Posted on 01/12/2008 8:23:54 PM PST by MrArbitrage123
In my post from a couple of nights ago "Attack Christians but give Mormons a Free Pass" Freeper AmericanVictory brought up Governor Mike Huckabee and his concern about voting for him. Since that wasn't intended so much to be a post about Huckabee but more of a post about the gentle treatment of Romney and his controversial faith, I thought I would start a new thread in my response to AmericaVictory regarding Huckabee.
“ It makes me nervous that as a young man I was fooled by Jimmy Carter and wound up voting enthusiastically for one of the worst presidents in U.S. history, and perhaps its pettiest ex-president. My late mother, who had been raised as an Old School Baptist, was not fooled by him. It makes me doubly cautions about Huckabee and wanting to know a lot about his actual record and past positions. “ - AmericanVictory
No need to be nervous about it. This Jimmy Carter comparison is ridiculous and people who do their homework aside from reading those articles against Huckabee alone can see right through it.
Jimmy Carter is ardently pro-abortion, pro communist, pro-castro Jimmy Carter. Some desperate, juvenile minded people have successfully perpetuated that platitude but I think the differences between the two people are quite obvious and I am embarrassed that I am even dignifying that contention by acknowledging it. The Drudge linked video of Huckabee talking about taxes was taken out of context and the entire speech was not even aired.
Do yourself a favor and set aside the rhetoric of Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham. Spend some time doing the research for yourself at Huckabee's website and watch video of Huckabee on sites like youtube answering the accusations directly. It is quite clear that Limbaugh, Ingraham & Coulter have not done their homework. As someone who has researched Huckabee extensively, I can tell by listening to them that they have never delved into Huckabee's side of the story. There are mitigating circumstances surrounding Huck's record and none are presented by these critics.
I have also done my homework on John McCain, legislatively going back to the odious Telecommunications Act of 1996 where he wanted to legislate price controls on the cable companies and prevent them from merging with the phone companies. As a Financial Advisor/Stock Broker with an interest in Telecommunications, Inc (TCI) and wanting to see them merge with then Bell Atlantic, that outraged me as did just about every piece of legislation McCain has promulgated since then. And I agree with Rush completely regarding McCain. Not only is he an economic liberal (just called the pharmaceutical companies “evil” last week), he completely ignored the outcries of his constituents regarding the amnesty issue and thumbed his nose at anyone who disagreed with him. On the issue of abortion, he has voted pro-life but doesn't seem able to articulate the reason for doing so very effectually and I have no confidence that he would be able to select quality justices to the federal courts much less fight for their confirmation in the event he should serendipitously manage to appoint a good one.
The one quality McCain does have is his POW and war hero status. For that I accolade and thank him; however, wisdom & leadership is not necessarily the concomitant of bravery. I was shocked when during the SC debate, McCain made the statement about how he wouldn't want to trade with some Arab faction, (might have been Al Qaeda) because “all they have are Berkas.” I certainly wasn't offended by the statement but it seemed to be an irresponsible and impetuous thing to let slip out for a Senator running for President because if he's supposed to be Mr. Foreign policy and Mr. Diplomacy, why would he make a statement mocking the clothing that so many women, including our allies in the middle east wear? I laughed about him singing the “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” song, I'm fine with bombing Iran; the sooner the better but it seemed like something a complete political novice would do. Leave that for the talk radio shows.
Ironically, Rush is using “drive-by” tactics on Huckabee. I can't tell you that I agree with Huckabee on everything. I don't support more federal involvement in the education system and although I am somewhat of a musician, I don't believe it's the federal government's business to promote music ed or any other ed. But I am confident that he is the candidate in this race that most closely represents my values - who can actually win against the Democrats this time around. You have to delve more deeply into the issues and don't for a second base your decision on the empty rhetoric and false allegations of pundits who have been campaigning for other candidates like Romney & McCain. It scares Republicans who have bought into the slanted attacks when Huckabee talks in his “populist” fashion.
I understand WHY it scares some people especially when they have the skewed perception of the man after the onslaught of Romney ads and Barnes, Coulter, Ingraham & Hannity talking points day in and day out. But I believe the way Huckabee is talking is brilliant and having someone of his ability to communicate with the “blue collar” worker the way he does will be of paramount importance this November and the only chance we will have of winning the presidency as a party.
I believe that we are heading into something much deeper than a recession based upon what I have been seeing in the financial markets (as a long time financial professional). Let me tell you something. We have been hearing people dubbed as doom and gloomers for the past 25 years for warning about “the coming economic earthquake” due to extravagant lifestyles of American's and a GOVERNMENT living beyond our means. Yet for decades we have been able to cover up the pending crises with ersatz money thanks to the Federal Reserve and our own irresponsibility in living on credit.
From what I see, it cannot be covered up anymore and no matter how much more the Federal Reserve cuts rates, it is going to do nothing to fix the problem and may actually compound it. On top of that we have out of control oil prices, a policy of burning food as a fuel “alternative” causing further escalation in food prices, a drought in Georgia of biblical proportions and while most people have no idea, 2/3 of the honey bees have been mysteriously dieing off causing potentially devastating inflation in its own right. Oh, and the dollar has been in a tail spin for the past few years.
My point is that this election – as much as we don't like it – is going to be won by someone who appeals to the middle-class, “working American” (or out of work) who doesn't understand supply-side economics, Milton Friedman and will not come to understand it in the 60 second sound bites of an election campaign. If you think they are going to be enchanted by some pretty boy billionaire who likes to compare himself to Ronald Reagan, you better re-think that given the current environment in which we find ourselves.
The Republicans who are afraid of him and bought into the Romney/Drudge smear campaign hear him saying things about how “people want a President who reminds them of the guy they work with more than the guy who laid him off” and hear him talk about helping the”little guy” - and they get nervous. Republicans are notoriously horrible strategists. We are masters of losing. I pity the people in this party who don't see what is coming and consider WHO are voting. Middle income families and single mothers are the majority and to not recognize their plight right now is to beg for defeat.
So, they want to crucify Huckabee for recognizing that and relating to them. A Democrat saying that they are going to fight for the “little guy” and a Republican saying he's going to fight for the little guy sound very similar but in reality are two very different things. They may both want to help the little guy (if we take them at face value) but they have two very different methodology in accomplishing that goal. Is the desire to help the working families by implementing a fair tax system and wanting to dismantle the IRS the same as the Clinton plan of helping the “little guy” via Universal Health care, Universal Pre-K and $5,000 baby-bonds in every pot?
Helping the blue-collar worker or single-mother doesn't have to be at the expense of someone else. I believe that is what Huckabee sees and a fair tax plan would help to accomplish a great deal of good for the rich AND the poor. After seeing the pundits like Limbaugh, Ingraham, Coulter, Barnes, Cameron & Wallace jump on the talking points – verbatim, it became very clear that these people made up their minds BEFORE doing their due diligence. They have no idea what kind of setting in which Republicans will find themselves campaigning come November. These voters are going to be hurting, fearful for their financial security and very emotional. It takes a majority to win an election (or something close to that depending on third party candidates). The only way we are going to win is with a candidate who can genuinely relate to them where they are and they are NOT – in their weekend homes in the Hampton's
I think you meant the Immature choice for President.
Or maybe the Half-Baked choice for President
Or maybe even the RHINO choice for President
shoot, maybe even the Christian Socialist choice for President
Huck's pro-life position keeps the kittens at bay. I don't see all that many Queegsters here though.
(Do yourself a favor and set aside the rhetoric of Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham. Spend some time doing the research for yourself at Huckabee’s website and watch video of Huckabee on sites like youtube answering the accusations directly.)
I do respect Rush, Laura, and other pundits you are telling us to dismiss. They have a brand and reputation to protect, and therefore rarely take a huge position on something without doing a lot of due diligence.
Huckabee is socially conservative (which I like), but wants to use the government as a tool to advance his preferences (I don’t like that - we already have a “compassionate conservative” in the White House, and we saw what happened to spending). On foreign policy, he’s a dove (an ignorant one at that), on free trade he’s a dove, and on immigration he’s a Democrat. Beside what the conservative pundits have been saying about him, I’ll give him credit for not trying to pass himself for something he isn’t. He did not respond to Fred Thompson’s criticism of his record, and his own chief advisor said that the Reagan coalition is dead. I’m sorry, but we need all three legs of that coalition to win. If he wins the Presidency anyway, it would be a disaster to the Republican party, and to Christians (his failures would discredit us).
I think the only people who could unite the Reagan coalition are Fred Thomson and Duncan Hunter. I don’t think Duncan has a prayer, so I hope Fred starts doing better. Make no mistake, evangelicals are a huge part of the Reagan coalition, and I wouldn’t be voting in the primaries for anyone who turns them off. However, I wouldn’t vote for someone who doesn’t believe in supply-side economics, as it’s proved that it’s the only sort of economics that actually works and helps provide prosperity.
That’s just sickening about the dog. I’m no PETA person, but I get very angry at gratuitous cruelty to animals. Only a twisted mind could do something like that. Yes, his family deserves the same scrutiny that the others get.
Howdy, howdy G_L!!! I didn’t see his expression, both my husband and I cheered at the comment, but the TV is behind me. Sigh.......
All is well here, hope all is well with you :)
I do respect Rush, Laura, and other pundits you are telling us to dismiss.
***I never mentioned Rush nor Laura in my post. Maybe you’re intending to respond to someone else?
Hucksters need to get behind Thompson or vote SHRILLARY!
Wow, where’s the “FLAME ON!” graphic when you need it?
Very insightful open letter from an Arkansas conservative on 7 reasons why he can’t support Mike Huckabee:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947524/posts
HILARIOUS video parody of Huck’s clemencies:
http://arkjournal.com/2008/01/clemency.html
My dream candidate is Duncan Hunter, but it’s clear that that is indeed a dream. So I support Fred, and will never never vote for Huckabee or McCain.
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind Huck's joining forces with Al Gore's anti-human Stalinist global warming cult?
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind his demagoguery of CEO salaries?
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind calling such CEOs "greedy" when he doesn't even know them?
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind his call for a nationwide ban on smoking in privately-owned businesses?
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind his calling US foreign policy "arrogant"?
What are the "mitigating circumstances" behind calling for us to use the "golden rule" so that dictators and terrorists will decide they like us?
Sorry, but the comparison with Carter isn't all that far off. I think Huckabee is prone to the same weaknesses in judgment that Carter was. The fact that he's been buddying up with McCain just serves to further reinforce my view. No thanks.
>>Yep, isn’t there a comparison made that he pardoned more criminals than the combined totals of neighboring states?
YES, Huckabee issued more commutations and pardons than ALL OF HIS SIX NEIGHBORING STATES COMBINED...and more than his three predecessors combined.
http://www.arkansasleader.com/frontstories/st_08_11_04/huckabee8.html
Facts are not Huckabee’s friend when it comes to this issue.
Mr. Huckabee (song)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q3F6UqyvUmE
No more 'Big Government' Republicans, thank you.
Huckabee is no "Evangelical". He is a Jimmy Carter, "Liberation Theology"-style Christian. He has called those who oppose illlegal immigration racists. He believes in nanny state Federal control of the people without the States having a say. He is even hiring homosexual Republican activists to advise his campaign. He and his wife are liars and charlatans and phonies, who cite Jesus in every sentence but are unworthy of his example, as they practice deceit and immorality masquerading as "public service". I feel sorry for the simpletons who are taken in by this false prophet. For they are truly lost.
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