Posted on 12/21/2007 12:05:13 PM PST by Checkers
After today, Rush Limbaugh is in reruns until January 3, the day of the Iowa caucuses.
Highlight from a moment ago: "The drive bys are doing everything they can to influence the Republican primary. Mike Huckabee has been getting a pass from the drive-bys... They don't want Rudy because they think he can beat Hillary. They don't want Romney because of the same thing. They don't want Fred Thompson because of the same thing."
Can a guy who's been slammed as hard as Mike Huckabee has by Rush Limbaugh, the most popular conservative radio talk show host in the country, go on to win the Iowa caucuses? Anybody think Rush will have dropped this issue by the third of January?
My instinct is to say, "no way, a thumbs down from Rush is fatal," but a guy on another campaign cautions me. "An Iowa pastor who has been talking up Huckabee isn't going to change his mind because Rush Limbaugh doesn't like him." He points out that a pastors and religous leaders deal with people who fall short of their ideals all the time; hearing that Mike Huckabee was too merciful in dealing with Wayne Dumond is not going to be a dealbreaker for them. They'll probably go, no pun intended, "there but for the grace of God go I."
So... if a certain significant chunk of Huckabee's supporters back him because he's the most vocal Christian in the race, not because of the conservatism of his record or policy stances.... if the moment comes where the race needs a Huck Slayer (as social conservatives thought the race might require a Rudy Slayer)... can anybody in the race go after Huckabee on that ground? Can anyone make the argument to that Republican plurality, "Okay, nevermind conservative policy choices - he's not the good Christian leader you think he is"?
Tough ground to fight on. Just thinking out loud here, can a rival point out the ethics questions from Huckabee's Arkansas days? Is Huckabee's "innocent" question about Mormon beliefs the act of a good Christian? Is there something borderline blasphemous to compare opponents' direct mail to a Biblical verse describing "weapons" deployed against the righteous, or comparing one's campaign fundraising to the miracle of loaves and fishes?
Would Jesus hire Ed Rollins?
These threads always end with Thompson. I think he has been a complete non-starter and will soon be toast, but would like to be proven wrong.
Christians have faith in God. And the Bible. Political leaders aren't God. They must demonstrate that they would act in our interests. Even if they claim they have a direct line to God. Nobody's asking you to take Rush's word for it. Look at Huck's record. Even if Huck were the Second Coming, people who were not Huck would still have to figure out from external manifestations whether he were in fact the Second Coming. Being wary of false prophets means not letting your impulse to trust someone overwhelm your critical faculties.
Huckabee is the worst candidate out there. He’s a pro-life liberal, so actually if Bill Richardson happened to be the nominee he’d be the conservative in the general election.
When it comes to fiscal policy Huck and Hillary see eye to eye, that’s why Huckabee is getting endorsements from unions and the NEA.
Huck is the biggest big government Republican running. He’s in favor of open borders and illegals. He is not better than Mitt and Mitt isn’t very good as is. I will not vote for Huck even if he’s running against Clinton in the general.
Bingo...
Huckabee has made a horrendous blunder—he, or more accurately his handlers have gotten very, very arrogant. Memo to the the Huckabites—questioning policy is NOT questioning your faith. That’s pathetic, that’s what liberals say when you question THEIR policies—THEY play identity politics we fight the battle of ideas. They took on Rush and now they are in for it. I happen to know first hand that their supporters (in tactics reminiscent of the Paulistas) are also angering a lot of other talk radio players—flooding hosts with Spam about Mike etc.
Bottom line: the Preacher aint ready for prime time....
So does Mike Reagan...but I forgot...they are ALL elites..
Rush has more power than Iowa.
Rush is under a drug testing regime which would send him to jail if he failed a test. Therefore it is known that he is not "popping pills" - and speculation to the contrary isn't just clean fun but could easily be actionable "actual malice." Which simply means that you are slinging charges with reckless disregard for their falsity.On that basis I think that if I pointed that out to the moderator, he would have to think twice about letting your post stand. Even tho there is scant likelihood of Rush suing over it, "actual malice" is not what FR is about.
I think HE already did. And HE ended up dragging a cross down the freeway. And HE's not going to repeat that experience.
That's about the Apostle who back-stabbed Jesus for money. It's all right there in the Bible. If you read it as history, everything going on now has happened many years ago. We are supposed to learn from history, but we don't.
Yawn
One reason they are influential is that they have built a record of knowing what they're talking about.
That is so laughable. With the lies that a slung around on here and stand without challenge, I doubt a true statement about Rush’s drug (I know - past) use and divorces would get deleted.
You got it wrong, pal. I would describe Rush as frequently agreeing with me.
Yes, I am sure he reads these forums quite often.
Yes, I’ve heard him reference “the Freepers” with affection. And I think he usually is directed toward a particular entry here at the site. In fact, I think he came here on the fake TANG memos before he went to either Powerline or LGF.
OK, to avoid argument, I'll change by 'frequently right' to 'frequently wrong'.
“....he is Jimmy Carter without the intelligence.”
Rather than the word “intelligence”, I think I might have used, “without the carpentry skills”....but I agree with your overall premise. ;>)
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