Free Republic

TOKYO (AFP) - Former US presidential contender Mike Huckabee urged his fellow Republicans on Wednesday not to denigrate Democrat Barack Obama, saying they should celebrate the historic moment of a black candidate. "Republicans will make a fundamental if not fatal mistake if they seek to win the election by demonising Barack Obama," Huckabee told a news conference on a visit to Tokyo. The former Arkansas governor said that, having grown up in the segregated South, he never thought he would see an African-American win the nomination of a major party for the US presidency. "I do not want to have...

Mike Huckabee performed the Heimlich Maneuver successfully on a fellow politician Saturday in North Carolina. ...

A T-R-I reader says a “former Republican candidate for the presidency in 2008 is shopping a radio commentary/talk show to all the networks, and it’s not his first job in radio.” Sounds like the Tennessee talker himself, Fred Thompson, doesn’t it? But no – it’s former Arkansas Governor, minister and onetime teenage radio host Mike Huckabee. His witty and self-deprecating persona was a hit with a lot of media types during the campaign and you’d think he could be exploring all kinds of options (including the VP slot with McCain, without seeming to want it). But he’s shaking hands and...

Early on January 22, I posted the following to Free Republic: "In my opinion someone definitely needs to get word to Governor Huckabee that his unholy alliance with Senator McCain isn’t ultimately going to work for anyone, except possibly their Democrat opponents."http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957488/posts?page=1#25 (post #25) On April 25, this was the featured Huckabee quote at Google News: "Sometimes I got accused of being in collusion with him during the course of the campaign — that we were somehow forming some unholy alliance."http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5731969.html (fourth paragraph) Did Governor Huckabee get word about the "unholy alliance" or was that just a coincidence?

"Me? I'm just hangin' out, listening for McCain's phone call and waiting for reporters..." Mike "The Huckster" Huckabee, is at the top of the short list of John McCain's vice presidential candidates. At least according to a top McCain fundraiser. Economic conservatives are likely to oppose the choice of Huckabee as McCain’s vice presidential candidate, given the populist tone of his campaign and his tax record as governor of Arkansas. But in his “Capital Commerce” column for U.S. News & World Report, James Pethokoukis points to the fundraiser’s disclosure and cites several factors that could make Huckabee a strong asset...

Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director, RFFM.org Houston, we have a problem! Or perhaps I should say, Republicans have a problem. Even though GOP crybabies--including Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity--now seem to be rallying around the candidacy of Sen. John McCain, the message has yet to filter down to the Party's base. Though McCain is the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, in Pennsylvania Rep. Ron Paul finished second with over 15% of the Republican votes cast. Gov. Mike Huckabee snatched up nearly 12% of those who voted on the GOP's side of the ballot. Both men tallied a...

Some Republicans groaned at Gov. Rick Perry's announcement that he plans to seek another term in 2010, but Mayor Bill White's camp reacted with glee. White has made no effort to hide the fact that he is looking to run for governor after being term-limited out of the mayor's office next year. And Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the biggest vote-getter in Texas history, has been more than hinting that she plans to "come home" to run for the same office. She outlined to Texas Monthly last November a plan to resign the Senate in 2009 to make the race, while...

Mike Huckabee, still one of many names being floated as John McCain’s vice presidential nominee, has started up his own political action committee, Huck PAC. In his kick-off blog on his Web site, the former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate writes that he’s launching the PAC to promote candidates who “hold firm” to the principles of “tax reform, a strong national defense, real border security, life, the family, less government and individual liberty.” Aside from that, Huckabee has high goals for upending the power balance in Washington. “Huck PAC is committed to helping Republicans regain control of the House...

GOP Vice-President Slot Still Open, But Is Huckabee Getting Serious Cconsideration? RFFM.org Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza Yes, I know. Supposedly there are no bosses in the Republican Party any longer. But even though the smoke-filled back room may be a thing of the past, there is an elitist faction of the GOP who makes decisions for all who believe in the Republican brand. Well, they try to make decisions. But as an institution starts to crumble, power brokers have less and less command over what goes on. Such was evidenced during the past presidential primary season. I believe Party...

In my first race, I was an unknown candidate running for the United States Senate against a three-term incumbent. Most political figures believed I couldn't win so did nothing to help. There was a major exception: Charlton Heston. When others didn't have time for me, he did. I didn't win that first race, but his encouragement is something I'll never forget. Six years later, I was an incumbent governor running for reelection and Charlton Heston came to two small communities in South Arkansas to do campaign events. The events were stunningly successful, bringing record crowds to these communities who were...

The story of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection has deep meaning to Christians for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is the defining moment of the Christian faith. But for the resurrection, Christianity would be nothing more than a legend, not unlike the stories from Greek or Roman mythology. As the Apostle Paul notes in I Corinthians 15:17-18, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Indeed, our very hope of eternal life depends upon the resurrection of...

For those who care about the truth (8 minutes).

An assist from an unexpected quarter: "[Y]ou can't hold the candidate responsible for everything that people around him may say or do," Huckabee says. "It's interesting to me that there are some people on the left who are having to be very uncomfortable with what ... Wright said, when they all were all over a Jerry Falwell, or anyone on the right who said things that they found very awkward and uncomfortable, years ago. Many times those were statements lifted out of the context of a larger sermon. Sermons, after all, are rarely written word for word by pastors like...

Cannot Post due to copyright issues: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/03/17/080317taco_talk_hertzberg

Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee will be a guest on CNN’s “Larry King Live” at 9:00 p.m. ET tonight to discuss his recent presidential campaign and other topics.

How does “The Mike Huckabee Show” sound? As Mr. Huckabee’s campaign plotted a concession speech on Tuesday, some analysts suggested that viewers would see the longshot Republican presidential candidate on television again very soon. On the MSNBC program “Morning Joe,” the Republican strategist Mike Murphy predicted Mr. Huckabee would “suspend his campaign, hire excellent agents, and begin negotiations for a cable TV talk show, all within the next 10 days.” “We’ve got a chair here he could fill,” the co-host Mika Brzezinski remarked. Later in the day on MSNBC, the anchor Contessa Brewer joked that the jovial Mr. Huckabee could...

Post #2 links to a 75-minute video of the September debate.

IRVING, Texas — Mike Huckabee bowed to reality Tuesday and out of the Republican presidential race. “We kept the faith,” he told his end-of-the-road rally Tuesday after John McCain clinched the nomination. “I’d rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place.” The genial conservative won the leadoff Iowa caucuses, making him a sudden but short-lived sensation, and then seven other states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kansas. Meantime, John McCain piled up big victories on his way to winning the prize on Tuesday night. The writing was on...

This video of Governor Huckabee's concession speech is about fifteen minutes long. His wife cries, and he almost does too.

UPDATE 8:36: Ron Paul has been re-elected to Congress in the Fourteenth District of Texas. Campaign manager Mark Elam: "Chris Peden is toast. It's just a question of how big the margin is." The campaign is looking at a result in line with its final internal polls, with about 70 percent of the vote going to Paul. With about 8,400 votes in, Paul is leading Peden 72-28. UPDATE 8:53: These are early votes being reported right now, but around 40 to 50 percent of votes were cast in early voting and the Paul campaign doesn't expect the election day results...

Per Fox News

On January 16, 2008 Governor Huckabee signed the Numbers USA: No Amnesty Pledge. To learn more click here. Governor Huckabee believes: Securing our borders must be our top priority and has reached the level of a national emergency. I support the $3 billion the Senate has voted for border security. This money will train and deploy 23,000 more agents, add four drone planes, build 700 miles of fence and 300 miles of vehicle barriers, and put up 105 radar and camera towers. This money will turn "catch and release" into "catch and detain" of those entering illegally, and crack down...

  When we last checked in with Governor Huckabee, ladies and gentlemen, it was in Iowa (the last and only state he has won to date). But just as Dr. Jeckyl drinks the potion to become Mr. Hyde, Mike Huckabee will "misuse" the media and become "The Huckster". He's "Huckled" his way back into some free air time.       If you remember last time The Huckster "huckled" his way into the mainstream media, it was when he told the world he had made a "Negative Ad" that he was hart-broken about, and he just coudn't run it.  He was so torn about the...

USA Today Polls : Increasing Huckabee's advance over Romney nationwide ! At the eve of Big Tuesday's 21 States' primaries, the Nationwide Advance of Mike Huckabee over Mitt Romney is steady and increasing since the beginning of 2008 according to a Series of Polls published by "USA Today" : See : http://64.136.25.164/899982_l.jpg http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=43321766&postcount=2 This fact is despite Ron Paul's insistance to stay in the race, even having less than 5 % of voters, which should normally go to Mike Huckabee's conservative campaign, sooner or later, giving him a supplementary boost to catch-up over McCain anew. McCain obviously got and exhausted...

Tax Me More Fund tops $1,000 with $200 donation BILL SIMMONS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Gov. Mike Huckabee's Tax Me More Fund hit $1,000 this week, receiving its biggest contribution yet: $200. Another contributor sent something for Huckabee: A coupon to an exercise center. Barbara Stanford, 58, of Little Rock gave the $200, double the previous largest gift to the fund, explaining in a letter to Huckabee that as she made her Christmas wish list, she realized that many things she values most are things the state does with her taxes. "As I think of all the really important benefits I gain...

GOP Hopeful Has Close Bond With Televangelist Targeted By Senate Investigation NEW YORK (CBS News) ― Last fall, Mike Huckabee taped an appearance on Kenneth Copeland's popular television show. The theme: "Integrity of Character." "Treat people like you'd want to be treated," Huckabee said. Now some are raising issue with Huckabee's character, principally his judgment, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports. They are focusing on his association with the televangelist, who has refused to cooperate with a Senate investigation into his ministry's finances. At issue, as reported by CBS News last week: whether millions of dollars in...

Footnote to the caucus results post below: Mike Huckabee's campaign is disputing yesterday's results (more here). Given the circumstances it's not a stunning turn of events. Indeed, I have my own question about how the results were reported that I'm still trying to get resolved (and will report on if it's not). The tone of the campaign's statement, however, is telling. It essentially amounts to a scorched earth policy of throwing bare-knuckle punches at a state party and a state party chair. This is not a wise tactic for a relatively young candidate (as far as Presidential aspirants go) who...

In 2000, then New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer solicited governors across the country to take part in his anti-gun crusade, seeking to curb the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans in every state in the union. Read Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's response to Attorney General Spitzer HERE

Mike Huckabee's campaign grabbed headlines in the days approaching the "Potomac primary" by lacing into the leadership of the Washington State Republican Party after John McCain eked out a modest "victory" in that state's February 9 precinct caucuses. The "loss" contrasted with Huckabee's strong showing earlier that day in Kansas, thus his campaign promptly called the Washington results into question. The caucus results have now been examined and updated without ultimate change to the leader board, but the episode has revealed more about Huckabee and his Ed Rollins-led campaign than anything else. At the crux of the original contretemps was...

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s visit to Grand Cayman at the weekend to give a paid speech to the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards (YCLA) banquet has caused a stir in the United States, where he is still campaigning against seemingly impossible odds for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr Huckabee was also the keynote speaker at the YCLA banquet in 2000 but all concerned have declined to comment on how much he is being paid for his appearance. However, since he left the governor’s office in Little Rock, Arkansas, a year ago, Mr Huckabee’s primary source of income has reportedly been...

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas - especially if you're the wife of a presidential candidate. Just ask Janet Huckabee, who attended a middleweight prize fight this past weekend in Las Vegas - where she stayed at the Hooters Casino Hotel. That eye-opening combination - a title bout in Sin City, which celebrates gambling, drinking and all things wild, along with a hospitality chain favoring buxom waitresses in low-cut garb - could potentially shock the armies of evangelical conservative Christians who have made her husband, the former governor of Arkansas, the only remaining GOP opponent to party...

CBS News projects Republican Sen. John McCain has clinched the Republican nomination for president. Click here for the state-by-state tally. McCain will win Republican primaries Tuesday in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island, CBS News projects. McCain's last Republican rival, Mike Huckabee, dropped out of the race after the results came in. "The most important race begins," McCain said. "It's a very humbling thing, and I say that with all sincerity." McCain will travel to the White House tomorrow where he will receive the endorsement of President Bush. The president and McCain will have lunch and then appear together in...

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas -- especially if you're the wife of presidential candidate. Just ask Janet Huckabee, who attended a middleweight prize fight this last weekend in Vegas -- where she stayed at the Hooters Casino Hotel. That eye-opening combination -- a title bout in Sin City, which celebrates gambling, drinking and all things wild, along with a hospitality chain favoring buxom waitresses in low-cut garb -- could potentially shock the armies of evangelical conservative Christians who have made her husband, the former governor of Arkansas, the only remaining GOP opponent to party front-runner John...

Also from that New York Times profile of Huckabee: Huckabee has no military experience beyond commanding the Arkansas National Guard, but he doesn’t see this as an insuperable problem. ‘‘What you do,’’ he explained, ‘‘is surround yourself with the best possible advice.’’ The only name he mentioned was Representative Duncan Hunter of California. ‘‘Duncan is extraordinarily well qualified to be secretary of Defense,’’ he said. Can we all agree that Duncan Hunter is going to be Secretary of Defense in the next Republican administration? Anybody have any major gripe with that?

While many pro-life supporters trace Mike Huckabee's rise in the polls to his success in the Sept. 17 Values Voter Presidential Debate, his recent success can also be traced to increased coverage by the Council on Foreign Relations. The CFR's increased focus on Huckabee began with a speech on foreign policy posted Sept. 28 on the Council on Foreign Relations website. The Sept. 28 speech, delivered at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., focused entirely on foreign policy, portraying Huckabee as a cautious supporter of Bush administration policy in Iraq. An Oct. 29 University of Iowa...

Mike Huckabee accepted more than 90 gifts from 21 Arkansans he appointed to state posts during his decade as governor, a Politico analysis of state public records found. Since setting his sights on the White House, those supporters, their families and their companies have kept on giving. They contributed nearly $161,000 to a pre-presidential campaign account and Huckabee's official campaign committee since late last year, according to state and federal campaign finance records. Huckabee’s gifts became issues in his two gubernatorial campaigns as his opponents tried to stoke voter doubts about his judgment and ethics. As he surges in Iowa...

Like a sinner to the altar, Ed Rollins returned to New Jersey today, seeking forgiveness from the same black ministers he once boasted that he had bought. The Republican campaign consultant stood before the Black Ministers Council in a church basement here and apologized for claiming last November that he had helped Gov. Christine Todd Whitman win election by suppressing black voter turnout. At the time, Mr. Rollins told reporters that the Whitman campaign had paid black ministers not to encourage their congregations to vote for then Gov. Jim Florio. He quickly recanted, and a Federal inquiry found no evidence...

Despite his current standing in the polls, Mike Huckabee remains an under-funded and chronically disorganized long-shot when it comes to actually winning the GOP Presidential nomination. While easily the most gifted TV communicator in the field, the former Arkansas governor displays some serious vulnerabilities as a candidate for the White House and his innumerable critics and rivals have attacked these weaknesses with gleeful ferocity. Even if he fails to win a place on the national ticket, however, Huckabee’s startlingly strong campaign provides potent benefits for both his party and his country. In the two weeks remaining before the Iowa Caucuses...

Mike Huckabee was prepared when a voter asked him today about embryonic stem-cell research. He pulled from his pocket a photo of a girl, given to him by a woman at a campaign event. “This little girl was born from a frozen embryo, frozen for four years, two-cell embryo,” he said. She “became this precious little girl.” He said the girl’s mother told him, “When you think about embryos and stem cells just remember my daughter.” [Mike Huckabee] Huckabee [snip] Huckabee praised President Bush for blocking federal funding for research that destroys embryos, saying he rightfully stood up to pressure...

Clarifies remarks on issue of illegal immigration PELLA, Iowa -Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee yesterday defended his foreign policy credentials, following sharp scrutiny of his response to the recent instability in Pakistan and a fresh attack ad by rival Mitt Romney. -snip- "The fact is that the immigration issue is not so much about people coming to pick lettuce or make beds, it's about someone coming with a shoulder-fired missile," Huckabee told reporters during a news conference after the rally. Romney criticized Huckabee's remarks, saying it was wrong to lump Pakistanis in with Al Qaeda terrorists. "It's very important for...

This is the part of the press conference that has about a snowball's chance in hell of being aired on Fox News. I know that many here hate Mike Huckabee but I think the common ground we may have is in feeling betrayed by this so-called "fair & balanced" network. After 8 or so years, I have no place for them in my home any longer. It wouldn't be so bad if this underhanded network at least required their regulars to DISCLOSE their ties and endorsements of specific candidates but NO, they deceive their viwers by passing ofgf their "round...

Adding to the theory that the Huckabee's negative ad was never meant to run: It knocked Mitt Romney for "no executions." Of course, Massachusetts doesn't have the death penalty. I suppose Romney could have just gone out and killed somebody - I understand the opposition party in that state is big on leaving people in cars underwater. But it seems unfair to suggest that Romney was somehow soft on crime because his state never legalized the death penalty.

The left-leaning advocacy group People For the American Way today released a statement this afternoon on the Arkansas Republican's win in the caucus. Long story short: Don't be fooled by a few folksy one-liners, PFAW says: If there were any doubts that Religious Right voters are still a powerful force in the Republican Party, Mike Huckabee’s huge win in Iowa put them to rest. Huckabee’s rise was built on fervent grassroots organizing by Religious Right activists who embraced him as their dream candidate, even as the movement’s national leaders kept their distance while making calculations on electability. Huckabee has pledged...

Mike Huckabee's triumph in Iowa is being felt in Washington. The left-leaning advocacy group People For the American Way today released a statement this afternoon on the Arkansas Republican's win in the caucus. Long story short: Don't be fooled by a few folksy one-liners, PFAW says: If there were any doubts that Religious Right voters are still a powerful force in the Republican Party, Mike Huckabee’s huge win in Iowa put them to rest. Huckabee’s rise was built on fervent grassroots organizing by Religious Right activists who embraced him as their dream candidate, even as the movement’s national leaders kept...

In South Carolina this evening, Mike Huckabee's team rapidly backtracked from the governor's earlier comment that he would impose a "hiatus" on immigration from nations that harbor terrorists. "'Hiatus' is synonym for thorough review," said Jim Pinkerton, a senior adviser to Huck's campaign. "We are not making policy on the stump in Rock Hill, S.C." In a Huck administration, Pinkerton said, immigration from such countries would be evaluated on a "case-by-case" basis. Huck commented earlier: "Every one of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 came here legally," he said, per NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy. "Our government welcomed them in. Well, there's a...

..."I didn't major in math," said the Baptist preacher, "I majored in miracles." Good for Huck. Why should he drop out? For too long conservatives have suppressed their convictions or meekly submitted, so as not to oppose a Republican president or get out of step with the party leadership.... ...For his party's and his country's sake, as well as his own, Mike Huckabee should keep the conversation going. Because right now, his party is looking at Hillary, Obama -- or Bush's third term.

Rush will be proven right, the McLame/Huckster agreement will destroy the GOP. He reasons that a Mclame victory would be a disaster and the GOP would be blamed. He need not worry about McLame screwing it up, he cannot win. The economy is unquestionably moving toward slowdown, perhaps recession. Come October, it will be palpable. McLame admits he knows nothing about the economy, Hillary will hit him over the head with that statement. McLame is a hawk, so am I, but it's unpopular with the American people. The GOP lost Congressional seats because of the "war". Moderates, Independents, Centrists and...

2008 Republican Delegates McCain 697 - Romney 244 - Huck 187 1,191 Delegates Needed to Win (Delegate Counts Come From AP, Wash Post, ABC News & RCP) (As of 2/6/08)

PRINCETON, NJ -- The increase in support for Hillary Clinton at the national level that Gallup saw in interviewing conducted Sunday and Monday continued in interviewing Tuesday night. Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted Feb. 3-5 now includes three consecutive days in which Clinton has done well, giving her a 13-percentage point lead over Barack Obama, 52% to 39% . . . In contrast, the nomination preferences of national Republican voters have hardly moved in recent days. As of the Feb. 3-5 Gallup Poll Daily tracking, John McCain leads the Republican field with 41% of the vote, compared with 25% for...

I am curious, for those who are NOT suicide voting. Which of the remaining GOP choices is better for the party? I know, I know. Many of us are unwilling to vote for either. For those that are willing, would it be better to toss support to Huckabee as the campaign continues? If he were able to get Mitt's delegates, it would be a race again. Not likely, but it is possible. So, taking all of these various issues into account, where should the party go?