Huckabee--The Long March
By BelisariusVII Posted in Archived — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yes,Mike is now pretty much relegated to 2nd place, and protest vote status. So be it, but maybe more to come. However, I had to respond to a character who laid out a bunch of specious arguments against Gov. Huckabee. From the tone of my response--given below in another blog on Red State, you can imagine what they were saying. Oh, well, here's the response below.
"Don't spill you KoolAid. Oops....
You did!"
Uhhh,....Actually, I don't drink KoolAid. Haven't since age 12. You're dreaming again, just like Club for Growth and Cato's image (or shall I say 'mirage'? Yes, I can.)of Gov. Huckabee's record. I'll be quick.
1. The tax increase on diesel fuel was on interstate trucking traffic only. It was done to meet a situation of a budget shortfall and disastrous roads in Arkansas. The alternative, since they were dealing with court orders on balanced budgets with no further room for budget cuts (which had already been done by 11-18%), was to simply hike the general sales tax. Conservative tax theory states that, when necessary, as here, strictly-targeted taxes, such as user fees, etc., are preferable to general taxes.
2. The general sales tax increase was, again, in response to a court order to raise revenues to cover a budget shortfall. The Governor was not allowed to erase the shortfall by more budget cuts. And it was only a 7/8 of a cent rise, which at 6% is still much lower than most states.
3. The cigarette increase was of the same kind, to make up for the budget shortfall, was targeted for state Medicaid programs, and to prevent a loss of 3/1 ratio federal funding. Know any governors who would turn down tens of millions of dollars of federal matching funds for indigent health care? The alternative? Go back to the people for fresh looting and explain why his conservative principles have now lost federal money and caused him to either demand more money in general taxes or close down much of the state Medicaid program, which would probably violate federal law/guidelines, triggering a rush of lawsuits by your friends and mine---that's right---Democrat trial lawyers!
4. On the Mexican consulates--Sorry, no KoolAid again, except the green stuff that your downing. They were one of over 40 countries that Gov. Huckabee visited and set up trade missions or consulates in order to further business relationships with Arkansas business and ensure LEGAL activities representing their foreign nationals in the state. Remember he had a firm called Wal-Mart that has given a major second chance for prosperity for the state. There is no truth to the notion that the Governor personally encouraged the Mexican governmsnt in issuing Matricula Consular cards to anyone, much less to illegals.
5. On changes in position at the onset to a campaign, that is much more typical of people who are having to conform earlier-held positions to the new realities of seeking the Presidency. Ronald Reagan advocated broad tax increases to end the large budget deficit in 1976. It was not until a conversation with Jack Kemp and Arthur Laffer that Reagan chose to champion the broad tax cuts he achieved.
6. Oh, and Mitt Romney raised taxes by $721 million in just 4 years, as opposed to Huckabee's record over 11 years. Rudy Giuliani had increased taxes as mayor as well in New York.
7. On anything ethical? On all issues, including the $70,000 furniture they were all dismissed in court as nonsensical and void of merit, the work of Mike's enemies, who are part of the Bill Clinton machine. Once again, a little problem with hallucinatory green ooze, hmmm?
8. On foreign policy: I admit, that was Mike's weakness, initially. However, on closer examination, Gov. Huckabee explained in a later debate in New Hampshire that he was really referring to the actions of Donald Rumsfeld in stubbornly refusing to listen to the counsel of battlefield commanders concerning the battle with insurgents and with his cavalier failure to provide proper battle armor for vehicles against IEDs. Furthermore, on the issue of Iran, he noted that jumping into war may not be wise when the populace already is overwhelmingly against their own leaders and strongly sympathetic to the USA (candlelight vigils in Tehran, celebrations in Gaza on 9/11).
9. On the military: He made the adjustments in that area in the most responsible way. The Governor promised, if elected, he would match Pres. Reagan's buildup of the military in the 80s to 6% of GDP, roughly doubling the amount of military spending, including large increases in land forces, the Marines, and especially in restoring Pres. Reagan's 600-ship Navy. A purpose in it? Oh yes, it's called a resurgent Russia and a dangerous China.
10. On immigration: Wanting kids who went to school in Arkansas from ages 6-18, and who, because of their age, were eligible, due to section 245i of the Immigration and Nationalization Act, to apply for legal resident status, IS a great deal different than supporting mass amnesty without exception and providing no border security, allowing mass incursions of the next 15 million illegals into the country.
Sorry, I'm drinking champagne. I'll chat more later, I imagine.
When you use lefty favorite names like 'sheep,' you don't help convince anyone of your point.
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
I think their particular view of conservatism flows from evangelical principles only. With this logic in mind the most conservative candidate would be the strongest evangelical, hince whatever this candidate supports must be conservative because he is an evangelical. I personally don't agree with this logic as a strong conservative evangelical because I view conservatism flowing from evangelical principles as established and limited in the constitution of the United States, hince I was a Fred Thompson supporter.
As far as the sheep comment I would simply add that we all follow someone or something no matter how independantly minded we think we are especially if a candidate is seen as a member of our own flock. I'm sure you followed, even if in a minor way, one candidate or another this year because they were the closest person to your personal view of conservatism, hince a member of your flock of conservatism. It's no different for the Huckabee flock of supporters. It's why McCain is our nominee because a majority of the electorit fealt like they were apart of his conservatism flock. I wish it weren't so, but I believe it is the reality we find ourselves in.
You also left off:
1) Paroling a murderer who then raped and murdered someone.
2) the fact that #10 was simply a reflection of his overall amnesty leanings. You also left out the fact that he called people who disagreed with him on the issue -- racists. And while you said it was better than granting a general amnesty, you couldn't bring yourself to say that it was WRONG to offer non-citizens cheaper tution then citizens of the United States who were from another state.
Huckabee now is doing nothing, but wasting McCain's time and resources.
I have said all along that Huck has stayed in the race this long to try to pass Romney and for no other reason.
He doesn't have much to show for running against a non-candidate. How many delegates has he gotten out of the last seven contests? I think you have his greatness a little over rated.
Try it some time.
1. The tax increase on diesel fuel... Yeah, so what. You, in the SOP for Hucksters, don't address the issues I raised. First, Huck left the people of Arkansas with a greater personal state/local tax burden than when he came into office. A description of his major tax increases doesn't address that.
Second, the fuel tax issue was two fold. There was a tax increase on both gas and diesel. Both passed the legislature and were signed by Huck. My whole point in bringing that one up is that he lied about the issue. The tax increase was never on the ballot, only a bond issue to work on the roads. The point, which you either overlooked or ignored, is that the guy is a bald faced liar.
4. On the Mexican consulates... What part of he is on record as having helped them open and doing absolutely nothing but supporting them as they issued Consular cards. Huck is to the left of Teddy Kennedy on immigration. His new found positions on the subject are just smoke and mirrors.
5. On changes in position at the onset to a campaign... Bringing Reagan into the discussion is more Huckster SOP. It's also BS. Reagan's positions when he ran for President were of long standing and well thought out. Huck's positions are nothing more than cheap pickups to buy votes from stupid people who aren't paying attention.
8. On foreign policy... Utter hogwash. The guy is flat out ignorant. He claims two people as advisors who he's never spoken to. More cheap pickups for the unwashed and inattentive.
9. On the military... Nothing he's said about the military has been especially responsible. He's as ignorant on military affairs as he is on economics, foreign policy and immigration.
10. On immigration... More BS. He picked up his current positions from Mark Krikorian's internet site. He's never spoken to Mark.
Have fun with your champaigne. If you stay drunk enough you won't see Huck going down in flames. The guy is an absolute empty suit and is the Republican version of Barrack.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
it shows I have little reason to bother with my weak comments on the Huckster.
I find it amazing how easily Huckabee supporters twist and spin his record. Other than pro-life, I find nothing in his record that is conservative.