Posted on 12/13/2007 3:28:06 AM PST by dano1
The answer to whether former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the surprise leader in Iowa among Republican candidates for president, can nourish late-blooming interest among voters wasn't revealed Wednesday during the final GOP debate before the leadoff Iowa caucuses.
An anticipated frigid exchange between Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who recently lost his edge in Iowa, didn't materialize.
Huckabee, who also has eroded former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's position in nationwide polls, was so intent on avoiding fireworks that he said his New Year's resolution was to watch his tongue.
"I'm going to be a lot more careful about everything I say, because I find it's amplified to a new level," he said.
No wonder a recent poll indicated six in 10 Republicans likely to participate in the Iowa caucuses said they could be persuaded to support another candidate.
These GOP rivals echoed platitudes about the hospitality of Iowans, pointed to the porous U.S. border as a security priority, called for cuts in federal spending, agreed the national economy should be expanded, placed high value on improving education and insisted on a stronger military.
One of the few fiery points made at this nationally televised forum came from former Sen. Fred Thompson, who made clear his aversion to simple yes-or-no answers to a question about whether global climate change was a serious threat caused by human activity.
"I would like to see the show of hands," said moderator Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Des Moines Register.
"I'm not doing hand shows today," said Thompson, an actor and Tennessee politician. "Are you going to give me a minute to answer that?"
"No," Washburn said.
"Then I'm not going to answer," Thompson replied.
When the ruckus died down, several candidates indicated they felt global warming was an important issue worthy of forceful government action.
"Climate change is real," Giuliani said. "Human beings are contributing to it."
Washburn, in her role as moderator, appeared unwilling to let the debate turn acrimonious by cutting off Rep. Tom Tancredo, of Colorado, when he expressed concern that Huckabee had changed his view on immigration.
Huckabee has been under attack recently for his decision as Arkansas governor to support a policy of charging illegal immigrants in-state college tuition rates. Romney launched a new TV advertising blitz to point out Huckabee's record on the issue.
In response to a question, the candidates discussed ideas for federal budget adjustments that could be painful to Americans.
"Let the programs go that don't work," Romney said. "Don't lobby for them forever."
Giuliani called for a 10 percent across-the-board cut in nonmilitary government spending.
"Rather than relying on a nanny government," he said, "let's rely on people to decide their own health care."
However, Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas, said federal budget problems could be improved by withdrawing the country's commitment to overseas military spending on 700 bases in 130 countries.
"I think it's absolutely unnecessary to sacrifice," he said.
Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, said the federal tax code has to be simplified.
"The American people need a tax code they can understand and know that it is fair," he said.
He also said it was time for the federal government to quit subsidizing the production of ethanol, which is an enormous industry in Iowa.
The GOP showdown set the stage for Democrats who will appear today in a debate at a public television studio west of Des Moines.
It was the 10th GOP debate this year and will be the Democrats' 16th joint appearance. No more debates are scheduled in Iowa before the Jan. 3 caucuses.
I hope you are well paid, down at Huckster HQ!
U better quit using that pic of me dog....or I’ll have my lawyer sue your ass.
Anywhere to see the debate? Rebroadcast or streaming???
sw
Huh? Huckabee was in the background, barely even noticed during this debate. And he should be happy about that, because going into this people were expecting his blood to be all over the stage, but no one laid a glove on him. It was one of those times that being the quite kids in the back of the class may have prolonged his rating in the top 3 for a little longer. The one thing we all have to remember no matter who we support, is John Kerry was in 4th place at this point in the campaign. Any thing can still happen and probably will.
Huckabee can’t handle the scrutiny of being in the lead. Every time his name is mentioned on FR everyone groans. FR is not that far off from conservatives-in-general (though somewhat More Informed, LOL). He will never be the nominee.
I think if our guys don’t get actual conservatives moderating the debates, they should refuse to do them. Why can’t we have Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh moderating? Why need we always have liberal moderators who believe that Republicans eat children and barbecue the elderly for fun?
Must watch TV:
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/12/dumond_goes_viral.aspx
I saw Mrs. Davidson on CBS News last week talking about how Wayne Dumond murdered her daughter Carol Sue Shields. Shields was murdered because Mike Huckabee began pushing for Dumond’s freedom when he became governor. Dumond was eventually released.
There is no doubt Mrs. Davidson has a powerful story to tell, but I wasn’t sure she had an outlet to share it. I agreed with her that Mike Huckabee has no business being president.
I have always been a behind the scenes guy in Arkansas politics, working for Fay Boozman in 1998 and Senator Tim Hutchinson in 2002, so being out front on
anything political is highly unusual for me, but this is different.
I contacted Mrs. Davidson and asked her if she would be willing to speak on camera about her daughter, her daughter’s murderer, and the man who helped win his freedom. I got a camera crew to go with me to Missouri to Mrs. Davidson’s home. We filmed a very kind lady who shouldn’t have lost her daughter.
Mrs. Davidson’s story is important. It’s one that anyone voting in the Republican primaries should hear.
“Why can’t we have Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh moderating? “
Great idea. After the CNN fiasco, RedState was pushing for a conservative-moderated debate.
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