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Huckabee. Really? Huckabee?
Mike Huckabee has vaulted from nowhere into second place in the Republican presidential race, riding a burst of support from evangelicals, Southerners and conservatives, a poll showed Friday.
The upsurge by the former Arkansas governor has come largely at the expense of Fred Thompson, according to the national survey by The Associated Press and Ipsos. Thompson has dropped after failing to galvanize the party's right-wing core as much as some had expected.
Rudy Giuliani remains the front-runner, yet while his support long has been steady it shows signs of fraying. Huckabee's growing strength in the South has come as the former New York mayor's support there has dropped, the poll found.
"Why not me?" Huckabee said in an interview Thursday. "I meet all the criteria. I'm conservative, but I think I appeal to a broader set of voters. And I think that people are also looking for someone with whom they can identify."
Occasional reason contributor Jim Henley might want to warm up his oven to prepare all the crow he'll have the right to feed to the rest of the doubting world if the Huck keeps surging.
Elemenope|12.7.07 @ 9:51AM|#
Huckabee is conservative the way that William Jennings Bryan's warmed-over corpse is conservative. If there wasn't a threat of him actually winning the nomination, this shit would just crack me up.
|12.7.07 @ 9:57AM|#
Occasional reason contributor Jim Henley might want to warm
up his over to prepare all the crow he'll have the right to feed to
the rest of the doubting world if the Huck keeps
surging.
Well, in that case, occasional Hit & Run poster Pig Mannix will
be voting Democrat for the first time since 1976.
Seriously, what does this guy have to offer fiscal conservatives or
libertarians?
My guess is that aside from the instant constituency he has, that
is, the "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!" crowd, his
appeal is limited. What you see is all you're going to get.
Mike Laursen|12.7.07 @ 9:59AM|#
Now that Matt Welch is Editor in Chief, I suppose he doesn't have time to write a book taking down ALL the Presidential candidates. It would be nice, though.
Mr. Obvious|12.7.07 @ 10:00AM|#
I'd rather vote for the hildebeast than huckabee. At least
she'll admit she's doing it out of naked ambition (and for the
children, of course), he thinks he's doing it because god wants him
to.
Either way we're gonna get waffled.
|12.7.07 @ 10:01AM|#
Which Reason writer called this about a year ago? Was it Jeff
Taylor?
I remember agreeing with him.
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 10:08AM|#
Here's my question. Is Huck really a dumbass bible thumper
populist, or is he a craven opportunist who figured doing the
bible-thumping populist routine would win votes--and turned out to
be right?
At least if he's just an opportunist he's less dangerous.
drawnasunder|12.7.07 @ 10:09AM|#
But wait a minute - from what I've seen of him on TV and the
internet, Huckabee is a sack of shit.
People aren't really going to vote for a sack of shit to be their
president, are they? That would be silly.
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 10:10AM|#
I hope Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee get in a dirty battle and
take each other out.
A guy can dream, can't he?
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 10:10AM|#
If Mitt Romney wasn't a Mormon, he'd be running away with
the election.
Maybe. The fact that he looks and sort of sounds like a mild Gordon
Gecko running for prez is probably not in his favor.
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 10:12AM|#
I hope Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee get in a dirty battle
and take each other out.
Two men enter--no man leaves. We should definitely change our
election process to the Thunderdome. Master Blaster for President!
Break a deal--face the wheel!
|12.7.07 @ 10:12AM|#
If Mitt Romney wasn't a Mormon, he'd be running away with
the election.
As an executive he's probably got the strongest resume of any
candidate in either party.
Unfortunately his credentials as a war-mongerin', bible-thumpin',
crotch-tuggin' thug in a party increasingly dominated by
war-mongerin', bible-thumpin', crotch-tuggin' thugs aren't quite up
to snuff...
|12.7.07 @ 10:16AM|#
My theory is that front running candidates tend to limit their
efforts in the early caucus/primary states, figuring that any surge
by the also-rans will only serve to better motivate their own
supporters in the more critical Super Tuesday primaries.
Conversely, the weaker candidates need to concentrate their
resources on the early, small states to make any impression at all.
The media, meanwhile, welcomes any uncertainty that might make the
primaries flirt with being interesting.
All of this has tended to fuel "surprises" like the Huckabee surge
in every presidential race. It will probably have about as much
impact on the actual election or policy stances as Pat Buchanan's
victory in New Hampshire in '96 -- the Religious Right will get
scratched behind the ears at the Republican Convention and
reassured as to how important it is, and then the business of the
actual campaign will continue as usual.
x,y|12.7.07 @ 10:17AM|#
I'd vote for any Democrat before I pull the lever for Huckabee. But if Paul doesn't win the nomination, I'll vote 3rd party again.
|12.7.07 @ 10:17AM|#
Seriously, what does this guy have to offer fiscal
conservatives or libertarians?
Pain. Ever increasing pain.
|12.7.07 @ 10:22AM|#
Has anyone seen the Campbell's sour ad where the chef gets hit
with a wave and decides to use sea salt to lower the sodium in the
soup?
That guy looks exactly like Mike Huckabee.
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 10:23AM|#
Has anyone seen the Campbell's sour ad where the chef gets
hit with a wave and decides to use sea salt to lower the sodium in
the soup?
That guy looks exactly like Mike Huckabee.
I thought exactly the same thing!
lunchstealer|12.7.07 @ 10:29AM|#
Jesus Christ. Don't these people know how much I hate Hillary Clinton? But they're going to make me vote for her. I'm starting to think that the GOP is in a big conspiracy to piss me off, personally.
|12.7.07 @ 10:32AM|#
Great, next we'll hear about an Edwards surge, at which point I'll shoot myself in the head.
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 10:35AM|#
Great, next we'll hear about an Edwards surge, at which
point I'll shoot myself in the head.
Terrifying future: President Huck with VP Joe Lieberman. Endless
war, religion, and nanny state plus even more stepped-up WOD.
Wear your diapers.
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 10:36AM|#
I just read an article saying that Huckabee is running an ad in
Iowa declaring himself a "Christian leader." What a
#(*&%(@!
Then he refuses to comment on Mormonism because it shouldn't be an
issue for the POTUS, but then he goes running ads declaring himself
a "Christian leader?!"
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 10:41AM|#
$100 says the first act of President Huckabee is to suck the life out of every remaining secular person in the country.
|12.7.07 @ 10:44AM|#
People aren't really going to vote for a sack of shit to be
their president, are they?
If the choices are Huckabee and Clinton, they won't really have an
option, will they?
|12.7.07 @ 10:55AM|#
Why not me?" Huckabee said in an interview
Thursday.
Why? Because you're a lying, thieving, coninving, sanctimonius sack
of shit - that's why. Did I leave anything out?
lunchstealer|12.7.07 @ 10:57AM|#
Great, next we'll hear about an Edwards surge, at which
point I'll shoot myself in the head.
Terrifying future: President Huck with VP Joe Lieberman. Endless
war, religion, and nanny state plus even more stepped-up WOD.
Wear your diapers.
Gah! I'm not listening! I'm not listening! I'm not listening!
AHHH!
God damnit, fuck. Bush made me look back with fondness on the
Clinton years, now is some dickchop going to make me look back at
BUSH like good times?
I can't take this anymore.
Shannon Chamberlain|12.7.07 @ 10:58AM|#
I'm working on my bumper stickers for the administration of President Huckabee. "Huckabee: Definitive Proof That We Are Related to Apes" is probably my best one so far.
Skoal|12.7.07 @ 10:59AM|#
Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
Cara, dude, that's been happening every year for like sixty-someodd
years now. Priorities man, priorities. ;-)
|12.7.07 @ 10:59AM|#
How is Huckabee going to woo the Christian folks when he can't seem to keep criminals in jail? That libral-type "Christian compassion" sounds like....Joseph Smith.
|12.7.07 @ 10:59AM|#
...the "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!"
crowd...
More like "praise the Lord and pass me some cash."
Vermont Gun Owner|12.7.07 @ 11:00AM|#
Then he refuses to comment on Mormonism because it shouldn't
be an issue for the POTUS, but then he goes running ads declaring
himself a "Christian leader?!"
This just in: Christian leaders decide Jesus didn't have a problem
with the crucifixion because he didn't say "This is an unjust
punishment and I deserve clemency!"
Jim Henley|12.7.07 @ 11:02AM|#
Just want to note that I'm not a Huckabee booster, except insofar as bettors identify a little with the object of his wager.
|12.7.07 @ 11:02AM|#
"People aren't really going to vote for a sack of shit to be
their president, are they? That would be silly."
I seem to recall that they voted that way last election.
|12.7.07 @ 11:03AM|#
"Christian leaders decide Jesus didn't have a problem with
the crucifixion because he didn't say 'This is an unjust punishment
and I deserve clemency!'"
Well he also didn't mug for the camera and say, "I'm Jesus Christ,
and I approve this crucifixion."
lunchstealer|12.7.07 @ 11:06AM|#
Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Cara, dude, that's been happening every year for like sixty-someodd years now. Priorities man, priorities. ;-)
Yeah, and 9/11 changed everything.
|12.7.07 @ 11:08AM|#
Sidetrack and point of etiquette: Is it appropriate to say something when somebody calls it "nine-one-one" instead of nine eleven?
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 11:10AM|#
I can see Huck's campaign look now: he and his VP dressed up like the Blues Brothers saying "we're on a mission from God".
|12.7.07 @ 11:11AM|#
Cara Lutetia | December 7, 2007, 10:49am | #
OT:
Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Skoal | December 7, 2007, 10:54am | #
Two words: Chuck. Norris.
Seriously, who's surprised by this again?
On Pearl Harbor Day, there were no Japanese planes within 1000
miles of Hawaii. But Chuck Norriss had been called a fruitcake by a
sailor in an Tiki bar the day before.
Anonymo the Anonymous|12.7.07 @ 11:17AM|#
Occasional reason contributor Jim Henley might want to warm
up his oven to prepare all the crow he'll have the right to feed to
the rest of the doubting world if the Huck keeps
surging.
Now Edward has his smoking gun -- "Those Nazi fanatics are
warming the ovens!"
|12.7.07 @ 11:21AM|#
Why not me?" Huckabee said in an interview Thursday.
Why? Because you're a lying, thieving, coninving, sanctimonius sack of shit - that's why. Did I leave anything out?
Yes. You forgot that he has a wandering eye. Why not him? Because
it will be impossible for leaders of other nations to see
eye-to-eye with him. Just looking at him makes my eyes go all
googly trying to figure out where he's looking.
Sidetrack and point of etiquette: Is it appropriate to say something when somebody calls it "nine-one-one" instead of nine eleven?
If the person is over the age of 12, yes. You should correct them,
and then call them a dumbass.
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 11:23AM|#
Yes. You forgot that he has a wandering eye. Why not him?
Because it will be impossible for leaders of other nations to see
eye-to-eye with him. Just looking at him makes my eyes go all
googly trying to figure out where he's looking.
During the YouTube debate he was looking at the screen. Apparently
he didn't realize that these were pre-recorded videos and the
person asking the question was no longer there.
|12.7.07 @ 11:26AM|#
Yes. You forgot that he has a wandering eye. Why not him?
Because it will be impossible for leaders of other nations to see
eye-to-eye with him. Just looking at him makes my eyes go all
googly trying to figure out where he's looking.
Sorry, smacky, but the constitution clearly states that "no optical
exam shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or
public Trust under the United States".
lunchstealer|12.7.07 @ 11:30AM|#
If the person is over the age of 12, yes. You should correct
them, and then call them a dumbass.
So if they're ordering off the kid's menu, you don't correct them,
just call them a dumbass and move on?
Leslie Carbone|12.7.07 @ 11:31AM|#
I agree with Elemenope. Huckster is a 21st-century William
Jennings Bryan.
"YOU WILL NOT CRUCIFY MANKIND WITHIN A CLUB FOR GREED!"
|12.7.07 @ 11:38AM|#
Huckabee could be the Jimmy Carter of this election as Jimmy "Who" came out of nowhere to end up winning the nomination. The latest Rasmussen poll actually has Huckabee in first with 21% and Guiliani in second with 18%.
|12.7.07 @ 11:42AM|#
"a lying, thieving, coninving, sanctimonius sack of shit"
Seems to be typical of Arkansas politicians.
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 11:44AM|#
Seems to be typical of Arkansas politicians.
So now our choices include Clinton Dynasty, Bush Dynasty, and
Arkansas Dynasty? Super.
lunchstealer|12.7.07 @ 11:45AM|#
Actually, we don't have anyone from the Bush dynasty in this election, do we?
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 11:47AM|#
Actually, we don't have anyone from the Bush dynasty in this
election, do we?
If Jeb doesn't show up for 2008, he'll show up later. Count on
it.
|12.7.07 @ 11:55AM|#
"Jesus Christ. Don't these people know how much I hate Hillary
Clinton? But they're going to make me vote for her. I'm starting to
think that the GOP is in a big conspiracy to piss me off,
personally."
Nobody could be as bad as that bitch.
|12.7.07 @ 11:57AM|#
"If Jeb doesn't show up for 2008, he'll show up later. Count on
it."
I'm sick of this two family dynasty. If Hillary gets elected in
2008 and Jeb becomes the next president after her, it will be Bush,
Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush. Then, will Chelsea be next?
|12.7.07 @ 11:58AM|#
Episiarch | December 7, 2007, 10:08am | #
Here's my question. Is Huck really a dumbass bible thumper populist, or is he a craven opportunist who figured doing the bible-thumping populist routine would win votes--and turned out to be right?
I'm not sure the two are mutually exclusive.
President Mike "Neamiah Scudder" Huckabee. *shudder*
|12.7.07 @ 12:06PM|#
"And I think that people are also looking for someone with
whom they can identify."
This dovetails nicely with my estimation of the intelligence of the
average voter, i.e. lower than whale shit.
Reinmoose|12.7.07 @ 12:10PM|#
It would be an interesting change if George Clinton would run for president.
Serial Rapists for Huckabee|12.7.07 @ 12:13PM|#
Only one candidate in this race has shown compassion for serial rapists, and that's Mike Huckabee. Of course, it helps if you've raped a Clinton relative. Still, he's got our support!
Average Voter|12.7.07 @ 12:14PM|#
"And I think that people are also looking for someone with whom
they can identify."
Wow! Mike Huckabee uses corny phrases to defend incredibly stupid
ideas from real criticism? I can certainly identify with his lack
of critical thinking skills.
|12.7.07 @ 12:17PM|#
On the "Dynasty" subject: is anyone aware of a website that
shows the geneology of lineage-based (american) politics? I may not
be saying that the right way, but more to the point - I just
discovered Romney also comes from a long line of patricians.
So if aristocracy is closer to the rule than the exception in the
US, then why do we kid ourselves into thinking that ANY of these
assclowns even remotely resembles the electorate????
Average Voter|12.7.07 @ 12:19PM|#
Ed, you have it all wrong. They have a long family history of serving their country!
|12.7.07 @ 12:20PM|#
Why not me?" Huckabee said in an interview Thursday.
Why? Because you're a lying, thieving, coninving, sanctimonius sack of shit - that's why. Did I leave anything out?
Lessee - pandering, bible thumping, scientifially illiterate, nanny
stater, ... There are just so many denigraing adjectives that
apply.
|12.7.07 @ 12:23PM|#
I hope Romney swift boats this sack of shit with the serial
rapist thing.
Willie Horton, Part Deux. That way RP can keep his hands clean as
well.
|12.7.07 @ 12:26PM|#
At least Romney uses proper grammar and doesn't have some fuax-southern accent so he sounds "just like us".
|12.7.07 @ 12:26PM|#
On Pearl Harbor Day, there were no Japanese planes within
1000 miles of Hawaii.
?
Either you are not talking about the original Pearl Harbor Day or
you have no idea of the range of a Zero.
IIRC, Nagumo gave the launch order ~200 miles North of Oahu.
|12.7.07 @ 12:28PM|#
Aresen,
It was a Chuck Norris joke.
I understand they sometimes involve hyperbole.
Harris County, Texas|12.7.07 @ 12:30PM|#
Jesus Christ. Don't these people know how much I hate
Hillary Clinton? But they're going to make me vote for her. I'm
starting to think that the GOP is in a big conspiracy to piss me
off, personally.
Could be, lunchstealer. Sage just joined the vast right-wing
conspiracy, so maybe he'll show up and let you know. I tried to ask
my wife, but she's in a meeting. The GOP just might be out to get
you.
Or just horribly incompetent and completely clueless. Take your
pick.
T|12.7.07 @ 12:34PM|#
oops. forgot to change back after yesterday's sarcasm in the death penalty thread.
Franklin Harris|12.7.07 @ 12:36PM|#
Huckabee. Really? Huckabee?
We are talking about the party that nominated George W. Bush.
Twice.
Franklin Harris|12.7.07 @ 12:39PM|#
If Mitt Romney wasn't a Mormon, he'd be running away with the election.
I'm not sure its his Mormonism so much as his obvious Stepford
Candidate-ism. He comes across as plastic and creepy. Then
people find out he's a Mormon and say to themselves, "now
it all makes sense."
|12.7.07 @ 12:44PM|#
Sage just joined the vast right-wing conspiracy, so maybe
he'll show up and let you know.
Short term goal: Deliver the state of Washington for Dr. Paul. Long
term goal: Overrun the GOP with libertarian policy positions, the
same way the unions, feminists, gays, handicapped, and elderly did
to the Democrats.
Not that there's anything wrong with any of that.
But I should be clear: If all I'm dealing with is recalcitrant
party hacks who are only interested in beating the dems just out of
spite, I'll walk out and go back to stockpiling ammo.
.|12.7.07 @ 12:45PM|#
So if aristocracy is closer to the rule than the exception
in the US, then why do we kid ourselves into thinking that ANY of
these assclowns even remotely resembles the
electorate????
Ed - In most established states, many of the political elite come
from a small circle of people. It may not always be family lineage
(although thats very common), but they will often at least attend a
small set of universities that are basically the training schools.
(IE, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc, in the US, Oxford and Cambridge
in England...)
Its very likely that most of the candidates running for President
have families that have been connected with each other for several
generations.
|12.7.07 @ 12:46PM|#
But I should be clear: If all I'm dealing with is
recalcitrant party hacks who are only interested in beating the
dems just out of spite
Calling Dondero!
Sage, do you think its possible to do what you suggested to the
Democratic Party (on the local level) in the south and interior
west? The local parties there are so desperate to win they might be
crazy enough to try it.
T|12.7.07 @ 12:47PM|#
go back to stockpiling ammo
No reason to quit just because you're frolicking with the
efenants.
On that note, a guy I know from AR15.com claims to have roughly
80,000 rounds of various calibers in his garage. That's (literally)
a metric fuckton of ammo.
|12.7.07 @ 12:55PM|#
On that note, a guy I know from AR15.com claims to have
roughly 80,000 rounds of various calibers in his garage.
Good God, I feel sorry for any criminal that tries a home invasion
in that house!
|12.7.07 @ 12:56PM|#
joe
It was a Chuck Norris joke.
I understand they sometimes involve hyperbole.
Missed the connection.
OTOH, I wouldn't call Chuck Norris a fruitcake if he knew where I
lived.
(I'm trusting all present not to tell him I live in a country
between the 49th parallel & Alaska.)
T|12.7.07 @ 1:07PM|#
Good God, I feel sorry for any criminal that tries a home
invasion in that house!
Screw that, I feel sorry for the neighborhood if he has a fire.
|12.7.07 @ 1:38PM|#
Sage, do you think its possible to do what you suggested to
the Democratic Party (on the local level) in the south and interior
west? The local parties there are so desperate to win they might be
crazy enough to try it.
Yeah, I do. We might be pissing into the wind, but if we can learn
anything from Paul's campaign, it's that there are a lot of people
out there that are fed up with the nanny state/world cop status,
and that change from the inside is possible, if not probable.
No reason to quit just because you're frolicking with the
efenants.
Oh, I'm not. It's rather difficult, tho, with ammo prices where
they are.
|12.7.07 @ 1:41PM|#
Screw that, I feel sorry for the neighborhood if he has a fire.
Actually it's probably no more of a threat than a like volume of
newspapers or lumber.
Contrary to popular belief ammo with smokeless powder does not
explode in a fire.
Episiarch|12.7.07 @ 1:42PM|#
On that note, a guy I know from AR15.com claims to have
roughly 80,000 rounds of various calibers in his garage.
If he has half a brain he should be selling that shit right now.
Ammo prices are through the roof, another benefit of the war.
|12.7.07 @ 1:45PM|#
What Episiarch said. He'd melt every gun he had trying to shoot all that at once.
|12.7.07 @ 2:01PM|#
Seriously, what does this guy have to offer fiscal
conservatives or libertarians?
Nothing. He's going after the RINO, big-government,
tax-cut-and-spend theocratic crowd -- you know, the Bush
people.
|12.7.07 @ 2:21PM|#
When does the negative campaigning start? Have any Iowans or New
Hampsherites(is that correct?) seen any negative ads?
Over-the-top negative ads are half the "fun" of politics, after
all.
|12.7.07 @ 3:01PM|#
Two former parole board members, who served during Huckabee's
time as governor and voted on Wayne Dumond's parole, told First
Read that Huckabee initiated and encouraged Dumond's parole.
Huckabee earlier told NBC's Kelly O'Donnell that he did not
pressure the board in anyway. "My mistake was in thinking that
everybody who was talking about him - from the prison system on -
was right... I supported the parole. And I regret that. Because it
was horrible what ended up happening. But his commutation was
actually something that happened when Bill Clinton was governor,
and Jim Guy Tucker signed as lieutenant governor. The parole board
that paroled him was all Clinton and Tucker appointees. So when
people say I pressured the board, that's nonsense!"
But the board members who spoke to First Read disagreed. "He did
come and mention the Dumond case. We would have no reason to
mention the Dumond case to him," said Deborah Sutlar, a Democrat
and a Gov. Jim Guy Tucker-appointee, who is not shy about the fact
that she campaigned against Huckabee when he ran for governor. She
served from 1994 to 2001 and said she is supporting Obama in the
presidential race. Sutlar said Dumond's parole had been denied
every other time it came up, but Huckabee came to the board and
encouraged the board to parole Dumond and that the board then held
an executive session to discuss the case.
Huckabee met with the board "to encourage them to parole Wayne
Dumond," added Erma Pondexter, a Bill Clinton appointee, who was a
part-time board member and considers herself "non-partisan." She
said she is undecided in the presidential race but leaning toward
either Clinton or Romney. She said she liked some of the things
Huckabee did as governor, but is unsure of him for president,
though she said she'd consider voting for him.
Pondexter said she wasn't at the initial meeting with Huckabee, but
that at the full meeting "it was shared what the concerns were and
the concerns of Governor Huckabee. I was approached by the chair
and other board members that Huckabee wanted Dumond paroled, and I
went along with the crew." She added, "I don't think he'd want that
on his shoulders - to pardon him. I'm quite sure from a political
standpoint that would be devastating, therefore he used the parole
board to do that."
The Huckabee campaign didn't return an email and phone message for
comment.
The guy is a bible thumping moron. He should not be allowed
anywhere near a position of power.
|12.7.07 @ 3:18PM|#
The Yale Dynasty has to end eventually. Hillary would make it 24 or 28 years if she's elected. Do they offer classes on seeking the presidency?
T|12.7.07 @ 3:24PM|#
Isaac,
This contradicts my personal experience. It won't "explode", but it
will do interesting things. The combustion products of the powder
have to go somewhere.
Episiarch & Sage,
No, he's not selling. He's just happy to have enough ammo for the
end of the world of something. Honestly, I was busy trying to wrap
my brain around where you put a ton of ammo.
|12.7.07 @ 3:52PM|#
My theory: the MSM is pushing Huckabee because he's a tax-hiking socialist, the next best thing to a Democrat should he take the presidency. Thompson, on the other hand, would be a lot more reform-minded on the tax and spending side, best to declare him a failure now.
|12.7.07 @ 4:39PM|#
The guy is a bible thumping moron.
He's also, apparently, way too gullible about swalling the nonsense
put out by the Right Wing Noise Machine.
The "unjust" treatment of Wayne Dumond was a cause celebre of the
Right in the 1990s, as his victim was a cousin of Bill. They
hammered away at the case, making up all sorts of Vince
Foster-esque theories about the case and insisting that this good,
innocent, man who'd been railroaded by the Clinton Machine be
freed.
Good job, Huckster. Good job, wingnuts. Your partisan delusion only
got a woman raped and murdered.
|12.7.07 @ 5:03PM|#
joe
Ever since Dukakis got Willie Hortoned, I've viewed these
'so-and-so parolled a murdering thug' campaign issues as stupid
smears. Every politician is going to make stupid mistakes.
My problem with Mike Huckabee is that he seems to want to put
religiosity right back at the core of politics and legislate
personal morality. He is also a big government populist, which I
also object to.
The Dumond case is an irrelevancy, in my mind.
Fluffy|12.7.07 @ 5:55PM|#
Aresen, this isn't even remotely comparable to Willie
Horton.
In the Horton case, Massachusetts had a broad-based furlough
program and Horton was just one participant among many. Random
chance would have said that at least one furlough participant would
eventually commit another crime.
In the Dumond case, Huckabee picked this ONE GUY up by the collar
and gave him a gold-plated personal get of jail free card because
he didn't think anyone should have to be in jail for raping a
Clinton relative. Joe's description of events above is spot on.
This guy was let out as Mike Huckabee's personal inside joke on
Bill Clinton. In order to allow Huckabee and various Arkansas
trailer trash Republicans to have a nice laugh on Clinton, another
woman had to be raped and murdered.
|12.7.07 @ 6:11PM|#
Fluffy
While the Dumond case may be an example of particular partisan
blindness and stupidity, it is still not a core issue.
The core reasons for disliking Huckabee are his desire to replace
the Constitution with the Old Testament and his desire to
tax-and-spend.
Paul|12.7.07 @ 6:54PM|#
My guess is that Christian Fundamentalists are making up their
mind, and Huckabee is reaping the results of that coalescing
loyalty.
Overly simplistic? Probably.
|12.7.07 @ 7:17PM|#
Is it too early to start marketing "Fuck Huck" bumper stickers and T-shirts off of Cafe Press?
|12.7.07 @ 7:29PM|#
PM
I remember seeing "Impeach George Bush Now - Why wait to 1/20/01?"
bumper stickers in late 2000.
Regina O\'Leary|12.7.07 @ 8:52PM|#
They Said It: Thompson Social Security Plan Applauded as
'Courageous,' 'Honest,' and 'Substantive'
Courage & Honesty
Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson's plan to save
Social Security and protect seniors, which he introduced Friday
afternoon in a Washington, D.C., hotel, differs starkly from
standard election year pablum on the subject in one key way: He's
actually treating voters like adults. (ABC, 11/9)
Thompson...is seeking to show he is willing to take on tough issues
if elected in November 2008, telling a news conference in
Washington he was the only candidate to offer an extensive Social
Security plan. (Reuters, 11/10)
"You certainly have to admire his courage for putting this out,"
said Alan Viard with the American Enterprise Institute.
(Tennessean, 11/10)
Supporters contend that Thompson's willingness to take on the
so-called third rail of politics will impress voters. (Bloomberg,
11/10)
Conservative economic experts applauded Thompson for offering
specifics on an issue considered to be politically dangerous.
(Tennessean, 11/10)
"He's not afraid to be brutally honest with the American people
about the challenges that lie ahead," said Representative Zach
Wamp, a Tennessee Republican who is working to recruit supporters
for Thompson. "People can tell the difference between a strong
leader telling the truth and a weak leader talking politics."
(Bloomberg, 11/10)
Substance
[Thompson is] the first candidate of either party to offer a
detailed proposal to fix the nation's retirement system. (WP,
11/10)
The Republican candidate laid out a detailed, four-page proposal
(WSJ, 11/10)
Mr. Thompson's plan...was more specific than what the Bush White
House put on the table when it sought to overhaul the system. It
also varied substantially from the traditional conservative
approach of focusing primarily on personal investment accounts.
(NYT, 11/10)
Economist Jason Furman said Thompson deserves credit for offering a
detailed plan to address the projected Social Security
shortfall...(Bloomberg, 11/10)
In discussing policy, Thompson was in his element. (Politico,
11/9)
He'd prefer to talk about substance. (Politico, 11/9)
Thompson's plan draws on ideas favored by conservatives: a
reduction in benefits, rather than an increase in payroll taxes;
and a shift toward private accounts, rather than
government-provided payments. (WP, 11/10)
Rivals
[Thompson] ventured Friday into an area few rivals have tread:
advocacy of a fundamental overhaul of Social Security. (WSJ,
11/10)
Although all of the presidential candidates have spoken, when
asked, about the need to fix the Social Security system, none has
offered such a detailed plan nor talked so eagerly and often about
the issue. (WSJ, 11/10)
Among Republicans, former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani,
Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts governor Mitt
Romney have talked in general terms ... but none has offered a
specific plan. (WP, 11/10)
Mr. Thompson is the only one of the Republicans running for the
White House who has made Social Security a central theme of his
campaign. (NYT, 11/10)
He is the only presidential candidate so far to make Social
Security an anchor of his campaign. (WSJ, 11/10)
But with less than two months before the 2008 voting begins,
candidates have generally been reluctant to confront the Social
Security issue. (WP, 11/10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saving and Protecting Social Security
A Plan to Ensure Retirement Security for All Americans
http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx
|12.8.07 @ 9:17AM|#
Is it too early to start marketing "Fuck Huck" bumper
stickers and T-shirts off of Cafe Press?
Uh...how 'bout "Huck Sucks"?
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