Posted on 12/07/2007 8:17:38 AM PST by dano1
Huckabee has a new immigration plan out, and it's way, way better than anyone would have expected from him. Full disclosure: though I had nothing to do with preparing it, he acknowledges that it's partly modeled on a May 23, 2005 NR cover story I wrote. On illegal immigration, the most important elements are: universal verification of the legal status of new hires and cooperation with Social Security and IRS to prevent the use of fake or stolen identity information; systematic cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities; full implementation of the check-in/check-out system (US-VISIT) at the borders; and rejection of Mexico's illegal-alien ID card, known as the matricula consular. But even on legal immigration, it represents progress, calling for the elimination of the egregious visa lottery and the preference category for adult siblings of American citizens. I'd eliminate more categories that that myself, and I'm not sure what the specifics are behind "Increase visas for highly-skilled and highly-educated applicants", but this is a big deal if Huckabee actually campaigns on this. That could be a big if, though; Thompson has a pretty good immigration platform too (even deeper cuts in chain migration, but not including the state and local cooperation that Huckabee has endorsed), but Thompson's not saying much about it.
It'll be interesting to see what Iowa Rep. Steve King has to say, since, as this Bloomberg piece points out, he's the kingmaker there and is partly responsible for making immigration a key issue.
Go MITT !
Huckabee/Romney 2008 ?
With all the info coming out about his pandering to illegals and criminals....I cannot buy Huckabee would ever implement such a plan.
More an election ploy than a real interest in dealing w illegal alienism...note there are also no punishments proscribed for violators.
Even at the recent debate he was pandering for illegals...now we are supposed to believe he has reformed?
ping
are you referring to information like the following? Personally, I think we can get to secure borders and no illegal immigration and still be humane to individuals when the circumstances warrent it.
Salon interview | Nov. 9, 2007 | Michael Scherer
Huckabee: "I think I am as clear on immigration as anybody. But because I also say, "Look, let's not just be angry at these people. Let's recognize that if we were them, we'd want to come here too." That's not amnesty. I'm not for amnesty. I'm not for sanctuary cities. I'm no liberal when it comes to that. I think I am almost as hard-line as, well I was going to say [Tom] Tancredo, but ... I think I am pretty adamant that we ought to obey the law. But my frustration with the immigration issue is not directed so much at desperate people as it is at a dysfunctional government."
So you’re saying that most of us want to round up illegals and fire them back across the border strapped to ICBMs? Nobody believes in being “inhumane” so please spare us.
(I’m starting to believe that you are Dane based on the level of disingenuousness you put on display in these threads)
So he is against amnesty in all its egregious forms? Or not? He is right, this is a failing on the part of government, and you can’t blame people for wanting to come here. BUT YOU CAN BLAME AND PUNISH PEOPLE FOR BREAKING OUR LAWS, and not reward them for doing so. You get more of what you reward.
ping
And the open border that we have now?
Your problem is that you keep reading, and believing, the crap being written about Huckabee by people who either hate him or who can't believe he's seriously threatening their own preferred candidate. You can't run Arkansas for ten years as a Republican without making some serious enemies. And yet, according to a recent poll, the people of Arkansas prefer him to Hillary. Strange poll result from people apparently being terrorized by all the criminals he's pardoned over the years (yes, I know he's pardoned a lot of them and that one of his pardons was a disaster.)
And, I think his stance of immigration is what the Republican party needs if we are to have any chance of staying a major party. Hannity and O'Reilly's position will kill the party in the long term.
You think 20 million new Democrat voters will help Republicans stay "a major party"?
THompson/Hunter! Much better.
No, and that's my point exactly. Do you think Hannity's rhetoric is converting the 10% of the population that is Hispanic, and is here legally and is growing toward 20% in a decade or so that they should vote Republican?
If the radical no-amnesty crowd ever gets to set immigration policy for Republicans there will be 1) no policy passed and 2) no majority for Republicans for decades, if ever. Wake up. We all want to seal the borders, but that doesnt' make us all anti-immigrant. Huckabee knows how to state this, and Hannity doesn't. We absolutely need, as a party, to adopt a strong, but understanding, message on illegal immigration. So far, Huckabee's the only one who gets this.
He did get something like 40% of the black vote in Arkansas. The skeptics among you can say that's because he was so liberal. The sensible among us say that he must understand a hell of a lot more than most Republicans about issues that bother blacks. Ditto for Hispanics.
Nothing there abou crypto-amnesty and z visa mega loopholes.
The Huckster can fool some MSM addled zombies at national review...but the Huckster’s time is limited.
Huckabee's plan is on his website. If you check it out you will see it's very comprehensive.
BTW, here is the URL for Krikorian's organization:
http://www.cis.org/
IMHO, Kridorian should get a medal for his great work! (You can donate to his organization at his website.)
He did get something like 40% of the black vote in Arkansas. The skeptics among you can say that’s because he was so liberal. The sensible among us say that he must understand a hell of a lot more than most Republicans about issues that bother blacks. Ditto for Hispanics.
///////////////
Bush maxed at 40% of the hispanics—or about what the conservative party in Mexico gets.
The blacks down in Houston got loud the other day when two black thieves were shot dead by a white man. They shut up instantly when it was learned that the two black thieves were illegals from south america.
Don’t assume that american blacks and hispanics are natural allies. More americans have been killed by illegals than have been killed in the middle east in recent years. There is evidence to suggest that most of the americans killed by illegals are black.
Have you wondered why Mike Huckabee is suddenly getting so much
favorable attention from the mainstream media (who themselves are
controlled by this gaggle of global elite)? To find the answer as to
why a professing pro-life, conservative Christian would suddenly
become the darling of the media, look no further than the fact that
just a couple of months ago, Mr. Huckabee appeared before the
globalist-minded Council on Foreign Relations. (Read his speech here:
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14335/ ) And when he did, it became
abundantly clear that Huckabee was a man globalists could trust.
By the way, as you read Huckabee’s speech, you will find that he is
George W. Bush on steroids! This is a man who intends to meddle in the
affairs of nations around the world like you can’t believe. Talk about
entangling alliances: Huckabee intends for our State, Energy, Housing,
Education, Justice, Treasury, and Transportation departments to spend
untold billions of tax dollars on just about anything and everything,
including schools, medical facilities, roads, sewage treatment, water
filtration, electricity, and legal and banking systems in countries
all over the globe. And that is exactly the kind of man the Council on
Foreign Relations (CFR) wants in Washington.
Make no mistake about it: the CFR has dominated every administration,
Republican and Democrat, since World War II. They hold sway over most
every critical Presidential appointment. Look carefully and one will
discover that the Republican President George W. Bush has had as many
CFR members in his administration as Democrat President Bill Clinton
did in his. The last time I counted, President Bush had nearly 200
members of the CFR in his administration.
Remember that the total number of CFR members is less than 5,000. Can
one imagine what people would think if, say, the old Christian
Coalition, which at one time numbered in the hundreds of thousands,
had nearly 200 members in any one administration? Talk about
conjectures of a conspiracy: the media would go ballistic. Yet, each
and every administration, regardless of party, continues to fill their
ranks with members of the CFR, and with those friendly with the CFR,
and no one seems to notice. Do you now understand why nothing changes
no matter which party wins the White House?
Now consider the current presidential candidates who are also members
of the CFR. These include Christopher Dodd, Bill Richardson, John
McCain, and Fred Thompson. Hillary is not a member of the CFR, but her
husband, Bill, is. Plus, she has a plethora of advisors who are CFR
members. And even though Mike Huckabee is not on this list (neither is
George W. Bush), it is obvious that he will carry water for them in
much the same way as the current President has done. Barack Obama has
spoken at least once for the CFR. John Edwards has appeared before the
CFR several times. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney both wrote for the
CFR and have numerous advisors who are CFR members, as do Edwards and
Obama.
I don’t trust Huckabee as far as I could throw him...back when he was still fat.
Uh, oh! I can't wait for the explanation.
“D”duction. The biggest clue was when Dane got upset last weekend and posted a vanity called something like “Why Are So Many People So Angry at Hucklebee” last weekend. Putting the times together of the Dane and Dano1 posts together, their writing styles etc made it apparant. Then Dane/Dano1 slipped a few times on their logging-in and posted replies meant to be from the other screen name. Plus, Dane has been banned a few times over the past years, and has laid in a supply of “backup” names to post under
Capitulation to the liberals that would destroy my Country is not an option. If I lose because there are more who want the liberal ways than conservatism, so be it.
Giving up and adopting all the liberal Democrat positions so that I will be more appealing? No thanks.
“D”umb.
Oh good Lord...
Ping your other screen name...
That will throw us off!
Must have had some good training today...
I mean come on, the three most obnoxious Huck posters, who never seem to post anywhere else thread wise and all start with the letter “D”...
ECM and EJonsie22 have noticed that our screen names begin with the same letter, and therefore concluded that we must be the same person.
On a more serious note, IMHO Kirkorian's positive assessment of Huckabee's immigration plan is huge!!!
Also, IMHO, Kirkorian is the nation's leading guru on how to deal with illegal immigration. The fact that Huckabee modeled his own plan on Kirkorian's plan once again shows what a sharp guy Huckabee is. No wonder Huckabee has been able to leap to the lead in the national polls without spending megabucks. Huckabee will make a great President.
Wow, “you guys” are interactive now...
Impressive...
Training must be nearing completion...
Thanks ECM
Fred Thompson gets it, Huckabee doesn't. Here is how Huckabee intends to deal with the 12 to 20 million illegals already here:
Huckabee has since changed his stance somewhat saying that the illegals have to go back and apply from their home countries within 120 days, but the question is do they receive preferential treatment to get back in after breaking our laws by entering illegally, committing ID theft, not paying taxes, etc. Hell most of them couldn't even qualify for a tourist visa.
Pandering to blacks and Hispanics won't win us any votes and if allowing the illegals to stay and work here by legalizing their status will destroy this country as we know it. This issue transcends partisan politics. It is about the very survival of this country as we know it.
Wow it is almost like interacting with a real freeper. You have improved.
We believe his actual record, not his "sudden conversion" on the way to the election.
This is the REAL Huckster:
Legality of Huckabee's Mexican consulate deal questioned
Critics say Arkansas citizens, businesses financed office to draw illegal workers
November 1, 2007 - By Jerome R. Corsi - WorldNetDaily.com
Financial inducements arranged by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to establish a Mexican consular office in Little Rock may have violated state law, according to an Arkansas attorney. As WND reported yesterday, critics in Arkansas charge Huckabee, who lately has enjoyed a surge in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, worked with some of the state's most prominent and politically powerful businesses to establish the consulate as a magnet for drawing illegal immigrants to the state to accept low-paying jobs. Huckabee, in an interview with WND, strongly denied the allegations.
Arkansas attorney Chip Sexton provided WND a written legal brief arguing the state government's sublease to Mexico of office space for the consulate was illegal under Arkansas law. Sexton contended the deal raised questions about the appropriateness of private citizens and corporations in Arkansas providing financial incentives for the government of Mexico to locate a consulate office in Little Rock.
"This arrangement to bring a Mexican consulate to Little Rock and the manner in which it occurred amounts to a 'consul-gate,'" Sexton told WND. "I'm an Arkansas citizen, why doesn't the state lease me some property and furniture for $1 per year?"
Robert Trevino, commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, told WND he and Huckabee helped arrange state and private financial support to induce Mexico to establish the consulate as a business development "quid pro quo."
Trevino signed on July 7, 2006, a "Facilities Use Agreement" with Mexican consular officials to rent state government office space for $1 a year on the second floor of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services building at 26 Corporate Hills in Little Rock. Sexton points to Arkansas law, which appears to prohibit state agencies, including Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, from sub-leasing government space.
Ark. Code Ann. § 22-2-114(C)(i) provides: "After July 1, 1975, no state agency shall enter into or renew or otherwise negotiate a lease between itself as lessor or lessee and a nongovernmental or other government lessor or lessee."
"Even more offensive, there was nothing in the lease or other agreements that would have prevented the Mexican consulate from providing legal assistance to illegal aliens," Sexton told WND. "We have information that the Mexican consulate operating out of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Facility was providing legal assistance even to Mexican illegal aliens who were accused of committing violent crimes in Arkansas."
Trevino emphasized: "It never was our intent to get involved in the immigration issue or to aid illegal immigration, that's a federal issue. Our interest and emphasis was and is strictly business development." He pointed to the many Arkansas companies, including Wal-Mart and Tyson Foods, that "do a good deal of business in Mexico," "So the more we can facilitate better trade with that country for our companies located here in Arkansas, we have a duty to do that as officials," he said.
Arkansas attorney Sexton disagreed, insisting, "This whole scheme to get a Mexican consulate to locate in Little Rock appears to be nothing more than a veiled invitation for illegal immigrants to come to Arkansas to work for the Arkansas corporations who want cheap labor." "The package is enhanced by social welfare benefits provided by the state of Arkansas and financing assistance to support the Mexican consulate's presence in the state," Sexton said.
Trevino confirmed he was state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, also known as LULAC, an activist group strongly advocating for rights of Hispanic immigrants in the U.S., when on Oct. 3, 2003, he accompanied Huckabee in a state airplane to visit Fox in Mexico. In 2003, Trevino was Huckabee's economic development policy adviser. In October 2005, Trevino was appointed by Huckabee to his current position as commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005
By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.
"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.
Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.
About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.
Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.
He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."
Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."
"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."
During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit, is it?
Please support that with at least one shred of evidence citing something that I said.
You might also give some thought to whether your assumption that all blacks are liberal is accurate, though I suppose assuming they all are is a pretty good way to make sure they don't ever vote Republican. Huckabee didn't get their votes because he's a liberal; he got them because he respects them enough to include them. Maybe it comes from being a pastor; I don't know, but he clearly gets it. You don't, obviously.
Pandering to blacks? Where did that come from? All I said was that Huckabee got 40% of the black vote in Arkansas. Are you really assuming that there are no blacks who will support a conservative? It's assumptions like that that become self-fulfilling. Again, Huckabee understands this. You obviously don't.
Pandering to Hispanics? What's pandering about treating them like everyone else who's trying to feed their families. It would be different if they came here to rape and pillage, but most are hard-working people trying to put bread on the table. We're the idiots when we arrest an illegal alien for robbery and then either 1) put him back on the street, or 2) deport him and then let him walk back across the border unimpeded.
All Huckabee is saying is we need to fix the system but we don't need to permanently disable everyone who's taken advantage of the broken immigration system that we were running.
And destroy this country? Take a deep breath and then go read your history books. This has been going on since our founding. Only the immigrants' nationalities have changed. Once here, a certain group always feels no one else should be allowed in.
Please support that with at least one shred of evidence citing something that I said.
OK
If the radical no-amnesty crowd ever gets to set immigration policy for Republicans
Right out of the Democrat talking points. Anti-amnesty is now "radical"? 70% of the American public is against amnesty, only "radical" liberals are in favor of amnesty.
We all want to seal the borders, but that doesnt' make us all anti-immigrant.
Another typical Dem tactic, trying to confuse opposition to illegal immigration with opposition to immigration.
He did get something like 40% of the black vote in Arkansas. The skeptics among you can say that's because he was so liberal. The sensible among us say that he must understand a hell of a lot more than most Republicans about issues that bother blacks. Ditto for Hispanics.
Typically liberal Democrat, don't make decisions based on principles or even the Constitution, make decisions based on what bothers any particular race, ethnic group, special interest.
Your entire screed would fit right into an Obama speech. If you really think like this you are certainly not a conservative. Of course, this would explain your support for the anti-abortion Democrat, Huckabee.
I watched the Morgan State Debates. huckabee favors granting voting representation to DC. He pandered while the other Reps including Alan Keyes didn't. 90% of the black vote goes to the Dems in Presidential elections and that isn't going to change anytime soon, The runs of Steele, Blackwell, and Swann demonstrated that blacks vote in lockstep for the Dems even if it is a black Rep running against a white Dem. Even Hillary gets more of the black vote than Obama. It is a reality we have to deal with.
Pandering to Hispanics? What's pandering about treating them like everyone else who's trying to feed their families. It would be different if they came here to rape and pillage, but most are hard-working people trying to put bread on the table. We're the idiots when we arrest an illegal alien for robbery and then either 1) put him back on the street, or 2) deport him and then let him walk back across the border unimpeded.
It matter not how hard working someone is. We are a nation of laws. What is it you don't understand about the word ILLEGAL? They entered this country illegally, committed ID theft, failed to pay taxes in most cases, etc. They are criminals just by being here. If we allowed all the people on the globe who wanted to come here and work, we would cease being a country. And if we legalize the status of the 12 to 20 million already here, they will be able to sponsor tens of millions more thru chain migration.
All Huckabee is saying is we need to fix the system but we don't need to permanently disable everyone who's taken advantage of the broken immigration system that we were running.
You mean if the police are incompetent because they haven't enforced the laws, we should excuse the criminals and their crimes.
And destroy this country? Take a deep breath and then go read your history books. This has been going on since our founding. Only the immigrants' nationalities have changed. Once here, a certain group always feels no one else should be allowed in.
What is going on today is unprecedented in our history. There is no comparison. Read the links below, you may learn something.
The Hispanic Challenge By Samuel P. Huntington
Immigrants in the United States, 2007 A Profile of America’s Foreign-Born Population
100 Million More Projecting the Impact of Immigration On the U.S. Population, 2007 to 2060
You and Hannity are the ones confusing anti-immigrant with anti-illegal. All you have to do is listen to a legal Hispanic on the line to Hannity telling him how terrible he sounds and how he's alienating every Hispanic tuned in, legal or illegal. Then Hannity says something like, "Oh, I'm not anti-immigrant...." Trouble is, during his diatribes he sounds like that's exactly what he's saying, and he can't erase it with a dismissing comment at the end. I am very much against illegal immigration. It needs to stop. But that doesn't mean we have to leave all common sense at the door when we implement the program that stops it. Huckabee understands this; you clearly don't.
As for your comment on the special interests, there's a huge difference between targeting a group and pandering to them versus at least showing them the common courtesy of acknowledging their presence at the table. Huckabee was, I believe, the only Republican presidential candidate to attend the Latino convention in Little Rock. That's not pandering. That's acknowledging to them that they are part of the process. I'll guarantee you that the other candidates sacrificed a significant portion of the Hispanic vote by not attending, a huge mistake.
So, why didn't they attend? Because they're convinced that people who think like you do wouldn't vote for them in the primaries if they even as much as showed up. Well, surprise, as Huckabee's numbers are now showing, there's a lot more people who think like me than who think like you, and now Huckabee's running away with Iowa.
I suppose you can convince yourself that those hicktown Iowa voters just haven't woken up to the facts about his immigration stance yet....keep deluding yourself. They know, and they agree with him. Incidentally, there are quite a few things that bother me about Huckabee. But that's true in spades for McCain, Giuliani and Romney. I thought I'd be supporting Thompson by this point, but he's clearly lost his footing and Huckabee has found it, to his advantage.
You need to ask yourself if someone like Huckabee, who admittedly plays to the middle, just might be the one to really steamroll Hillary, which I firmly believe to be the case. In the end, with Hillary generating ill will even among Democrats, we could even retake Congress with someone like Huckabee at the head of the ticket, pulling from the middle. This is why all the talk about the MSM being behind Huckabee is bull. He's their biggest nightmare...someone who can get votes from all but the most liberal Democrats.
My forecast (for what it's worth, which is very little): Huckabee easily wins the nomination and goes on to win the general election gaining at least 55% of the popular vote and turning a lot of blue states red in the process. Why? Because deep down, most people really don't like Hillary, and if you offer them an alternative they find personally agreeable, they'll take the alternative.
Actually, I think Hillary is going to continue to falter in the primaries and won't even be the eventual nominee. Then, when the Democrats realize they're staking it all on O'bama or Edwards, they'll start looking for another candidate who has a better chance in the general election. Sort of like we went looking for Huckabee. But I don't know that they have one, so it should be interesting to watch them get out of the box the MSM has put them in by uncritically pushing Hillary for so long.
I think I have a clear understanding of "illegal." I just don't hate the people who took advantage of our idiotic border policy to come here to work. I never said we should legalize those already here, nor did Huckabee. You guys keep implying that we're saying that, but that's not the case. As for the sponsorship issue, another idiotic border policy that needs to be changed. Where's the argument?
As for excusing the criminals if the police were incompetent, your very use of the word "criminals" makes my point that the anti-amnesty rhetoric turns Hispanics away from the Republican party. Many of these "criminals" you're talking about actually have people in this country who care about them because they're family or they're long-time friendly, hard-working neighbors. Yes, they did something illegal. But use some sense, man. That doesn't make them someone you spit on. It just means that when order is restored to our border law, they will have to go home and reapply to come back here to work.
There's hardly any difference in the policy the hardline no-amnesty crowd would write and the policy Huckabee has explicitly stated that he favors, when compared to what we have now. There is, however, a huge difference in the rhetoric used. Again, Huckabee understands this, and he has the advantage in doing so. All you have to do to get this is look at the polls.
. 70% of the American public want the borders policed, but the "radical no-amnesty" crowd (and yes, they are radical) says that once you've crossed illegally, that's it for you...no second chance...no mitigating circumstances....no human charity....no hope. Think what you want, but most Americans don't think like you do, including most Republicans.
This is even to the left of Hillary. These poor illegals you so compassionately support are CRIMINALS. Yes, regardless what idiots like Rudy say, entering this Country illegally is a Federal crime with a first time sentence of 6 months in prison with 2 years imprisonment for repeat offenders. These criminals can get a second chance like any other criminal, they can go back to where they came from and stop committing crimes. Numerous polls show that the vast majority of Americans are against giving amnesty to these criminals.
As for your comment on the special interests, there's a huge difference between targeting a group and pandering to them versus at least showing them the common courtesy of acknowledging their presence at the table.
Huckabee shamelessly pandered to Hispanics most notably his speech before LULAC. He panders as good as any Democrat.
You need to ask yourself if someone like Huckabee, who admittedly plays to the middle, just might be the one to really steamroll Hillary, which I firmly believe to be the case. In the end, with Hillary generating ill will even among Democrats, we could even retake Congress with someone like Huckabee at the head of the ticket, pulling from the middle. This is why all the talk about the MSM being behind Huckabee is bull. He's their biggest nightmare...someone who can get votes from all but the most liberal Democrats.
This is the biggest hunk of bull you've slung. Huckabee doesn't play to the middle, Huckabee is a liberal who attempts to pander to certain groups hoping they will believe what he says instead of his record. If you think conservatives will work hard to elect this pandering liberal you're deluding yourself. The Democrats would love to run against a Baptist minister who believes that God is personally directing the election. He scares me and I assure you he will scare most independents. In a general election the MSM and Dems will shred him with his past record.
If the Republicans run a liberal, they will lose the Presidency. Why vote for an ersatz liberal when you can vote Dem and get the real thing.I personally support Thompson, a conservative. I had hoped that if he did not get the nomination at least Romney would get it. I don't really like Romney, but he has at least tried to sound conservative. Huckabee, however, is someone I could no more support than I could support Rudy. They are both correct on a few issues but wrong on most of the principles that a leader of this Country should base their leadership on.
I fear for my Country.
So bitter....so very bitter. A sure voice leading us back to majority status.
Huckabee is a liberal
I give up. If you think that, but that Romney is a conservative, then...well, like I said...I give up. Though it appears to me that you're supporting the one guy in the race who actually will say whatever it takes to get elected to the next position he wants.
Absolutely dead wrong. 70% of the nation is for no amnesty. The uproar over amnesty crosses ALL demographics and political lines, and to support otherwise is a huge mistake, and a waste of the single most unifying subject in the country right now.
Seal the border, stop the inflow, kick them out if you catch them, and cause attrition through removal of services and jobs. THAT is what is the correct policy, and is the single best route for the Republican candidate to take.
Any other position will not win, especially because the Conservative base is dead set against amnesty and have been criticized by party leaders for same. Amnesty is a LOSER.
I'm with you on the "seal the border, stop the inflow," but you lose me at "kick them out if you catch them." Believe it or not, sensible people can craft a policy wherein those here now illegally will voluntarily return to their countries provided we enact common sense policies to permit their eventual return, some sooner, some later, some never, depending upon their particular circumstances. (For instance, sooner for those who have long-established work records, later for those who just arrived and never for those who've been convicted of other crimes while here.)
In my opinion, those who don't return voluntarily, when caught (and with the correct policies in place they will be caught) should be deported and permanently barred from ever entering the country again. Now, I know you think this middle-ground approach is nonsense, but again, show me the poll that supports your position.
Incidentally, I believe that Huckabee has explicitly said that he is willing to lose votes from people that take your extreme position, yet still he continues to improve in the polls. Confusing, huh? As I keep saying, Huckabee understands this.
Alright, I am not gonna go digging for the obvious, but here is an excerpt from a FOX poll showing a majority of Americans and a clear majority of Republicans that want to send 'em packin'.
Trying to send as many illegal immigrants
back to their home countries as possible?
.........................Favor....Oppose..(Dpnds)..(DK)
Overall.................57%......31........7...........5
Democrats...........54%......34........6...........6
Republicans..........63%.....27........7...........3
Independents........58%.....28.......11..........3
Incidentally, I believe that Huckabee has explicitly said that he is willing to lose votes from people that take your extreme position, yet still he continues to improve in the polls.
Huckabee's official position on immigration and border came out just recently, and doesn't have much to do with his position in the polls.
Huck's popularity is coming from Christians looking for someone to vote for. Unfortunately, Huck is to the Christians as Fred is to the Constitutional/fiscal conservatives, and neither can hold the whole base down. Nice to see it coming away from Rudy and Mitt, But it is of little difference... None of the "top tier" will keep the base- So have at it with Huck... See how well he does with immigration when so great a number of Republicans oppose him.
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