The puzzle piece you're missing is the biggest piece on the board, it's: THE BIG PICTURE.
If you're happy with America as it is, rather than what it should and could be, well then Rubio is your establishment guy. By all means, support him, vote for him.
But, if you are dismayed by the direction America has taken since Reagan, and the lack of any discernible push-back from republicans against leftist bullying, then Rubio is just more business-as-usual and unacceptable to most conservative/libertarian minded Americans.
"Leftist bullying"? That's the "big picture"? This is the sort of navel gazing that makes a lot of the nation laugh at conservatives and their penchant for fratricide.
Rubio's not my first choice, but it is madness to proclaim that he's not conservative. Or to suggest his "actions" don't match his words, and then turn around and support Donald Trump, who is nothing but words and hasn't a principled bone in his body.
Children react to bullying by stamping their feet and convincing themselves the whole world revolves around them and their "problems". Let's think like adults for a moment. Republicans - conservatives - already control the Congress, although its rules provide for minority rights intended to force the joint consideration of policy. (Ryan negotiated the recent budget deal with Democrats because they were willing to talk, whereas the "Freedom Caucus" will not). What we need and don't have is the White House, which has been a disaster for eight years, leaving the Dems historically vulnerable. And they're running a weak candidate, who is the very definition of cronyism and corruption, and who few people trust.
And we're going to throw it all away, because we'd rather have a hissy fit about the so-called "establishment" in our party, even those with 98 percent lifetime ACU ratings. No, let's cut off our noses to endorse a game show host just because he vocalizes our "anger". It's all about us and assuaging our sacred, selfish anger, not about the nation. No wonder Trump supporters are mocked - they deserve to be.
Progress doesn't occur because of hissy fits, it occurs as the result of planning, hard work and knowing when to negotiate and deal.