This One Sucks More Than Most
Yes, I'd Vote for John McCain Over Him
By Erick Posted in 2008 — Comments (66) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
ATTENTION REPUBLICANS.
You too can support a guy who has no problem raising taxes, hiking the minimum wage, spends his time doing rice commercials, called No Child Left Behind the greatest education reform in his lifetime, wants to ban trans fats, thinks the government needs to up the funding of Phys. Ed. classes, and has a host of other nanny-statist ideas.
This "favorite of conservatives," as the Associated Press calls him, also rated 'dead last' second to last among Republican governors in CATO's 2006 rankings of the nation's governors (and sixth from the bottom overall).
That's right. Mike Huckabee is running. Welcome to the mediocrity Governor.
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This One Sucks More Than Most 66 Comments (0 topical, 66 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Give Jim Gilmore a look. Check out this detailed profile. While guys like Huckabee rasied taxes, Gilmroe spent the last year of his governorship FIGHTING tax increases despite a budget impasse. He lost some popularity, but he stuck by his guns.
Read this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/aug99/gilmoremag1.htm
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"As nations can not be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this."
- George Mason
Gilmore was an outstanding governor here in Virginia who did nothing but good things for the state. Whether he has the charisma and financial backing to succeed we will see.
Gilmore may look good on paper when it comes to things like taxes, but he was a horrible leader. He started the implosion of the Party here in VA by being masterful at offending everybody, including his base. Remember, he was the first high profile person that Bush fired, and for good reason. Inept. Totally and completely.
Fiscally responsible individuals beg to differ! There is no reason to continually run deficits. If you believe that we're in a wonderful economic period right now then it makes even less sense. Either cut something or raise taxes. Ignoring the consequences of reckless fiscal insanity undermines the trust in government and I'd say "emboldens the enemy" (or at least China) since it continues to give foreign countries control over our economic future.
What exactly does it embolden China to do, to hold mounds of US debt payable in US dollars?
Run like Reagan!
Gilmore was just on FOXnews. He is getting some press no, and said he wants to be the conservative option in 2008 for the GOP. Seems to be raising his name recognition.
He also supports government scholarships and in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
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[F]or by the fundamental law of Nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred...
-John Locke
He's solid on the life issue. Let's make sure we trash him, quick.
Candidate basically flouts our positions on most every important domestic issue, but is agreeable on one hot-button (albeit peripheral in many cases) issue... yeah, sounds like a winner to me.
"I could explain, but that would be very long, very convoluted, and make you look very stupid. Nobody wants that... except maybe me."
And I'm just going to hold my tongue on everything but the fact that I think it stinks that there is a picture that has anything to do with his weight on this post. I don't care the whys about it. I've gotta stop checking out RedState. My blood pressure does just fine when I avoid it. I'll leave politics to all of you that dig it. I can make fun of the Dixie Chicks in my livejournal.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
"for once"?
Well, I hope it's a lot more often than once...even if we disagree about the Great Yellow Smiley.
:)
It may be more often than once. It depends on where you fall in the spectrum of conservatism/republicanism. I love that little online quiz that puts you in one of four quads. We'll have to discuss sometime.
The Great Yellow Smiley is EEEEEEEEVVVVIL. I stand firm on that, however, I will concede that you are allowed to believe otherwise, certainly. However, I'm becoming one of those people that is generally grumpy and talking about how "disillusioned with the republican party" they've become and that irritates the soup out of me, so I'm removing my bookmarks and such. Those people drive me nuts and the fact that I'm hitting that point signifies that I have some thought processes that have to be entertained.
Right now, I'm not thrilled with a single candidate, and an openly hostile about some that have thrown their hat into the ring. Republicans and hilary alike. I'm not sure what I have in common with red anymore and that makes me crabby. It also makes for interesting dinnertime discussion in my household. ;) I'm not thrilled w/how the Republicans are handling things and that includes supporters (myself included). I'm burned out.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
I'm ok with most of our candidates, though certainly none are perfect. But I find it disturbing that we seem to be going out of our way to tear down every single candidate we have a year before a single vote is cast. It's like some WANT to clear the field for the Dems in 08. I'll not participate in it (with the exception of Hagel, but he deserves it, and he's not a serious candidate anyway). If I have reservations about a candidate (like Rudy), I will say so, but I am not going to attack them (again, except for Hagel who so richly deserves every drop of scorn we can muster).
you talking to me? Is Romney better than whom?
(my personal opinion right now is that Romney is probably better than most, and is probably my early - but far from committed - favorite, but I did not mention him, and I don't know what that has to do with my post anyway)
is that I don't think Romney is any better than Hagel. He is simply our own version of Bill Clinton... just say anything to get elected based on what race you are running for at the time. After watching the '94 video, I wouldn't vote for Romney... in any race... for any election... ever.
In defense of the picture, I do have to say that Huckabee has made his weight loss into his signature issue, not anyone at Redstate. And I, for one, think that is a good thing in terms of a major problem that besets our nation, but at the same time, if he's the one that's making it a major talking point, well, then he shouldn't be surprised if it defines him.
"I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to engage my brain before my mouth." Donald Rumsfeld
AE, my problem wasn't necessarily the discussion of what defines him as a person, though I don't think a person's weight should be that. In my way of thinking, I'm allowed to make fun of how fat I am. You aren't. Period. My issue was with using Richard Simmons, for all of the things that Richard Simmons uses to define himself as a person. Everyone is allowed to have a life outside of their jobs.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
I am sorry if you think I was being cheap and taking a shot--that was not my intention. I just don't see that using an image of Waldo to poke fun at Romney is any different than using a charicature like Simmons (which Simmons himself cultivated) to poke fun at Huckabee. Huckabee has used his weight loss as the topic of a book and as a subject for speeches on a lecture circuit. He has made this his issue--and if it can't be spoken of or criticized, then I think that's the equivalent of saying that a candidate can define themselves through their ethnicity, write books about it and selectively capitalize on it, but no one else is allowed to mention it.
Again, personally I think that by doing this, Huckabee has raised a serious issue that could use some more air time in this country. But I don't think should be some sort of fourth rail.
"I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to engage my brain before my mouth." Donald Rumsfeld
I saw the inclusion of Simmons picture as a dig at Huckabee's position on the banning of trans fats from resteraunts and grocers. I didn't see it as a dig at his weight. If Huckabee wants to be large, or wants to lose weight that is fine with me. He shouldn't tell me what I can eat in a resteraunt.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" - Defoe
I`m glad he`s solid on the life issue. All Republican Presidential candidates should be. That alone, though, doesn`t mean he should be the nominee. The Pope is solid on the life issue too, but that doesn`t mean I think he should be President. A pro-life stance should be a sine qua non of Republican Presidential candidates, not a feather in their cap.
We finally have a candidate crappier than Brownback. Amazing!! :)
Gov. Huckabee should run for Senate. Although many here disagree with his views enough to never consider him for President, he has the statewide popularity to run against Sen. Pryor in 2008. It's too bad he picked this quixotic bid over a more reasonable one.
______________________________________
Social Security Choice - Club For Growth
Right now, I'd think it would be an uphill fight. He's probably currently the only Republican who could mount a credible campaign, but like I said, there's a lot of Huckabee fatigue out there. There's also a sense that he's abandoned the state to pursue his lofty ambitions. In a state with a massive inferiority complex, this doesn't play well. It hurt Asa Hutchinson.
Secondly, I don't think his voting record would be much different than either of the Democratic Senators. That is, he'd surely caucus with Republicans, but otherwise, little would change in the Senate.
He's considered, even by his critics, as the 4th or 5th best governor this state has ever had. However, after 10 years, there is some Huckabee fatigue in the state. And there are some skeletons. Probably some that will be pretty difficult to overcome in a national campaign.
Actually, his tenure at governor has been more or less positive. Does that necessarily make him a good candidate for President? No. And, his path to the governor's mansion was unusual--He become Lt. Gov. in a special election held over the summer with a low turnout because Jim Guy Tucker had become governor with Clinton taking the Presidency. When Mr. Tucker had his little problem with the federal law, Huckabee became governor. So he won two elections for Gov, but both as incumbent.
He's a social conservative, economic populist with a more or less pro-business record. He has no problem with the idea of using government to encourage good behavior.As far as foreign policy, as best I can tell, he'll continue the Bush policy.
>>He's considered, even by his critics, as the 4th or 5th best governor this state has ever had.
His immediate predecessor was sent to prison. The one before copped a plea bargain and was disbarred. So he is the only governor of Arkansas in the past 20 years who is not actually a criminal.
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
International Editor of
I still say he was a better choice than either of the other guys who he ran against.
Veritas magna est et praevalet.
They will anyway.
Veritas magna est et praevalet.
since everyone's so into pledging stuff these days, we need an "I Will Not Break The 11th Commandment (offer not valid to Chuck Hagel)" pledge. At least until the debates. And even then, respectfully, and rationally.
While I know who my first choice is (Rudy), I'd enthusiastically support McCain or Romney, and be just fine getting behind Brownback, Hunter, Huckabee, Gingrich, Thompson, or Gilmore when compared to the alternative. I'm all for strenuous argument among the party to settle on the standard bearer, but we don't need to go out of our way to mock our potential nominees.
As much delight as I may take in mocking McCain, Romney, Huckabee or Brownback (etc.), I'm going to try to stay positive.
If I didn't knock the candidates I didn't like, I'd have nothing at all to say about 2008 yet. And that'd be no fun.
Run like Reagan!
"Where Have All The Conservatives Gone?"
Huckabee is no conservative. I see very little difference in him and the current George W. Bush when it comes to social and economic policies.
I applaud Gov. Huckabee for his inspiring weight loss and I am happy that he is encouraging other Americans to get healthy.
Mike Huckabee never saw a tax he didn't like. Under his leadership, Arkansas saw the largest tax increases in its history. He wants to fling our doors open wide to illegal immigrants and put them on the government dole.
He does have some good qualities but none of them make me want to vote for him for president. I'm not in favor of trans fats but I don't think the government has the Constitutional power to ban them, nor should they.
But the big key here is that trans fats is not at the top of my policy priorities. Mike Huckabee is pro-life. That is a huge plus in my book. However, I have to weigh that against how many Americans could needlessly die if we don't close the gates on our borders.
Unless somebody emerges as a true conservative, this next presidential election is going to be choice of the lesser of evils. Where is our next Ronald Reagan? We need him now more than ever.
-- Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong. -- Ronald Reagan
Remember his first try at cutting taxes though? Instead of going for rate reductions, he tried some Keynesian stimulus thing.
Had he done a real rate reduction first, we might have seen unemployment drop faster.
Run like Reagan!
I really do. (and yes, I see a lot of W in Huckabee)
But I also don't see a lot of value to a movement when you take a soldier who's been loyal (and by accounts, pretty valiant at it) on a terribly important front - and trash him wholesale. Honestly, I don't mind pissing off Pat Buchanan's single-issue deal-breaking supporters - but I'd rather not give that impression to the prolifers that will take a bullet for the gov.
Hey, I'm still waiting on Coburn to cave on human cloning so we can get his DNA in a lab ASAP.
Huckabee is no conservative. I see very little difference in him and the current George W. Bush when it comes to social and economic policies.
Huckabee is a true social conservative... unlike Romney or Rudy.
in Iowa... watch for this!!!
By the way, Huckabee is a strong Social Conservative candidate in a way that Brownback isn't...he's charismatic and immediately likeable. Personally, with regards to his tax increases, I think he did the right thing a great deal of times (but definitely not always) considering the balanced budget amendment Arkansas has. I think he has a less expansive view of government on the national level though.
But what do I know? I'm one of the Pro-Lifers For Huckabee^TM. I'll support any of our guys not named Guiliani or Pataki. However, I will probably work for Huckabee or maybe Hunter. (Unless the field really narrows to McCain/Guiliani/Romney, in which case I break for McCain.)
Every state save Vermont is required by state law to balance the budget. The devil is how the budget is balanced. Huckabee has balanced the budget without resorting to accounting trickery. He hasn't used the tobacco settlement to plug holes in the budget, and he's left his successor with a fat budget surplus.
Now, he's raised taxes, but he's cut them as well. He has increased spending, but at least some of that was court mandated. There's no way you could call him a small gov't conservative. On the other hand, if you consider how other states spend money, Huckabee's expansion of state services doesn't even begin to approach that found in real big government states. There's not a great deal of fat in the state budget here.
As far as his social conservativism, it is sincere and uncompromising. And yet it is presented in a non-divisive way for lack of a better term. Indeed, he may be one of the few politicians out there who can persuade moderates to support more conservative positions.
I'm tremendously grateful to have W in office. He hasn't been perfect but he's been a great leader and he's fought for American values and security. If we end up with Huckabee it won't be the end of the Republic--in fact--I think Huckabee isn't all that bad.
But Romney is better. He has been very solid of foreign policy. He's said a lot of good things about Iran, which is likely to be the next Iraq, and that's important. I'm a social conservative and I don't question Romney's sincerity. He governed well in Massachusetts on stem cells and marriage.
Reagan is not here anymore and it looks like we're not going to have "another Reagan" in '08. The truth is, who knows if he'd win, anyway. So let's find ourselves someone who will keep America safe, work with Congress on eliminating government waste (and that means getting more Republicans elected), and someone who will build a culture of life and traditional values. To me, that Romney.
But frankly, the GOP is about to implode over Iraq. It seems the only people who want America to win this war are the troops, the president, and the American people. If we can just get that through to our GOP Senators it'll be a lot easier. I don't believe the American people are even close to being anti-war peaceniks. The GOP leadership is trying to drive a profoundly good country into the ground. Let's worry about winning the war and political support therein. Then we'll worry about Romney or Rudy or whomever.
I know, God has declared they haven't a chance. I love God...
I actually think Rudy would be a great president, but I am worried about the ground that may be laid by spineless repubs in congress that may leave the US no war party. I pray our 08 nominee is an unapologetic hawk.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @
The Charlotte Observer
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
from the picture, for a moment I thought Richard Simmons was running for President!!!
How, pray tell, would he be much worse than most of the others running for President (for either party)?
I think the quote attributed to Twain summed it up, saying the smartest people will never be President because they're smart enough to know they don't want the job.
"I could explain, but that would be very long, very convoluted, and make you look very stupid. Nobody wants that... except maybe me."
the best alternative as long a fence IS bulit along the border. Not many Reps. or Senators from CAL, AZ, NM, TX or FLA either Democrats or Republicans will vote for anything else, because of the hispanics in their states. With those states blocking any program that sends back illegals here already, we need to focus on prevention from more crossing the border. While in a perfect world, only legal immigrants were allowed to stay here, there is no way all illegals can or will be deported. So while I don't like the plan, it's not my #1 priority in the 08 election.
Go Dawgs, Sic em' Woof Woof
You seem to think that because we can't deport people, that we can't attack the problem of illegals being here. That's the problem with you're thinking.
If we make conditions here more difficult for illegals, by going after their employers, then the jobs will dry up and they'll have to leave on their own!
Run like Reagan!
along with penalties. I'm for prevention 100%. just saying anyone who thinks we can deport all illegals that are here now are crazy.
Go Dawgs, Sic em' Woof Woof
Everyone seems to be looking for the next Reagan. There won't be another Reagan per se. The issues will have changed, so there will be very clear differences between Reagan and the next leader of similar character and substance.
So how will we recognise this person? I have only two predictions.
1. We won't recognise him before his first election, and probably not until after his second.
2. With hindsight we will know because people will stop talking about 'the next Reagan' and start talking about 'the next ________'.
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
International Editor of
He or she will say things that are so far removed from conventional wisdom that they will be taken as indicating (simultaneously) a moron level of intelligence, and a ruthless cunning capable of destroying the world.
In Reagan's case, it was "We don't need to settle for stalemate and balance-of-terror in the Cold War. We can, and must, actually win it."
Not Fiscal Liberalism/Social Conservatism, which is precisly what Mike Huckabee is. He's the polar opposite of a principled Republican. He's more of a "Richard Daley type, Populist/Authoritarian Nanny-Stater."
Bob Riley of Alabama is no better.
We need a Republican with Western values of individualism and libertarian "live and let live."
Ironically, of all the candidates out there right now, it's a New Yorker - Rudy Giuliani - who seems to have he most Western of values, while a Westerner like McCain has New York values.
This Huckabee fellow seems to have the values of tax 'em and toll 'em til they hurt Chicago.
I'm for Rudy.
Eric Dondero
www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
It'll be mighty ironic, then, if the 'western' Giuliani runs, and gets clobbered in the west on one of those more western issues: gun rights.
Run like Reagan!
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
The HinzSight Report
Race 4 2008
a distinction conservatives need to make to be consistent. One aspect of conservative philosophy is to move more responsibilities to the states, where the founders properly put them so as to have govt be more accountable and efficient. I think, therefore, that we need to understand that some things have to be done by government, that we prefer that states do it, and that it has to be paid for. So I think we do a disservice to out GOP Guvs when we beat up on them for paying for services where they can't print money and where supply side doesn't work as well as at the national level.
You do recognize that the evaluation of state vs fed gopers must consider the above?
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
The HinzSight Report
Race 4 2008
w/o overtly trashing southern values, that, admittedly
yes, admittedly, (happy? smile)
has some big guv tendencies given history. But most southern cons are fiscal cons, and with the blessed westerners help, we will overcome!
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
The HinzSight Report
Race 4 2008
Buzz I support Giuliani but lets call a statist a statist. He is a statist, with fiscal conservative, pro business and hands off attitudes toward social relationships.
What recommends him is he a very able and effective at achieving his goals and has a very firm grasp of what constitutes an improvement.
Veritas magna est et praevalet.
for a minute I thought Richard Simmons was running!
Re: This "favorite of conservatives," as the Associated Press calls him, also rated 'dead last' in CATO's rankings of the nation's governors.
Do they only rate Republicans? At the very least his neighbor in the governor's mansion of Baton Rouge deserves lower scores. I should think a few others (Ms. Granholm in MI for example) should be bringing up the rear too.