Why Huckabee matters

CrunchyCon.com ^ | 12/29/07 | Rod Dreher

[madprof98]

This is the best explanation of Huckabee's rise that I have read.

[Coldwater Creek]

I have always like Mike Huckabee, as I know him outside the political arena. I probably will not vote for him, but you’r right, this is a great explanation of who so may support him.

[Paloma_55]

I see his rise primarily fueled by non-stop promotion by the media, who wants a fight in the Republican primaries and the weakest candidate they can bring forward.

I understand the immediate interest in Huckabee as he did well in the debates, but when you challenge his positions, he does not do well. The most recent example of Pakistani intrusion through our southern border demonstrates that he cannot hold up in a head-on debate with a Democrat because he talks without facts to support him.

[geo40xyz]

There's a simple reason Huckabee is on the rise, Its a push by the MSM for a Republican they can ridicule in the general election with hillarybeast. If he, Huckabee, is the nominate he will be ridiculed as a "Religious NUT" which IS.

This Southern Baptist will NEVER vote for Huckabee or any other Religious figure. I prefer a President NOT some nut who wants to force me to believe the way he/she/it believes

[Congressman Billybob]

This is surprisingly accurate for the Post, and as far as it goes. But it doesn't deal with his affection for more taxes in Arkansas. And it doesn't deal with his Willie-Horton penchant for letting really bad guys out of prison.

Bottom line: a vote for Huckabee is purely symbolic. If he does win in Iowa, the attention which will be paid to him as a result will sink his candidacy like a brick in a well. If Huckabee were a real, conservative, Republican he might have a chance. But he isn't, and doesn't.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "First Things First -- Even Really Old Ideas"

A Freeper in Congress? Please act now.

[Hawthorn]

The Huckster is Jimmy Carter redux:

Same sunny but false façade, same instant "likeability" and friendly approach to strangers, same unctious piety, same pettiness and vindictiveness, same dangerous naïveté in foreign affairs, same misinformed populism in matters economic, same Southern Baptist theology.

The big difference I see is that Huck hasn't yet had the interview with Playboy where he admits lusting after women to whom he isn't married!

[Caramelgal]

For starters, it was remarkably short on policy. Oh, he touched on issues like energy and health care and immigration and he talked about gridlock in Washington and the corruption of big money in politics. But all of these points seemed incidental to the broader message of the speech.

Huckabee's speech was long on values.

Great. Just what we need; a president who is short on policy but long on “values”. A president who doesn’t have the slightest idea what the Constitution is about but wants to make us all “feel” good. I lived through that once before – his name was Jimmy Carter.

[Earthdweller]

He matters because both parties are pushing pre-communism down our throats because of globalization and that includes a war on our Christian values.The global elitists in both parties have an agenda that will destroy the country..much like Europe is being destroyed bit by bit.

Stupid socialists can't see from history that if they destroy the Western Freemen..radical Islam always kicks their butts.

[LadyNavyVet]

“They want the right and the left to keep fighting, Democrats and Republicans, the liberals and the conservatives.”

This sound for all the world like Bush’s New Tone, and we all know where that got us—huge new entitlement programs, out of control spending, Ted Kennedy writing the education bill, etc.

Huckabee would be everything we don’t like about President Bush, with none of the things we do like. No, thanks. I want a President who will roll back liberalism, not roll over for it.

[Coldwater Creek]

What in the world has you being a Southern Baptist got to do with anything?

Do you prefer a Satan worshiper? I want to know that the leader of the free world has been on his knees, before a Holy God, when there are decisions to be made that are going to mean ,whether you and I are safe or not.

[Coldwater Creek]

Please excuse the poor grammar.

[Chuck54]

I see The Huckster’s rise because of many “Useful Idiots” who walk among us.

The same can be said for anyone who would vote for anyone because some “celebrity” endorses them.

Useful Idiots; they are everywhere and in prominence in a certain party.

[Tax-chick]

It doesn’t surprise me that Dreher would like Huckabee; he’s a big-government supporter all the way.

[ElPatriota]

..."I love this country and I love it more than I love the Republican Party," he said....

Hmm.. that is MY line!... That is the way feel...

Ok....mmmmm... yes VALUES, CHARACTER matters....

Reading on: ok ...mmmm.. I am 'ordinary' and the 'little guy.' Well...maybe. I can live with that!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL, RELIGIOUS AND NON-RELIGIOUS SOCIAL-CONSERVATIVES... We need everyone who cares for values to have a chance...

(i hope i won't be banned for saying this :)

[ReleaseTheHounds]

You’re absolutely right... It brings to mind Jimmah Carter’s acceptance speech at Madison Square Garden: “I’ll never lie to ya! I gauranteeeee it! You can count on me!!!” And that stuff “sold” in 1976, heaven help us.

Republicans who are buying this stuff — and ignoring the Huckster’s “apology” to the terrorists and for the asassination in Pakistan and our “arrogance” in our foreign policy — they are doing this country a grave disservice supporting this Huckster. This is worse than “I feel your pain” and much worse than “Compassionate Conservatism” — this is national self-destruction.

You know that the WaPo hopes the Huckster wins the GOP nomination — what a field day they will have with him this coming fall.

[Columbine]

I think there is a simpler explanation for why Huckabee appeals to many conservatives.

Voters are lazy. It’s much easier to choose someone who pushes your feelgood religious button than it is to do your research on where the candidates stand on issues.

Some people think that because he shares their religious doctrine he will share their stand on political issues too and they never look beyond his superficial religious credentials.

If he actually got elected, in a couple of years we’d hear those same people whining that they thought he was a conservative.

[Jim Noble]

I want to know that the leader of the free world has been on his knees, before a Holy God, when there are decisions to be made that are going to mean ,whether you and I are safe or not.

And I think that is the least important thing about a politician that I can possibly imagine.

[Signalman]

Jimmy Carter was a born again guy and big on values.

But he was a LOUSY President.

Let’s not make that mistake again.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Yes this is a good explanation of it. I am more economically conservative than Huckabee and friends, but forced to choose (I wish I didn't have to choose between them), I will choose a weaker economic candidate with moral values who is a social conservative over a morally blind candidate who promises to take care of war and big business but then will probably spend like a drunken sailor anyway.

I seriously dislike the Rodney King rhetoric of "can't we all just get along" nonsense. If you want political peace go totalitarian. Where there is freedom there are arguments. It's really quite lovely when you think about it like that.

[RockinRight]

Huckabee's speech was long on values.

Too bad he's short on conservatism.