way Marco Rubio can run for President without unleashing a huge trove of questionable financial dealings onto the national stage that will disgust the hard right purists.
Perhaps Marco Rubio took the powers of the Sword of Chang too seriously, as it appears there are a LOT of questionable financial dealings surrounding his career catching up with him.
Below are an assortment of links depicting Rubio's shady financial dealings and friends to thwart any such pipe dream.
PolitFact, 2010 Charlie Crist's first TV ad focuses on Marco Rubio's money
A lawyer by trade, Rubio reported his income for each year:
1998: $73,380
1999: $99,000
2001: $89,878
2002: $124,721
2003: $122,718
2004: $298,825
2005: $329,916
2006: $346,896
2007: $346,000
2008: $414,000
For some context: Rubio was part of the House Republican leadership beginning in 2001 as a whip, rose to be majority leader, and was speaker from 2006 to 2008.
April, 2010 - Tampa Bay Times -
U.S. attorney, IRS and FBI investigating Florida GOP credit card use
Meanwhile, in a separate inquiry, the IRS is also looking at the tax records of at least three former party credit card holders — former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, ex-state party chairman Jim Greer and ex-party executive director Delmar Johnson — to determine whether they misused their party credit cards for personal expenses, according to a source familiar with the preliminary inquiry.
May, 2010 - Tampabay.com
What exactly did Marco Rubio do at Broad & Cassell?
Jim Defede at CBS4 looks at Marco Rubio's finances (Watch it here and read here):
... When Rubio first entered the Florida Legislature in 2001 he was making less than $100,000 a year. But by the time Rubio left (the Legislature) in 2008 his income shot up to more than $400,000, including a $300,000 a year salary from the law firm Broad & Cassel.
June, 2010 Eye on Miami -
Dan Ricker Reports on Marco Rubio's Pathetic Net Worth. By Geniusofdespair
According to Dan Ricker's Watchdog Report: Marco Rubio has a net worth of $8,351.
October, 2010 - Tampabay.com -
Marco Rubio's personal finances clash with call for fiscal discipline
As Rubio climbed the ranks, he began to use little-noticed political committees to fund his travel and other expenses and later had a Republican Party of Florida credit card.
What emerged, records show, is a pattern of blending personal and political spending. Over and over again Rubio proved sloppy, at best, in complying with disclosure requirements.
Virtually broke, the 31-year-old lawmaker began campaigning to be House speaker in 2003 and created a political committee — Floridians for Conservative Leadership — to help elect other Republican candidates and curry their support.
He has refused to release his party credit card records from 2005 and 2006.
Rubio is adamant his use of the political committees and credit cards is above board and has denied reports that the IRS has opened an inquiry, part of a widening look at Republican lawmakers who had credit cards.
I love this link. It is from the State of Florida Ethics Committee.
This report is dated August 1, 2012. Marco Rubio is mentioned four times, but is cleared of influence peddling. However, if you take the time to read through this report, you will get an overview of how Florida's politicians roll.
GOP seems to stand for Grifters on Parade these days.