Redstate

Posted at 11:04pm on Jul. 7, 2008 The Answer: Because they know it's *not real*

By Jeff Emanuel

The Question:

Why is it that the anti-theist Left wing goes nuts shrieking "Church and State" and spouting accusations of "[breaking] with longstanding precedent" by "unveil[ing] a presidential campaign ad infused with deeply religious tones" when they look hard enough, with enough prejudice, at the image below to find a phantom religious symbol in it...

...yet there's nary a peep from those same anti-religion Lefties when Barack Obama does this:

Evangelical Christians, and other religious individuals who occasionally feel drawn in by Barack Obama's rapidly-changing message, should keep that question, and the answer, in mind when considering who they want to support -- and why -- this election season.

The anti-religious Left allows Obama and other Democrats to use the imagery and the language of the Church, to attend and be active in churches for two decades-plus, and to speak to people of faith in what they assume is "their" language without argument or protestation (when a fraction of that level of "religious" activity would earn a Republican the title of "theocrat") because the Left knows Obama, et al are simply doing those things out of a need to appeal to the bitter religion-clingers, not because they actually believe or mean them in any way.

Christians should simply look at the Left's reaction to Barack Obama or any other Democrat politician's religious statements and claims of faith to gauge just how real those claims are. Just refer to the above exhibit for evidence of how serious, and how authentic, Barack Obama's are.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Church and State | Mike Huckabee | Obamafiles — Comments (57)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:44am on May 22, 2008 My line in the sand with John McCain

By Erick

News is breaking that John McCain is meeting with Bobby Jindal, Charlie Crist, and Mitt Romney this Memorial Day weekend.

The media is missing another name that I know of. Likewise, for those still following the Huckabee veepstakes rumor mill, a whisper in my ear tells me he has taken himself out of the running after a visit by a McCain emissary to Arkansas last week.

Let me just be blunt with the McCain folks. The name that the media is not listing is wholly unacceptable and I really can't think McCain would seriously consider him. I realize he's a friend and all, but seriously, no hell no. And I actually suspect he's just tagging along like he has throughout the campaign. But not him Senator -- go with Lieberman or Ron Paul before you go with him.

Now, to the list as presented by the media:

Bobby Jindal -- I expect he'll say no, but you can ask. Louisiana needs him and he needs more time in office. But good choice.

Mitt Romney -- absolutely, but he really doesn't get you as much as a few others could. But he'd be great.

Charlie Crist -- are you kidding me? Seriously? Let me be blunt yet again: I will bolt so fast from supporting you if you pick this well tanned squish and all his baggage. Charlie Crist is totally and completely unacceptable. That's not even negotiable. I do not think I could say anything positive at all about the GOP ticket if that guy were on it. Go with Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee, but do not go with Charlie Crist. Senator, your problem is with conservatives, not with squishy moderates.

(actually, I think Huckabee would be a good pick for you, but that's another blog post)

I realize McCain needs face time with these guys. My understanding is that this is one of several meetings like this. And I suspect this is the "thanks, but no thanks" meeting. As far as Crist is concerned, it sure as hell better be.

Honestly, and this is where you guys decide I'm crazy, but I'm convinced I'm crazy like a fox, have I got a Veep pick for you, Senator McCain. Seriously.

Posted in 2008 | Bobby Jindal | Charlie Crist | Jeb Bush | Mike Huckabee | Mitt Romney | Squishes — Comments (249)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:57am on May 13, 2008 Might I point something out?

By Erick

Mike Huckabee ran a Christmas time commercial in Iowa that had a "subliminal cross" in it. Remember that? It was a bookshelf. The media went nuts.

"He's using *religion* to get votes," the MSM said. "That's disgusting." "That's a violation of the separation of church and state," the MSM continued.

For days the media, more so than any candidate, blasted Huckabee for daring to do a Christmas ad with a bookshelf that looked like a cross.

Since we haven't heard any outrage about this from the MSM, I guess they're all burned out of anti-religion vitriol.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Mike Huckabee — Comments (112)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:36pm on Feb. 24, 2008 McCain Gets Puerto Rico

By California Yankee

Joining Republicans in American Samoa and the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico Republicans awarded 20 delegates to Senator McCain:

The at-large delegates each will cast one vote at the Republican National Convention this summer. Three "superdelegates," who are not bound by Sunday's results, also have pledged to back McCain, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

With the delegates from Puerto Rico, McCain has 996 of the 1,191 delegates he needs to secure the Republican nomination. Mike Huckabee continues to be stuck at 254 delegates.

Posted in 2008 | John McCain | Mike Huckabee | Puerto Rico — Comments (16)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:07am on Feb. 24, 2008 McCain Wins Two More

Huckabee Remains Tenacious

By California Yankee

Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee won two more nominating contests.

The nine delegates to a national Republican convention from the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will all be supporting McCain.

The American Samoa Republican Party announced Saturday that all nine of the delegates of the American Samoa Republican Party will also support John McCain.

The delegates from American Samoa and the Northern Marianas give McCain 976 of the 1,191 delegates required to secure the Republican nomination. Mike Huckabee remains far behind with 254 delegates.

Huckabee continues to reject calls that he drop out of the race.

UPDATE: From Huckabee's February 23rd appearance on Saturday Night Live!

Posted in 2008 | American Samoa | John McCain | Mike Huckabee | The Northern Marianas — Comments (17)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:29am on Feb. 14, 2008 Mike Huckabee Didn't Major In Math . . .

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

But fortunately, others have. Even non-math majors might want to take notice. Miracles majors may also want to note that it would take one heck of a barnburner of a humdinger of a miracle for Mike Huckabee to win 123% of the remaining delegates in order to wrest the Republican nomination from John McCain. I doubt that even summa cum laude graduates from top-notch miracles departments would be able to pull something like that off, let alone Mike Huckabee.

Posted at 10:44am on Feb. 13, 2008 It's time to "go gentle into that good night"

By Alexham

Governor Huckabee-

Alexham here. You know me. I've been a strong supporter of yours for quite some time now--long before you received the "Colbert bump" or even came close to registering as more than a blip in the national polls. I've put a great deal of time and energy into your campaign, and I would love nothing more than to see you as the GOP's presidential nominee. But that's not going to happen.

To be sure, there are other reasons besides winning to stay in a presidential race: to speak out on issues of importance (e.g., life issues), to keep the presumptive nominee from veering too far to the left, and to position oneself for another presidential run (to name just a few). And up until last night, I truly felt like you should stay in the race for all of these reasons. But the time has come to bow out gracefully.

And here's the thing: You've already won. You've established yourself as a force to be reckoned with in the GOP for the foreseeable future, a major contender in 2012 or 2016, and, more importantly, as one of the most eloquent spokesmen for a "Culture of Life" in this country. Please don't ruin that hard-earned reputation for the sake of a few more days in the media spotlight. You've always said that your campaign wasn't about you, but was instead about the promotion of transcendent values/principles in government. Well, now is the time to prove that you meant what you said by stepping aside gracefully, and allowing Senator McCain to begin the process of "putting the band back together." The stakes are simply too high to do otherwise.

Posted in 2008 | Mike Huckabee — Comments (25)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:05pm on Feb. 10, 2008 Huckabee Challenging Washington Vote

It's Unseemly When Republicans Act Like Democrats

By California Yankee

Mike Huckabee is challenging the results of the Washington State Caucuses:

The Huckabee campaign claims the state chairman declared McCain the winner before all the votes were counted:

Campaign Chairman Ed Rollins told reporters Sunday that in addition to delegates, the “dubious” announcement hurt Huckabee’s momentum after surprise wins in Kansas and Louisiana Saturday night.

[. . .]

Rollins said he was not accusing the McCain campaign of anything, but said Washington Republican State Party Chairman Luke Esser suspended voting with only 87 percent of the votes counted, and then issued a press release declaring McCain the victor. When Huckabee campaign officials reached Esser Sunday, he said the rest of the votes would be counted today and refused requests for the campaign to monitor the tallying, Rollins said, adding Esser said the campaign should trust the party.

“At this point of time, I want to make sure that every vote is counted, and I’m not accusing anyone of mischief at this time; I’m accusing someone of bad judgment,” he said.
[. . .]

Rollins added the dubious counting hurt the perception of their wins Saturday.

"There's a big difference in impact between our campaign winning three primaries and caucuses yesterday as we go into one, the way reporting would have been done, as opposed to two wins and one loss, and one loss which we are now certainly questioning," he said.

CNN reports the difference between McCain and Huckabee as 242 votes, with 87% of the vote reported.

Even if Rollins is right, I can't help but think that the Huckabee campaign is acting like the Sore/Loserman campaign in Florida, circa 2000.

Posted in 2008 | Mike Huckabee | Washington Caucuses — Comments (97)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:00pm on Feb. 8, 2008 Re: HuckColberry

By Ben Domenech

It's another sign that, regardless your opinion of Huckabee's politics, his relative youth and ability to connect with an audience at any level means he's going to be active on the national stage lot longer than just this cycle.

Moe, it's notable that The Daily Show and the Colbert Report have gone in absolutely different directions during the writer's strike - a sign that Colbert's natural comedic timing and ability to improvise is able to elevate even lesser quality content to create funny.

Posted at 11:16am on Feb. 8, 2008 Huckabee to Colbert: "I am in it to win it"

By Alexham

This is awesome:

Posted at 10:33am on Feb. 6, 2008 Re: You say you want a revolution

By Alexham

I am just bustin' your chops, fearless leader, for giving me a hard time the other day when I suggested that Huckabee could win Georgia.

Needless to say, I too aim to win.

Posted at 1:52am on Feb. 6, 2008 Dan, when the revolution comes . . .

By Alexham

You will be spared.

Erick on the other hand . . . :)

Posted at 12:05am on Feb. 6, 2008 Good Day To Be Huck

By Dan McLaughlin

Huck tonight...he was wearing the Eli Manning "I can't believe I got this far" face. You just can't help being impressed with what he has accomplished in this race with no money, no staff, no name recognition, etc. And it sure seems like a lot of voters across the heartland of the GOP base looked at the choice between McCain and Romney and decided to just vote their hearts.

As for Hillary, she was wearing a smile that could cut glass.

Posted at 9:19pm on Feb. 5, 2008 Su-Fu-Tuesday Brings Clarity, Fear

What a terrible horrible no good very bad day

By Ben Domenech

Super Effing Tuesday is upon us, in all its fearsome glory. Were I in a state that was voting, I'd have rented out a dive bar for conservatives to join in a raucous celebration of this momentous triumph of suck.

We've had all the predictions, and there are tons of open threads to occupy you here tonight. But there are three points that I think will likely emerge as the night goes on:

1. McCain will not lock this up tonight. He'll have to go on to win Virginia and likely all the way to Texas, but if the exit polls hold, he has to hope that Huckabee - who's played his wingman for about the past three weeks - continues to play nice and is content to coast to being the Last Action Hero's Veep.

2. Romney continues to perform horribly in the South, despite having a ton of endorsements and a very good campaign organization. The South is still the most personality-driven political arena in America, and there are some things that not even money and machines can overcome. I don't think he's going to get enough momentum out of the West to change that in the coming primaries.

3. I respect Dr. Dobson more than a lot of other folks, but the idea of releasing a statement that he'll stay home and won't vote in a McCain-Clinton election this late in the game indicates to me that he isn't all that enthused about throwing support to Huckabee or Romney. Had Dobson announced this a week ago, he would've had a definite impact today, and moved a few key points to whoever he wished. But by waiting and making this a non-factor, I think it's a sign that as much as he dislikes McCain, Dobson is resigned to the fact that he's the likeliest nominee.

My prescription for getting through the night: I recommend strong bourbon and a large dose of Michael Barone and Karl Rove.

[Update:] Romney's speech tonight seemed more resigned than optimistic. This one hurts, and I just don't think his heart's in it any more.

As for Huckabee, his staff is just giddy: with the potential for wins in AR, GA, AL, WV, MO and TN, this is a much better night than anyone expected, and unless Romney performs above expectations in California, Huckabee's path to victory, while still very unlikely, is now much more realistic than Romney's. KS, VA, TX, MS, NC, KY...all of these are states where Huckabee can have a far more realistic foothold than Romney.

Posted in 2008 | Fred Thompson Is Not Running | John McCain | Mike Huckabee | Mitt Romney — Comments (257)/ Email this page » / Read More »