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HORRIBLE HUCK; PUSHING POPULIST PAP
The New York Post ^ | December 3, 2007 | George Will

Posted on 12/03/2007 10:04:42 AM PST by Eric Blair 2084

snip

On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee's candidacy rests on serial non sequiturs: I am a Christian, therefore I am a conservative, therefore whatever I have done or propose to do with "compassionate," meaning enlarged, government is conservatism. And by the way, anything I denote as a "moral" issue is beyond debate other than by the uncaring forces of greed.

His is a moralist's version of the intellectual vanity once ascribed to Oxford's Benjamin Jowett:

My name is Jowett

Of Balliol College;

If I don't know it,

It is not knowledge.

Many Iowans think it would be wise to nominate a candidate who, when the Republicans were asked during a debate to raise their hands if they do not believe in evolution, raised his. But, then, Huckabee believes America can be energy independent in 10 years, so he has peculiar views about more than paleontology.

Huckabee combines pure moralism with incoherent populism: He wants Washington to impose a nationwide ban on smoking in public, show more solicitude for Americans of modest means and impose more protectionism, thereby raising the cost of living for Americans of modest means.

Although Huckabee is considered affable, two subliminal but clear enough premises of his Iowa attack on Mitt Romney are unpleasant: The almost 6 million American Mormons who consider themselves Christians are mistaken about that. And - 55 million non-Christian Americans should take note - America must have a Christian president.

snip

If Huckabee succeeds in derailing Romney's campaign by raising a religious test for presidential eligibility, that will be clarifying: In one particular, America was more enlightened a century ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: giuliani; huckabee; rudygiuliani; vicepresident
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To: SittinYonder
Thompson's background suggests he will grow the size and scope of the federal government.

I understand folks have some issues with Thompson's past, but growing the size and scope of the government is not one that is grounded in reality. The only case that could be made for that is McCain-Feingold, which at least is within the scope of the federal government regulating federal elections (even if some of the provision were bad ideas).

As for the rest, see my tagline -- this is the same approach he took in the Senate as today.

61 posted on 12/03/2007 11:10:31 AM PST by kevkrom ("Should government be doing this? And if so, then at what level of government?" - FDT)
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To: roses of sharon

“So why all the angst?”

For some the Gomeresque backwoods style grates, but that’s not the main thing. For fiscal conservatives like me, the tax-and-spend-and-give-illegals-DREAM-Act alarm bells are ringing wildly ...

Because being a pro-life and pro-gun and being about as conservative as John Edwards on everything else doesn’t make you conservative!

http://taxhikemike.org


62 posted on 12/03/2007 11:11:17 AM PST by WOSG (Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-strong defense, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism)
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To: RockinRight

Unfortunately there’s a lot of socialism in Christian doctrine.


63 posted on 12/03/2007 11:12:36 AM PST by samtheman
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To: Eric Blair 2084

“But what about Keith Olbermann, he has at least 9 regular viewers?”

Liar! He has 11 regulars!!


64 posted on 12/03/2007 11:15:31 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

You’re counting his parents?


65 posted on 12/03/2007 11:16:35 AM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
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To: A. Morgan

The Huckster

66 posted on 12/03/2007 11:23:59 AM PST by CASchack
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To: NavVet
Even though I don’t believe a word that comes out of Romney’s mouth, he makes Kerry look like a man of conviction, I would still prefer him to the Huckster.

I wouldn't. Huckabee is at least socially conservative and honest. Romney is a flip-flopper with a liberal record.

67 posted on 12/03/2007 11:28:38 AM PST by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
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To: Eric Blair 2084

James Garfield was, I think, the only one since Lincoln who went from the House to the Presidency in 1881 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jg20.html).

Didn’t last too long either...


68 posted on 12/03/2007 11:30:15 AM PST by BWDog
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To: Eric Blair 2084
At least Romney had a conversion.

You don't honestly believe that, do you? Romney is whatever he has to be to get elected. That's why he inspires no one.

69 posted on 12/03/2007 11:30:28 AM PST by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
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To: WOSG
Christian belief and Christian organizations are not sufficient for conservative Governance, and in many cases lead people down the wrong path ... the path of good intentions gone awry

I too am a Catholic. We have a Priest in our Parish that is gun ho for social justice. It is painful to sit through his sermons when he talks of the "good" of certain government programs. He sounds like a leftist politician. I try to avoid his Masses, but during busy seasons, he sometimes unexpectedly steps in for overflow Masses. Most Priests have uplifting sermons.

70 posted on 12/03/2007 11:31:18 AM PST by sand88
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To: Eric Blair 2084
Unless Fred Thompson bounces back and wins the nomination, the whole primary process is going to be ugly. None of the other three candidates are conservatives and any one will alienate a large portion of the base.

I'm still hoping Fred will catch fire...

71 posted on 12/03/2007 11:33:29 AM PST by Ol' Sparky (Liberal Republicans are the greater of two evils)
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To: sand88

“I too am a Catholic. We have a Priest in our Parish that is gun ho for social justice. It is painful to sit through his sermons when he talks of the “good” of certain government programs. He sounds like a leftist politician. I try to avoid his Masses, but during busy seasons, he sometimes unexpectedly steps in for overflow Masses. Most Priests have uplifting sermons.”

Yup, been in that boat. The one that got to my wife and I was a begging speech for a home for ‘immigrants’ that was telling wonderful anecdotes of hard-up ‘immigrants’ that it quickly became apparent were illegal aliens. So we are supposed to give charity to an illegal alien safehouse - oh my. Then the ‘social justice’ group that wants to worry about ‘healthcare affordability’ ie they want socialized medicine.

When I experience this nonsense, I’ve been tempted to go out and start a “Catholics for Capitalism” group. Never did it though.
The next best thing that I have found is to support the
Acton Institute:
http://www.acton.org/


72 posted on 12/03/2007 11:42:44 AM PST by WOSG (Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-strong defense, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism)
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To: Ol' Sparky

You have it backwards ...

Romney is at least fiscally conservative and honest. Huckabee is a flip-flopper with a liberal record.

http://taxhikemike.org/


73 posted on 12/03/2007 11:44:17 AM PST by WOSG (Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-strong defense, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism)
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To: Eric Blair 2084

lol!


74 posted on 12/03/2007 11:46:07 AM PST by AuntB (" It takes more than walking across the border to be an American." Duncan Hunter)
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To: sand88

very grateful for your post and wish more folks thought like you do!!


75 posted on 12/03/2007 11:51:20 AM PST by righteousindignation
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To: Bobkk47

Well, then we need to get behind a true conservative such as Duncan Hunter and leave them biting the dust.


76 posted on 12/03/2007 11:53:53 AM PST by freekitty ((May the eagles long fly our beautiful and free American sky.))
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To: Eric Blair 2084

All you have to do is visit Democrat Underground and you get the idea of why the media is hyping Huckabee as the front runner in Iowa. The media has selected Huckabee as the easiest target in a national campaign to ridicule and demean. They can use Huckabee, not only to attack personally, but to attack social conservatives and label the whole Republican party as a bunch of out of touch with reality bumpkins.

Then you add Huckabee’s pro-amnesty stance and his fiscal irresponsibility and he has nothing to to fight back on. He would be neutralized within one month of winning the nomination. DU has bragged that they could put up any one and beat Huckabee.


77 posted on 12/03/2007 11:55:19 AM PST by Eva
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To: WOSG
I’ve been tempted to go out and start a “Catholics for Capitalism” group. Never did it though.

I felt the same way - lol. The dehumanizing aspect of Socialism does not seem obvious to many. I heard of the Acton Institute, but have never visited their site. Thank you for the link. I have book marked it.

78 posted on 12/03/2007 11:58:43 AM PST by sand88
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To: Eric Blair 2084
My name is Jowett

Of Balliol College;

If I don't know it,

It is not knowledge.

There are myriads of people to whom this would apply, many of whom agree with George Will. Why pick specifically on Huck?

And why not just end the whole thing and support the real deal, Duncan Hunter? His positions satisfy just about everyone on our side...

79 posted on 12/03/2007 12:03:13 PM PST by Lexinom (Build the fence and call China to account. GoHunter08.com)
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To: righteousindignation

Thank you for your kind words. This will be an interesting election cycle. We will all be anxious wondering if a real conservative will be nominated.


80 posted on 12/03/2007 12:03:46 PM PST by sand88
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