Some Final Thoughts on Election 2008

America spoke. Obama was elected as President of the United States. I personally think it was a poor choice and I hope and pray that with the election out of the way Obama will abandon his far left rhetoric and shift to a more centrist stance during his time as President.

I wish Mike Huckabee had run against Obama. Huckabee had the personality and public speaking skills to counter Obama blow for blow. Huckabee also had some truly good ideas for America.

John McCain was extremely graceful in defeat and I wish his concession speech would get played as often as Obama’s victory speech.

The Democrats, while they gained in the House and Senate, did not get a super majority. That would have been a disaster. I hope that after dramatic losses in two straight elections that Republicans will realize that the abandonment of conservative principles (especially fiscal ones) is what has been their downfall. Hopefully, this election will force Republicans to return to small government, fiscal, and social conservatism.

Obama is now Commander in Chief and I hope, since he has no military experience, that he surrounds himself with unbiased advisors who understand the military.

Finally, George W. Bush can breathe a sigh of relief. I am one of a seemingly small number of Americans who think Bush has been a good president overall. I vehenmently disagree with the amount of spending and government expansion that he approved with his pen, but he played a huge role in helping to keep America from being attacked by terrorists again. We seem to have lost sight of that, but I remember and I am grateful. I hope that as the years pass and people have time to reflect on his Presidency that people will remember his leadership during the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.

President Bush has caught a lot of flack and taken a lot of blame for things that were not directly his fault. This opinion piece from The Wall Street journal offers a good perspective on the Bush presidency and why our treatment of him has been a disgrace and why he ultimately deserves our respect.

Here’s an excerpt from the WSJ piece Jeffrey Scott Shapiro:

Earlier this year, 12,000 people in San Francisco signed a petition in support of a proposition on a local ballot to rename an Oceanside sewage plant after George W. Bush. The proposition is only one example of the classless disrespect many Americans have shown the president.

It seems that no matter what Mr. Bush does, he is blamed for everything. He remains despised by the left while continuously disappointing the right.

Yet it should seem obvious that many of our country’s current problems either existed long before Mr. Bush ever came to office, or are beyond his control. Perhaps if Americans stopped being so divisive, and congressional leaders came together to work with the president on some of these problems, he would actually have had a fighting chance of solving them.

The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.

Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty — a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.

Mike Huckabee Lambasts Republicans for Their Consideration of Wall Street Bail Out

Mike Huckabee today released a statement about the idiocy going on in both parties as they work with Wall Street to strap the American tax payer with hundreds of billions of dollars in bail out monies. Huckabee shows here that he is not merely Republical talking head by calling this bail out what it is: stupid. He also offers up some ideas to help get us out of this mess without charging the tax payers for the stupidity of Wall Street.

——————————————————————–

Bailing on Our Principles

Today at 12:14pm

by Governor Mike Huckabee

Frankly, I’m disappointed and disgusted with my own Republican party as I watch them attempt to strong-arm a bailout of some of America’s biggest corporations by asking the taxpayers to suck up the staggering results of the hubris, greed, and arrogance of those who sought to make a quick buck by throwing the dice. They lost, but want the rest of us to cover their bets so they won’t be effected in their lavish lifestyles as they figure out how to spend their tens of millions and in some cases, hundreds of millions in bonuses and compensation which was their reward for not only sinking their companies, but basically doing the same to the entire American economy.

It’s especially disconcerting to see the very people who pilloried me during the Presidential campaign for being a “populist” and not “understanding Wall Street” to now line up like thirsty dogs at the Washington, D. C. water dish, otherwise known as Congress, and plead for help. I thought these guys were the smartest people in America! I thought that taxpayers like you and I were similar to the people at the U. N. who have no translator speaking into their headset – that we just needed to trust those that I called the power bunch in the “Wall Street to Washington axis of power.”

The idea of a government bailout in which we’d entrust $700 billion to one man without Congressional oversight or accountability is absurd. My party or not, that is insanity and I believe unconstitutional.

Will there be far-reaching consequences without some intervention? Probably, but we honestly don’t know since we’ve really never seen this level of greed and stupidity all rolled into one massive move. But may I suggest that letting “Uncle Sugar” step in and bail out the billionaires who made the mess will be far worse and will start a long line of companies and individuals who will demand the same of the government—which last time I checked means that they will be demanding it out of YOU and ME. This is not money that Congress is risking from THEIR pockets or future, but ours. Many if not most of us have already experienced lost value on our homes, retirement accounts, and pensions. Now they’d like for us to assume some further risks so they won’t have to.

What happened to the “free market” idea? Is that only our view when we WIN and when we LOSE, we ask the government to come in and take away the pain?

If you are a small business owner, is this the way it works at your place? When you have a bad month, a bad year, or face having to close, can you go up to Congress and get them to write YOU a fat check to take away your risk?

Some of what contributed to this disaster is too much government in the form of Sarbanes/Oxley. Some is due to the tax structure that created the hunger for companies to “game” the system. Some is the common sense that was ignored like loaning money to people who can’t pay it back.

Wall Street has become Las Vegas east, but at least in Vegas, people KNOW they are gambling and they don’t expect the government to cover their losses at the tables. In Wall Street, they do. And the American taxpayer burdens the responsibility.

If Congress wants to do something, here are some suggestions:

1. Eliminate ALL capital gains taxes and taxes on savings and dividends right now. Free up the capital and encourage investment. This is the kind of economic stimulus the Fair Tax would bring and if Congress is going to lose money, let them lose it with lower taxes, not with public dollar bailouts of private market mistakes.

2. Repeal Sarbanes/Oxley. It has failed. It was supposed to prevent this. It didn’t. Kill it.

3. Demand that the executives who steered their ships into the ground be forced to pay back the losses of their companies. Of course, they can’t, so let them work and give back to the government and they can live like the people they put on the streets or kept there. It makes no sense to put them in jail—that’s just more they will cost you and me. I’d rather them go out and earn money—just not get to keep so much of it this time. I’m not talking about limiting CEO salaries—just those of the people who now are up in Washington begging for help because they ruined their companies.

Attempts by Democrats and Republicans to blame each other is nonsense. They are both guilty and ought to own up and admit it. They all lived off big campaign contributions and the swill of the lobbyists who strong armed them into permission to steal. Enough of blame. Fix it!
This would be a start. If we don’t hold these guys responsible, we are all finished.

For the Future: Huckabee 2008

by Adam Graham (The Conservative Voice)

February 08, 2008 01:00 PM EST

A candidate has won primary elections in twelve states, and only gotten 50% of the vote in three of them, and the majority of voters in his home state which knows him best chose someone else to be their candidate. And we are told at this hour that the Republicans party must unite behind him, even though he has not yet won the requisite number of delegates. We are told we must unite and start the general election campaign, when the Democratic campaign should last at least until May.

John McCain has got to be the overwhelming favorite at this point, but it is not over. There are other choices and I’m ready to make an endorsement with some reservations.

I have issues with Governor Mike Huckabee and the way his campaign has run and his record, particularly on immigration. Those who’ve read my columns and blogs know that. Yet, I should note that Huckabee has mended his ways on immigration and has convinced Jim Gilchrist and Duncan Hunter of his sincerity, while McCain has convinced no one.

Mike Huckabee is more reliably pro-life, and yes federal funding of embryonic stem cell research is a pro-life issue (for those who insist on claiming John McCain is 100% pro-life.)

Huckabee is also for the Fair Tax, which would eliminate the IRS and give us control of our own money.

Huckabee is not without faults. His campaign has often come off as using class warfare rhetoric. But behind that rhetoric is a great truth: Republicans must appeal to people at all income levels because conservative ideas are powerful. They help the poor, the rich, and the middle class if consistently practiced. The Republican Party needs to be the party of the everyman because freedom is ultimately good for everyone.

Mike Huckabee is as true of an outsider as there is in this campaign, which brings me to one of my key reason for endorsing him. The Establishment of the Republican Party has gotten us where we are today. They gave us the Rudy McRomney trilemma and now they’re pushing consolidation behind John McCain. The establishment are State Party bosses, puppet pundits, and their money men.

This establishment, for whom nothing but the next election matters, is the enemy of true conservatism. The establishment will pander, promise, but in the end will do what it takes to win. They are short-sighted and as long as this bunch rules our party, they will be shortchanged.

There is hope, and it comes from Camp Huckabee. The hope is not so much Huck himself, but rather his dedicated volunteers, many of whom are homeschooled kids in their first campaigns. I would even venture to guess that many of his core supporters are to the right of Huck on many key issues. And these young supporters are the key to our nation’s future.

John McCain may win the day, but his day will pass. The future lies in Huckabee’s grassroots Army, and until Delegate 1191 is won, I’ll remain in that Army.

*From Laura*

Huckabee supporters: these are the undecided voters we have to reach. This proves it can be done. Let’s give Mac a run for his money!

The Wrong Diagnosis

When he first threw his hat in the ring a year ago, they declared the campaign stillborn. The pundits ignored him because they knew he’d drop out before summer.

Summer came and went, and he was still campaigning hard, gaining support, and earning endorsements. But his campaign was still “dead on arrival” and wouldn’t amount to anything.

Then he started spiking in the polls and “out of nowhere,” won Iowa by a hefty margin. They all said “The Huckaboom is just temporary.”

Now he’s polling at first or second in most major states, he has a healthy number of delegates, and several major competitors have dropped from the race. He’s still in, and they are claiming he’s out.

The media is declaring our candidate’s campaign dead without checking for a pulse. His political obituary is, yet again, all over the news and talk radio. Don’t buy it.

It’s a lot tougher to knock out an Arkansan than that. He’s still alive and kicking. Don’t let the media determine your vote. Demand a second opinion!

Demand Huckabee ‘08!

Huckabee: This is Not a Two Man GOP Race

(CBS)

From CBS News’ Joy Lin:

SAN DIEGO — Conservative, conservative, conservative. That was the word Mike Huckabee used again and again with reporters to emphasize his credibility as a contender for the Republican nomination. The usually light-hearted Arkansan spoke in a deliberate tone, a manner that barely masked his frustration about how the race was being framed.“There has been somewhat of – almost a national media spin that this race is a two man race,” said Huckabee. “And if so, I’d like to say that John McCain and I will definitely duke it out until the very last vote. Last night, the CNN debate was very frustrating for me. There seemed to be an unequal level of time that was allocated – and if people look at the delegate count…one has to have 1,191 delegates in order to be the nominee. So far, no one has even broken a hundred; there’s only 8% of the delegates have yet been tabulated, and we’re all fairly close to each other in the amount of delegates that any of the three of us have.”

Huckabee accused the “Romney people” of circulating the notion that a vote for Huckabee would contribute to a McCain win.

“I want to be make it very clear: a vote for me is a vote for me. A vote for Romney is a vote for Romney. A vote for McCain is a vote for McCain. Anybody who suggests otherwise is trying to put a spin on it.”

Continuing, Huckabee questioned Romney’s quest to claim the conservative mantle: “If people are looking for a true conservative, somebody who hasn’t had a recent change of opinion to become one, I would be the logical choice -in fact the only choice they have.”

Although he would have “loved” to have Arnold Schwarzenegger’s endorsement, Huckabee seemed to undermine it by challenging the California governor’s conservative credentials, and implicitly, McCain’s.

“I would never have expected the governor of California to endorse me and, frankly, I’m probably a lot more conservative on a lot more issues than he would have been comfortable with – whether it’s the second amendment, or pro-life issue, or marriage amendment issue or any number of things.”

Huckabee later said that receiving former Republican candidate Duncan Hunter’s endorsement last week probably meant more in the conservative hotbed of San Diego than Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of McCain.

He added that he has no intention of quitting the race even though he hasn’t won a state since Iowa.

“I am not a quitter,” said Huckabee. “I did not get to where I am in life by quitting. Sometimes you can’t win the game but the only way you can surely lose it is by walking off the field before the clock ends,” said Huckabee

“I was in it when nobody thought I could be, I stayed in it when nobody thought I could. I continue to march on even when the de-facto-absolutely-guaranteed-frontrunner-going-to-win-the-nomination-going-to-be-the-next-president-kind-of-guys were so out in front of me that people didn’t take me seriously.”

“But today, Rudy Giuliani is not in the race, Fred Thompson is not in the race … A bunch of folks have fallen to the wayside, and I’m still here. So, I plan to still be here.”

Meantime, Huckabee said he had raised an additional $3.5 million in January after starting the year with just over $650,000 on hand. He emphasized how much the campaign had done with so little money. Huckabee also skewered Romney for spending “tens of millions of dollars to have the same market share as me.”

“Under anybody’s business model, that’s not a very efficient or effective operation,” he said. “If you have an MBA from Harvard, and you believe in trying to figure out the best way to build market share and you spend an enormous amount of money and you have a competitor spends a very small amount of money, but he’s able to reach the same market share, it may say that that person has a more sellable product than you do. So maybe it would be appropriate to go out of business and merge your business with the one that has the more efficient model.”

More on the debate from CNN’s Schneider

Here’s more collected comments from CNN’s Bill Schneider on Huckabee’s performance during the debate last night:

Huckabee scores in debates - 08:22 PM ET

Huckabee speaks in a manner using a language that connects with ordinary voters.

McCain and Romney sound like politicians. His appeal is that he doesn’t.

He won the Iowa caucuses because of his performance in the debates. It was the debates that put him out in front in Iowa – in a debate like this, he could make some gains.

Huckabee’s common-sense response – 08:33 PM ET

Huckabee’s answer on climate change sounds like a common sense defense of federalism– right or wrong, Californians should be able to make the decision for themselves. And he brings up “unfunded mandates” – major negative buzzwords for GOP primary voters…..

Read more over at I Love Huckabee.

CNN: Huckabee Big Winner of Reagan Library Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2008

CONTACT
Lucas Roebuck
Public Affairs, HucksArmy.com
971.832.0247
hucksarmypress@gmail.com
http://press.hucksarmy.com

CNN: Huckabee Big Winner of Reagan Library Debate
Huckabee electrifies supporters after sharp debate performance
Bennett: Huckabee performed well

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — CNN political analyst Bill Schneider said it best: “Tonight’s big winner: Huckabee.” Live Bloggers from ABC News also lauded the performance of Gov. Huckabee. More importantly, Huckabee energized his critical grassroots supporters with probably his best debate performance since the Nov. 28 CNN/YouTube debate. The debate provides a critical boost in advance of Super Tuesday.

Huckabee currently leads the following Super Tuesday states in the most recent polling data*: Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee and Oklahoma and Alabama (tied).

FROM THE PUNDITS
Conservative Bill Bennett on CNN: “I think Huckabee performed well.”

Writes CNN’s Schneider: Huckabee, I think, stood out in this debate as the one who made sense, talked as ordinary people do, and rose above politics. … He connected. And that’s a problem for Romney, who would like to become the alternative to John McCain among conservatives who oppose the Arizona senator. But he has very tough competition from Huckabee, who’s forcing people to re-think his run at a time when he was supposed to be out of the game.

When the candidates were asked why the late President Reagan would endorse them, Huckabee’s answer impressed ABC’s Karen Travers. She wrote on the ABC Live Blog, “Huck crushes the Reagan question. Not using it as a chance to squabble with a rival — totally stays above that.”

Rick Klein from ABC’s The Note writes: Huckabee sounds like a candidate for president — not vice president — for tonight at least. He hasn’t played the McCain protector I assumed he would, or would have to. Mostly, probably, because of the docile tone, but for people tuning in late — hey, this Huckabee guy can be really good.

FROM THE GRASSROOTS
Some interesting comments from the official Huckabee website, mikehuckabee.com:

A.S. writes, “Until today I had always considered you a solid candidate, but not necessarily one I would vote for. You refusing to be treated as a 3rd class candidate while also respecting the other candidates impressed me. I came to this site for more information as I rethink who I’m going to support on the 5th. I vote for character and I think you showed a lot of that tonight. Well done!”

M.S writes, “I was yelling at the TV at how much time was given to McCain and Romney to act like children! The blessing was that they both hurt themselves tonight. I could see the expressions on Nancy Reagan and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s faces, and it was embarrassing. McCain and Romney should both be ashamed of their personal bickering instead of addressing issues. It really showed their colors, and also Mike’s true character and grace.”

Ranger writes, “Gov. Mike Huckabee, you did great tonight! You stood out as the truly authentic conservative Republican, in the mold of Ronald Reagan. I expect another huckaboom forthcoming from your performance tonight.”

And from the Troops at HucksArmy.com:
Thall writes, “His answer to the last question about Reagan was wonderful. I grew up watching Reagan and had the honor to vote for him in the ‘84 election. Mike brought back memories of Reagan’s speeches and how he lifted the spirits of the nation. What an image for Mike to leave with the audience. The McRomneys looked like scabbling school children.”

ColoradoMom4Huckabee writes, “WOW WOW WOW!! I couldn’t have asked for Mike to end on a stronger note!! He hit several home runs tonight, and his last words were a great way to seal the image of him as a statesman, who sees beyond the issues, to the heart of America…like Reagan!”

About HucksArmy.com
With core values of faith, family and freedom, HucksArmy.com is an online grassroots movement not owned or operated by any candidate or political campaign. With more than 16,000 recruits, HucksArmy.com is dedicated to mobilize support for candidates who honor God and country.

*Source: RealClearPolitics.com and PoliticsAndChristianity.com

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Live Blog of FL GOP Debate

This evening I will doing a live blog of the FL GOP debate. My commentary will mostly focus on Mike Huckabee, although I will comment on relevant statements made by other candidates.

Thanks for stopping by to read the live blog, I hope you will check back often for commentary on Huckabee, politics, and the news.

Live blog follows:

8:02- Wow, Brian Williams just said the campaigns decided to limit the debate to 90 minutes, I wonder why?

8:03- Romeny gets the first question and it is about the economy. Praises the President’s economic stimulus plan

8:05- McCain- will make Bush tax-cuts permanent, cut corporate income taxes, don’t add pork to tax cut bills, encourage savings (does not say how he will do this)

8:06- Rudy says Bush’s stimulus package does not go far enough. Will make Bush tax-cuts permanent. America needs to cut taxes and regulation to remain competitive in the world market.

8:08- McCain again, says he is very well versed in economics, drops names, says WSJ likes economic record

-so far the questions have all gone to the three FL frontrunners

8:10- Does Huckabee trust Romney as a Tax cutter? Says the question is do the voters trust Romney. Huckabee touts tax cutting record in Arkansas. Makes good point about Bush stimulus package and a lot of that money going back into foreign governments because we import so much. Suggests building a highway to increase productivity would be a long term stimulus package.

8:12- Romney gets another tax cut question and touts his own record, says he balanced budget without raising taxes and left a two billion dollar surplus. Says McCain voted against Bush tax cuts, but now supports them. Touts experience in business, private sector.

8:14- says Romney’s raising fees is equivalent of a tax increase, responds to his voting against Bush tax cuts the first time. Says spending needs to be cut to restore confidence in the party

8:16- Paul- says government responsibility is to lower taxes and reduce regulations, makes anti-war rant

8:17- Rudy- having a hard time following his answer, say he is in favor of free trade, be aggressive about global economy

8:20- McCain- Dems will be bad for economy because they will spend money and expand government. President signed a bunch of pork, McCain says he will veto big spending bill

personal note- this is a quiet crowd

8:22- Huckabee- Why should people vote for Republicans? Says you can’t blame all of economy on the President. Refers to Michigan debate when he was the only candidate who said economy is only doing great for the guys at the top and not for the every day American. Suggests there is a trickle-up impact when the economy begins to go sour. Says America needs a President who understands the entire country, not just the guys at the top.

8:25- Romney- Will run away from the record of Washington. Critisizes Washington’s failure to bring about change and deliver on promises. Says entitlements need to be reigned in. Touts change

8:27- Rudy- I’m the only one who has actually turned around an economy

8:27- Paul- Touts voting record, never voted for tax increases

Local questions-

8:28-McCain- Question about leaving troops in Iraq- Says effort in Iraq is sustainable and we are succeeding. He is proud that he said to abandon the Rumsfeld strategy for the new strategy, expresses pride in military.

8:30-Romney- Iraq question, Army to small and poorly resourced, how increases size of Army without draft? Add 100,000 troops to active military. Touts bill passed in MA, says benefits need to be updated (i.e. GI Bill). Critisizes Dems for Iraq stance.

-first applause goes to Romney

Was war worth it?

8:33- McCain- Yes, problem was mishandling of Iraq by Rumsfeld, war justified because of threat from Saddam

8:35- Rudy- Criticizes Hillary flip-flop on war, he supports the war

8:35- Paul- War bad idea (applause)

8:36- Huckabee- Supported President, says pres. deserves thanks for taking the initiative to protect us. It’s easy to second guess a president

8:37- Romney- Right decision to go into Iraq, still supports it. Supports current plan

Okay, Williams explains that audience has been asked not to applaud to give candidates more time.

Commercial break.

Thanks for reading, stay tuned!

Candidates will ask other candidates a question of their choice

8:42- Romney asks Rudy how do we level trade playing field?

8:43- Protection of intellectual properties, be careful with imports, what can we sell to China? They need to buy what we have. We should increase size of our military, criticizes Bill Clinton’s peace dividend.

8:46 McCain asks- Huckabee- How will Huckabee answer criticism that flat sales tax would work and hurt lower income people?

8:46- Huckabee- Says people would love to see IRS abolished, we should not be penalized for our productivity. Fair Tax should get bipartisan support. Says the poor come out best because of the prebate. Everybody get prebate up to the level of poverty so that necessities are not taxed. There will be no more underground economy (get a laugh), everyone will pay. Mentions imbedded tax.

8:49- Huckabee- Follow up- Americans are paying more than 15 percent tax rate because of imbedded tax. Americans pay an average of 33 percent in taxes and work until May just to pay their taxes.

-Wow, Huckabee got to give a great response to the FairTax questions.

8:50- Paul asks McCain-

8:50- McCain answers

8:52- Huckabee to Romney- Asks question about 2nd Amendment and his support of Assault Weapon band, and support of Brady bill (great question)?

8:52- Supports assault weapon ban, does not support new legislation banning assault weapons

8:54- Rudy asks Romney- Property insurance, national catastrophic fund?

8:55- Romney-Supports national catastrophic effort

8:57- McCain- says insurance reform needed, every American will get the insurance they need

8:58- Rudy- Why against cap on green house gases? He supports technologies that will clean up the environment. Nuclear power, hybrids, clean coal, biofuels (good answer). Says we should be energy independent. Caps would crush industry.

9:00- McCain- In favor of Cap and trade system to help reduce green house gases, go back to nuclear power. Climate change is real.

Commercial break

I’d like to see Huckabee get some more air time. Thank goodness he gave Huckabee the FairTax question, so far that has been Huckabee strongest answer of the night.

9:05-Rudy- Answers question about decline in the polls. Says he will come from behind and surprise everyone. Says he lulled everyone into a false sense of security (laugh from audience)

9:07- McCain- Says he is proud of his record on judges, will be able to unite the party because of his stance against Islamic extremism, says will keep Israel independent

9:09- Romney- How run against Hill/Bill- Not running against Bill, he will run against Hillary if she is the nominee. Critisizes Hillary insurance plan, says Clinton’s have been in D.C. too long, will strengthen country the Reagan way

9:11- Romney- How much of his own money has he spent? Will not answer

9:13- Romney- Not trying to buy election

8:14- Romney- Mormon question- says people will not choose candidate based on the church someone goes to

Romney has had six minutes of time straight

9:15- Paul-In favor of abolishing social security? Yes

9:17- Huckabee- How save Social Security? In trouble because less people are paying into the system. Supports FairTax because SS has a different and more stable funding system. Huckabee goes off on people continuing to say “we can’t”

9:20-Romney- Would he raise taxes like Reagan? No, worst idea is to raise taxes on the American people

9:22- Rudy- Why airing Spanish ad? says citizens should be fluent in English. Touts border security plan. Tamper proof ID card

9:24-Rudy- Why Cubans allowed to stay? Because the people are fleeing from communism, political persecution

9:25-Huckabee- Is McCain too old? He does not think McCain lacks the rigor to be President, says look at his mother!

9:27- Rudy- How defend against NYT attack? They attacked him because he was a conservative

9:29- Romney- Changes positions with the wind? He is proud of his record as gov., abortion, fought same-sex marriage, cut taxes, created surplus, strong 2nd Amendment record

9:31-McCain- Temper? Not an issue, if he had a terrible temper, why would so many support him? Praises Rudy for 9-11 leadership

9:33-Huckabee- Faith? Faith gives direction, respects all faiths, faith is important part of this country

9:34-Paul- Remain Republican? Has no attention of going to a third party

Thanks for reading my live blog. I will try to post my comments about the outcome tomorrow after I get out of class.

Good night everyone!

The Bully Pulpit

Why is Mike Huckabee’s candidacy, hopeful nomination, and future November victory so important?

Some might say it’s his fresh ideas on policy issues, especially on the many domestic issues facing America: getting rid of the IRS, focusing on protecting all of life — from the unborn to those on their deathbeds, weapons of mass instruction (arts and music in the schools), energy independence in 10 years.

Some might say it’s his vertical politics.

Some might say it’s his humor.

Some might say it’s his populist, down-to-earth nature.

But while those are all great reasons for why Mike Huckabee should be the next President, I’m not sure anyone has truly grasped why he is such an important candidate: THE BULLY PULPIT.

You see, we’ve endured eight years of a White House that has lacked a communicator-in-chief, except for maybe 10 days in a September that seems paradoxically so close, yet so far away. Yes, the President is supposed to be the commander in chief, but he’s also supposed to be the communicator in chief, using his position at the White House, to communicate to the people why his policies are vital. And he can’t do it, with only Republican support or a Republican Congress.

He has to do it with the country behind him.

To those who laugh at the thought of an energy-independent America in 10 years, who laughed in 1961 at President Kennedy when he declared we’d put a man on the moon by the end of the decade? So why do we laugh today when our technology capability and knowledge base is 100,000 times that of the 1960s?

To those who laugh at the thought of getting rid of the biggest bureaucracy and wiping a dreaded date off of our calendars, what other plan do you have? No matter your political persuasion, there is common agreeance that the IRS is in bad need of an overhaul — or to look at the Huckabee campaign proposals, to just skip the overhaul and get rid of it. Crazy, right?

Think about it. If you’ve heard Mike Huckabee talk, he’s the kind of gifted communicator this country has been craving for. Not only can he charm an audience (not unlike another candidate in a different party), but he actually has fresh ideas for fixing our nation’s many domestic problems.

How does he do that? The bully pulpit power. He goes to the American people, and in some cases, Congress, and communicates to them why his ideas and policy proposals are so important. He convinces the American people through his office, why these policies need to move forward, and he pushes them to the forefront of the debate. It takes a gifted communicator to do that, and Mike Huckabee is just what this country needs.

And before anyone wonders why I didn’t address the foreign policy concerns/questions about Gov. Huckabee, I’ll finish with this thought: do we really expect a candidate to be able to have all the necessary experience upfront? Isn’t that why campaigns and then officeholders have policy advisers? What’s more important at the end of the day? Character, communication skills, decision-making abilities, especially in crisis situations (see Gov. Huckabee’s first day of office and his efforts after Hurriance Katrina), getting things done in government? Or brilliant knowledge, without the capacity to communicate it?

Finally, I’ll say this. Yes, there are foreign policy issues facing the United States, but to use Gov. Huckabee’s word, “frankly”, the domestic issues enormously outweigh the foreign policy concerns, and I want someone in office who has gotten things done in a fresh way, not afraid to look at the whole table of possible solutions, not afraid to not adhere to the PARTY mantra (heaven-forbid), willing to work with those of other political persuasions, yet still holding onto his own core convictions, while getting problems solved, and leaving his state (and hopefully this country), better than when he came into office.

Mike Huckabee Clips from Fox GOP Debate in South Carolina (Fred attacks, Mike responds)