Huckabee Names Ed Rollins National Campaign Chairman
By California Yankee Posted in 2008 | 2008 Presidential Campaign | Campaign Chairman | Ed Rollins | Mike Huckabee | Surging — Comments (99) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee has named Ed Rollins as his National Campaign Chairman.
Rollins served as the National Campaign Director to Ronald Reagan in the 1984 presidential election in which Reagan won 49 states while defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale.
Rollins will make it possible for Huckabee to be portrayed as the second coming of Reagan:
“I can promise this man comes as close to anyone as filling those shoes,” Rollins said, joking that “this is the only campaign I’ve ever been in where there are no doughnuts and booze.”
With the appointment of Rollins and Huckabee now surging in poll after poll I was clearly wrong in assuming that Huckabee was no more than a distraction that would scare the living daylights out of a lot of moderates of both parties.
You can watch Rollins discuss his new gig with Lou Dobbs in the following video:
UPDATE: I have corrected the reference to the Reagan landslide.
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Huckabee Names Ed Rollins National Campaign Chairman 99 Comments (0 topical, 99 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
And it is the candidate and NOT the adviser on the ticket!
I cant wait to hear all these Joke-abee fans after he has his Dean-like crash after Iowa.
Well, expect Rollins to do his worst. I don't know why in the world he's doing it except to do his worst. Maybe he's a bitter old man.
On the other hand Huckabee is such a bad candidate that he needs someone like Rollins to try and keep the momentum going. When the trainwreck happens, I expect Rollins to step deftly aside and go on to support other awful candidates in the future. But as a consultant he'll make plenty of noise between now and the trainwreck. Who knows, maybe he'll get paid a whole bunch of money to help Mike Huckabee fly himself into the ground. We can only hope.
the Huckster is in a populated area and is able to take more of us out with him.
My worry is that Rollins brings in just enough extra fund raising and media support to keep Huckabee credibly in the race through Feb 5.
In fact that's the reason Rollins signed on with the Huckabee campaign. He'll keep it rolling for a while with Hucksterism and then he'll sever his relationship so that he can go back and spend more time with his family when Huckabee loses. Rollins knows a good opportunity when he sees one, even if it's transient.
You want to see a trainwreck? Wait until this ad hits the airwaves in Iowa. At that point, you could put a fork in Huckabee. He'll be more than done.
Good luck, won't work. Everyone makes mistakes, this is a dead horse, but you can keep riding it if you want to.
Everyone writes letters hoping for rapists to be released?
That's not a garden variety mistake that Mike Huckabee made. It cost a 40 year old woman her life.
If an ad like that ever hits cable TV, Mike Huckabee is Mike Dukakis running in a Republican primary.
Toast.
This story has been out for six months. Those interesting in it have already read about it on Huck's website. For the true believers he is raising up it will have zero affect. I am not trying to defend the guy, just being realistic. It will not work.
He should have brought Dukakis in as is campaign manager instead of Rollins.
Ed: We're ashamed of you. I'm ashamed of you. The country is ashamed of you.
...is, in fact, that letter. Arguments can be made about all of the other circumstances, but I just don't see how his people talk around his having written the man a letter saying "It is my desire that you be released from prison."
That's not a "hit job" -- it's simply a fact.
The very next line is, "that is why I am declining your commuted sentence. The letter was in the context of denying him parole. He did not get out unto two and half years latter. The difference is that Dukasis was against the death penalty and personally let out the convict. People will see through this. If you don't like Huckabee's policies that is fine. I don't like all of them. This is still a hit job. It will not work. The Horton ad might not even work in todays world.
Ya... it's great to know that in supporting the new Huckassiah, they're willing to overlook or countenance just downright HORRIBLE decisions and a complete lack of any knowledge of how the United States operates in the world.
But it worked. The truth hurts. If not for Mike Huckabee feeling sorry for a rapist in prison and getting him out early a mother would be spending Christmas with her daughter.
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." - Ayn Rand, West Point, 1974
They both were hit pieces. But I still don't think this one will work. It has been out forever. You assume his supporters don't know this. It is all over his website and has been for a long time. He is gaining mo. Don't think this line of attack will work. Good luck.
1. This may have been out for a while, but folks are just beginning to tak a hard look at Bubba Jr.
2. The second pardon problem has surfaced. A pardon for a four time convicted drunk driver that has all the appearances of a pay off to BJ. There will be more, plan on it.
3. Based on your postings this weekend, you are a loon. I've never seen so many folks who willingly remove themselves from the reality of a candidate. You guys are worse than the Ronettes.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Lou Dobbs was basically asking throughout the interview: "Ed, what the kucf are you doing, here? And Rollins was trying his best not to have the skin on his face peel off trying to answer credibly. In fact there was nothing credible about Rollins in that interview and there's nothing credible about Mike Huckabee, except for the "splash" he's made.
Bottom line: Rollins was the last hired. He's desparate for success, and the Huckster brought him on.
From kowalski's post to which I am responding.
What does the word "kucf" mean?
Mr. Ed
Straight from the Horse's Mouth
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
Like I said before, Rollins hasn't had a winner since Whitman in the 1993 Governor's race. I don't understand what this fuss is all about.
....if so, we have him to thank for Slick Willie.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
Rollins is a major addition to a campaign that is looking more credible everyday. Those who would support a democrat over Mike Huckabee is "a fair weather friend" to the republican party I have known through the years.
I assume your post was focused on my post, and a few of the others.
For the record, I would never vote for the Democratic nominee in a time of war. Mike Huckabee, while probably number five out of the big five Republicans for me, is still better than any of the Democrats currently running (although I was not impressed with his foreign policy column).
As for the Rollins hiring, I am still not impressed by it. Huckabee actually should have done better - there are better guys out there for him to hire. Rollins just hasn't won much in the last two decades, and I think politics has passed him by. So my criticism of Rollins actually has nothing to do with Huckabee; I just wonder why everyone else thinks it is such a major positive.
Shortly after this announcement, I open the Drudgereport to find that Huckabee fired disparaging remarks about President Bush's foriegn policy. Huckabee has already violated Reagan's 11th commandment on primaries. You never diss a fellow Republican while campaigning.
Blue State by Birth, Red State by Choice
Dissed the fellow Republican trying to protect this nation day and night in a manner cheered by our enemies and adversaries.
For his "arrogant bunker mentality" comment, Huckabee is a puke. He doesn't know the first thing about what it takes to protect this nation.
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." - Ayn Rand, West Point, 1974
Or is Rollins subconsciously blinking out "SOS" with his eyelids in that interview? Or is he just blinking out: "SMM" -- send more money? Either way that has to be the creepiest thing I've ever seen.
Yes...Lou...I...Know...That...I...Have...Taken...On...A..."Different"..."Role"...here...but...when...I...realize...that...nobody...has...hired...me...yet...to...be...their...campaign...manager...I...wonder...if...I...might...go...broke...and...so...I...have...signed...on...to...Mike...Huckabees...campaign...and...if...you...could...only...see...what...it...loooks...like.....in.....my.........dreams..........now........I......am.......getting.....very..........slleeeeeeeepy.
Every one here is right. Its a terrible idea and he is a terrible candidate..wait a minute...lets check the polling in the red states....hmmmm. not going too well for the newyorker, the car salesman or the two old guys. quite possibly we dont need the national review to think for us.
Don't think so. A terrible candidate he is not. He is a true contender, no matter what the old guard on this site think. Do I wish things were different, sure. Fred could have started seriously, too late now. If I am wrong I buy the drinks.
He'd just be an awful president. I've said many times I think the guy can win. I just think a win for him would be awful for the country and awful for the small government wing of the party. But, I think he could actually expand the Republican party, as such, it would just be a party that I could no longer support.
which is why I'm a republican and compromise in order to get some of what I want implemented.
I know that the libertarian/small gov position doesn't have the votes now to win an election on it's own. But working together with other conservatives, we each get a piece of what we want while we all work to convince one another through honest discussion within the party.
Huck is something different. He's a representative of a very different coalition than the current Republican one. By combining socially conservative positions with economic populism, he simply ignores a big chunk of the current republican party.
The fact that his views could form a new coalition that could secure that new vision of the Republican party for a generation is part of why so many of us are so opposed to him. If Huck wins, there's a good chance, that we could see a radical adjustment of the Republican coalition which would leave us with no major party in support of limited government.
I understand I am a limited government guy as well. The demonizsation of Mike Huckabee is a stretch that is all. He is niether as bad as some would like us to believe not as good as some would like us to believe. But electable he may be. And would be much better than Hillary, Obama or Edwards. And even Romney or Rudy in my opinion. We might both be happy if Fred had a shot. I can't see him expanding his base at all. Even his base is disppearing. Leaving possibly McCain. Who I would love to support.
I mean, I'm sure by adpoting the platform of the Democrat Party one could perhaps expand the GOP as well.
But seeing as how we already have one Socialism-lite party I cannot for the life of me think of why anyone wants to see another - and I've seen enough of "compassionate" "conservatism" to know that someone needs to stake it through the heart and pronto.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
Before anymore damage is done.
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." - Ayn Rand, West Point, 1974
Fred Thompson would make a fine President and would represent conservative principles well. Mike Huckabee would not.
I'm not so blind as to sell out to a guy who increases tax burdens by 47% and spending by 65%.
Fred's not even my #1 guy (Romney is). But come on...Huckabee? Why?
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
With all the taxing and spending you would think I would be broke right now. Arkansas is a much better state because of Mike Huckabee. The garbage about tax and spend sure did not hurt me any. And I am upper middle class business owner. I must have been asleep. Give me a break.
from 49 to 47... that's a thrill ride a minute of progress.
To think...the last governor of Arkansas trying to sell us his record moved it from 50 to 49...
Those boys in Arkansas do believe in real change and real progress.
I am not a Huckabee for prez fan, but you are not speaking fair of my home state.
Say what you will, the state improved with his leadership.
One need only drive on I-40 to see that he worked hard to improve an infrastructure that Bubba had allowed to decay.
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
But the roads are much better and so are the schools. And so is the Republican party, which I am a part of. But it ain't Mass., thank God. No, I had rather vote for Fred, Duncan or John. But geez, louise... Mike Huckabee is not a socialist or a big government spender. That is just not the case, I don't care how many stats you put up. It just isn't true.
you blather on constantly about how you'd rather vote for... but every post you've posted is about how you huck for Huckabee.
maybe if you didn't shill for him, we'd MAYBE believe you.
He's not a socialist. He's a liberal who would vote for Reid's tax increases to offset "cuts" so he's not thought of as non-Christian.
He's not a big government spender either. He hasn't been in charge of a big government yet.
With all due respect, Arkansas is a small state with a small population. The fact that there are more people in New York City than the entire state of Arkansas...and a heck of a lot more people in Masachusetts than Arkansas, and so on... tells about dealing with a large and diverse voting populace.
Huckabee has never been challenged by radical liberals like the ilkes in Massachusetts and New York.
But again, Huckabots would rather just attack those two candidates and then immediately end their quip with "God Bless."
Just like Huckabee.
Uh Oh!!!
The Hucksters are scared of another candidate...so let the attacks begin... but don't forget to keep on Romney and Rudy and McCain for setting the record straight on Huckabee.
You may very well think that, but reality will bear you out.
Answer me this... can any discussion about Huckabee NOT turn into what's wrong with the other candidates with Hucktards NOT explaining Huckabee's record at all... or excusing unexcusable behavior.
Is Huckabee your Messiah now or something? For the Love of... *shakes head*
What's the point... you're clearly brainwashed.
the worst was Ron Paul. An as Congressional records were the ones surveyed Rudy and Huck weren't included in that rating. FT had a 83.75 % grade, not bad.
"a man's admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him". Tocqueville
No...that is how they defend Huckabee. They can't defend his record, so they'd rather focus your attention on something or someone else.
Unfortunately... Huckabee HAS used the exact same tact Clinton did...look how I improved Arkansas. Here you are saying Clinton didn't do crap for the state and Huckabee fixed it.
Seeing as, in my mind, Huckabee and Clinton offer up the exact same exaggerations and lies about their records, I tend to believe Huckabee's achievements aren't all that great.
And what would have been better to improve I-40... tolls roads.
Instead of people on the opposite side of Arkansas paying to repair I-40 with their gas taxes (and missing out on the people who can drive through Arkansas without getting gas) have the people who actually use the roads pay for them.
Now that's fiscal conservatism in my view... usage fees. You use it, you pay for it. But then again, it's probably un-Christian.
why do you even pretend to not be a Hucktard?
Seriously... you can call a toll what you want, but at least you're charging the people who use it, and people who don't live in Arkansas either even though they use the roads, instead of sticking it to someone who lives across the state who will never be on that road.
But, just like Huckabee, you like taxes on people who will never benefit.
A tax a have to pay against my freewill, a toll for a road I pay only if I choose to use the road on my freewill. One is freedom and liberty while the other is not. Get it?
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." - Ayn Rand, West Point, 1974
Rollins will make it possible for Huckabee to be portrayed as the second coming of Reagan:
“I can promise this man comes as close to anyone as filling those shoes,” Rollins said, joking that “this is the only campaign I’ve ever been in where there are no doughnuts and booze.”
Rollins has obviously been drinking again.
Just to remind all us Republicans going ga-ga over Rollins - seeing as how he ran The Little General's 1992 campaign, we probably have him to thank for 8-years of William Jefferson Clinton.
Just saying.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
Every time a resume is given of Ed Rollins they say he was campaign manager of The Gipper's 49 state landslide.
Ronnie could have had Attila the Hun as campaign manager or no campaign manager at all and won by a landslide.
Rollin's day is done and he is craving some kind of post menopause recognition.
Is it just coincidence that Ed Rollins...
1) Managed the most successful presidential campaign in U.S. history, as per electoral states (49 states), and...
2) Managed the most successful presidential campaign in U.S. history for an independent candidate?
Mr. Ed
Straight from the Horse's Mouth
You could have run Reagan's campaign in 1984 and Ronnie would have carried 45-states. Color me unimpressed that he managed to eek-out a 70k vote win in Massachusetts to pad Reagan's total.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
My point is that Rollins happens to have managed TWO historic presidential campaigns.
Mr. Ed
Straight from the Horse's Mouth
And took how many states away from GHWB?
Like I said, just saying.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
One cannot say he is simply a "one campaign wonder boy" if he has also managed another campaign in which his candidate received more votes than any other independent candidate in U.S. history.
That's two historic campaigns under his belt. You can call it coincidence if you like.
Mr. Ed
Straight from the Horse's Mouth
By running a general feel-good "morning in America" campaign it definitely helped Reagan pump up his numbers, but it also led to a lack of clear domestic agenda as well.
Instead of tackling something like entitlement reform, immigration reform, tax reform starting from a clearly articulated conservative philosophy, Reagan was left with reacting to a liberal Congress and making things "less bad" from a conservative standpoint.
In retrospect, the Reagan 84 campaign should have been more substantive and specific---the landslide would be less pronounced, but it would have helped the conservative movement.
I like Rollins as a commentator, but his endorsement or participation in a particular campaign means just a smidgen more than an official role for Dick Morris.
I never really realized that. We should have spent some political capital in 84, lost a few more states and got some things done.
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." - Ayn Rand, West Point, 1974
He is putting forth fairly detailed politically realistic conservative proposals that will be his mandate should he be elected
I don't care if Reagan himself came back from the dead to run Huckabee's campaign. I still won't vote for him.
Reagan's message and principles are what enabled him to win, not some political strategy. This is just another example of a candidate devoid of substance trying to fool the electorate into voting for him rather than convince them to vote for him. I'm beginning to think his high poll numbers are mostly media spin rather than a true reflection of the population.
I've talked to many common people who are excited about Huckabee. The "media spin" has been parroting the fiscon attacks for weeks -- Drudge and talk radio has a new angle of attack every day -- yet Huck is still moving forward. The people I have talked to don't care what Rush, Hannity, or Fox have to say about Huckabee... they just like him and his message.
Most people look at a candidate hiring a political operative as just that. I was not fooled, nor do I think anyone else was fooled into thinking that Huckabee has suddenly morphed into Reagan because Ed Rollins joined his team.
The thing about these "attacks" are that they are factual. He tries to justify why he did, or said certain things but he hasn't done much denying of the facts.
The problem is that his hypnotic lazy eye causes people to get Hucknotized and they only hear - "Christian leader."
- I have a sense of humor. I hope you have one as well.
1) Mike Huckabee
2) People demonizing Mike Huckabee.
I will never vote for the guy in the primary, but do we need to relentlessly tear him down on redstate. It seems to me that the vast majority of us already don't like him, so what is the poin of beating the proverbial dead horse (at least on the website; Huckabee isn't a dead horse(yet) in the election)
surprised if he falls w/i 72 hours. What I do know and will bet $100 on, is that he WILL FALL, and that the GOP nomination will be between the NH winner and the SC winner, and that neither will be Huck.
Bet on it. He's too liberal and ALL of the GOP will know that soon.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
It's becoming clearer by the day that we're in an untenable position when in choosing our nominee. I'm really torn now about who to support.
Huckabee: Splits the social conservatives from the economic and security conservatives. Probable loser in the general election.
Rudy: Splits the security conservatives from the social conservatives and a portion of the economic conservatives. Potential general election winner--but also at the potential cost of dividing the conservative coalition with long-term consequences for the Republican "brand."
Romney: Establishment conservative favorite with the potential problem of dividing the social conservative base based on his religion. Probable loser in the general election, but offers the possibility of maintaining Republican principles and losing in "the good fight."
McCain: Best shot, according to polls, of retaining the White House. But roundly hated for immigration, campaign finance reform, and his general hostility to the base while inexplicably cozying up to and supporting Democrats. Long-shot to even get the nomination.
Thompson: Lazy dude. Might not want to even be president at all, though together with McCain and Rudy, somebody who might actually be able to pull it off in the general.
I'm still marginally on board with Rudy because I think the social conservatives could still be brought around to at least support him over Hillary or Obama. Something that won't be reciprocated with security and economic cons when it comes to Huckabee. If Thompson could get a little traction, I'd be glad to support him though. Romney I reject because I just don't trust him--seems an opportunistic flip-flopper. McCain? Don't like him, but I could live with him as president.
This is the most exciting primary season I have ever witnessed. With Super Tuesday, and over half the total delegates to be selected only a month and a half away, we have an honest to goodness horserace, with five excellent candidates still in the running. (OK, four excellent, and 1 good)
On the other side of the aisle, we have the Donks with 3 candidates who CANNOT win a general election, all within the margin of error to win their nomination.
I vote for a brokered Convention, with all five candidates going into the convention with enough delegates to barter with. Our candidate can be selected the way God intended -- in a smoke(free) backroom!
The only reason people can support Huckabee in the G.O.P. is religion. It can't be economic or foreign policy issues.
He increased spending from 6 to 16 billion.
He increased the tax burden in Arkansas to 47%.
He supports scholarships for illegal immigrants.
He speaks class warfare like John Edwards.
He gave out 1033 pardons and commutations including 12 murderers.
He talks about "reaching out" just like a liberal when it comes to foreign policy. What's more important Huckabee? Keeping America safe or pleasing the rest of the world.
He supported lifting the embargo on Cuba.
The guy is a disaster and his record is HORRID!!
you have provided a list that nobody at this site has ever heard before. You are a credit to your chosen candidate -- whoever she might be.
He could be a secret Allan Keys operative, and was getting ready to explain to us all the wonderful things "Road Kill" Keys could tell us if we only let him talk...and talk and talk and talk....
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
in the primary in 2000. I liked his ideas -- then. I'm not sure what has happened in the past 8 years, but as the saying goes, "The mind is a terrible thing!"
You are hard core. This guy is and has been at the party way too long for a long time.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
Huckabee increased spending by $4.61 billion. That is an increase of 65.3%, or 7.4% annually. This is three times the rate of inflation. The rate far exceeded the growth of personal income and economic growth in the state.
Huckabee's spending outpaced revenues by 1.4 billion and he supported sales taxes, gas taxes, grocery taxes, even nursing home bed taxes and more.
Listen to what what the police report said about Wayne Dumond the rapist Huckabee wrote a letter to that he desired him to be set free:
WAYNE stated that he went upstairs to the bedroom, and that the woman was asleep when he went into the room. WAYNE stated that the woman woke up, and he held a knife on her while he committed the rape, and that the woman's baby was in the bed with her.
Now, Huckabee "desired" for this guy to be set free? I think this alone disqualifies him to be President. This guy got out and killed 2 women. Huckabee handed out 1033 pardons and commutations. This is crazy!!
Here's an account from one of Dumond's victims.
Standing there yielding a butcher knife above his head, was the shadow of a man. I asked "Who is it?" and he immediately burst on to my side of the bed, put his hands over my mouth and stuck the knife in my throat, whispering, "Don't say a word or I'll cut your throat." I froze and adhered to his request.
This is the guy Huckabee desired to be set free??? A blind man could see this guy would hurt somebody.
you have made your point. You have made your point three times. You have made your point three times with virtually the same post. You have made your point that you do not like Huck.
I have a novel idea. Why don't you present an idea? Or better yet, go back to Kos with your other playmates.
WHO, do you support?
I already had serious questions about the guy, but after reading of his comments about President Bush, I will not only decline to vote for him, I will actively work against him.
Guess his vast foreign policy experience allows him to make those stupid remarks.
This is Huckabee's record.
I support Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson. There's no way a conservative can support Huckabee on economic or foreign policy issues.
Reagan talked about peace through strength, trust but verify. Huckabee wants to make the world happy just like a liberal instead of first and foremost protecting this nation.
Huckabee is the G.O.P. Jimmy Carter.
This guy speaks in the language of class warfare fluently. He's worse than John Edwards. He's always talking about Wall Street greed and C.E.O. pay. This is what liberals do.
Like one Wall Street analyst said, Huckabee is going after business instead of the big government that him and liberals love so much.
Reagan is a reminder to what our GOP candidates can aspire to be. However, we MUST stop looking for another Reagan. We must pick a President that is his own man, that presents his own ideas. I don't want another Reagan. I want a President that is great on his own. NO man can be great while attempting to be someone else. No man can be great while being an imitation. As voters, WE must stop wanting our candidates to pander to us. Stop asking them to "be the next Reagan." Ask them to stand up for conservative ideals on their own. Ask them how THEY will implement those ideas and defend them from attacks by liberals. If they can't defend those ideals on their own, then, at least its the truth. Don't ask them to pretend. Pick a candidate for what he genuinely offers. Aren't you tired of fakes?
We did a critique of HukaCarter's foreign policy statements over at United Conservatives of Virginia. Even though Romney and Rudie are claiming to be the heir to Reagan, and are liberal as hell, they come across better than Huckabee.
Reagan ran against Carter in 1984 huh?
Those eight years of Carter sure flew by. Felt like four.
Hiring a campaign manager that worked for Reagan does not the reincarnated Reagan make.