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?
Yo jordan,
If you are going to insult us sheeple, can you tell us why Rush is laughing "all the way to the back" and where in the hell is that?
Back of what?
And you call us sheeple.
Since Christmas is only a few days away, I'll refrain from calling you some of the names that you've earned.
Merry Christmas.
baaaaaaaaaaaahhhh
Mega Dittos.....Chuck Huck!
The sooner the better.
Rush’s opposition didn’t seem to have much of an effect on Pat Buchanan in 96, when Pat came from behind and won the New Hampshire primary. I really hope the myth of the ditto-bots is not true. That would be very sad.
“Rush has 20 million listeners”
That correct, they are listeners. They are NOT necessarily followers. If they were, it would make Rush a cult leader.
Rush is an entertainer, first and foremost. He is entertaining, that is why people listen to him, even a great many people that don’t remotely agree with him.
I will remind folks that Rush vigorously opposed Perot and it still didn’t keep Perot from handing the election to Clinton.
Does Rush have an influence on thinking? Yes, of course he does, just as many popular figures do. Will it hurt Mike Huckabee? Probably some, but not significantly. If Mike loses it won’t be because of Rush Limbaugh. It will be because Mike was out campaigned by others or trashed (right or wrong) by others.
Mike Huckabee represents a shift in the GOP that basically signals a move away from “conventional” (Goldwater) conservatism to one that is more firmly footed on moral absolutes. If those other than the GOP base can’t deal with this, it could mean the end of the coalition that is the GOP. Time will tell.
Personally, I’m through trying to predict how things are going to play out. I’m just really curious to see what is going to happen in Iowa. Will Mike Huckabee slide down to insignificance again? Will Fred’s vigorous campaigning get he a good showing? Will Romney make a comeback or carry the state because of his organization? Will the results of Iowa matter in the bigger picture?
Time will tell.
To all, I wish you a Blessed Christmas.
“From: HuckaBoom
To: HuckaBust”
= a Huckabubble.
A good point. He can simply switch parties and run in the DNC primaries instead. He doesn't even need to change his campain talking points. He can just keep bashing Bush.
"Most people understand by now that Rush is nothing more than a pill...(mindless attempt to smear Rush with falsehoods)..."
Perhaps you could contact Harry Reid and he can write up another letter denouncing Rush. How'd that go the last time?
Rush is a messenger, never attack the messenger, unless, of course he has the truth and you don’t like to hear it.
Let me summarize this for you:
Rush has actually 25 Million listeners. (AC said 20)
You are a Horse Tooth Jackass with a modem with no listeners.
Any questions?
Ed Rollins is a has-been....or never was.
The Huckster with all his warts is still far and wide a better choice for POTUS than any one of the Democrat candidates.
Come November 2008 I will like Rush has said be voting for the Republican candidate.
If that candidate is Huck then he will be getting my vote.
Did Huckabee ever UNCOVER the CRIMES that the Clinton Mafia did in ARKANSAS....like ROBBING the TEACHER’S PENSION??? If he didn’t CLEAN HOUSE, then he is no more of a conservative than Bush.....but Bush has CLASS.
I too have worries that he waited to long and then got out of the gate on a slow horse.
However, I believe that if voters will make comparisons of all the candidates they will see that Fred most resembles what we were looking for back in 2006.
I admit Fred looks a little old and droopy most of the time but it’s not what he looks like but what he says that impresses me.
LLS
You didn't criticize him. You made an ad hominem attack on him based largely upon his personal life. Petty, at the least.
Oh, by the by, I don't listen to Rush, he bores me. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't listen to you on the radio either.
I took Rush’s comments to say that Fred was the one true conservative in the race that has a chance to win the nomination.
Jimmy.
Carter.
I think Huck is a plant designed to split the Christian right off from the rest of the Republican party. And since (according to the plotters) Christians are "blind, ignorant, and easily led" they will *ALL* vote for Huck.
The Clintons know they cannot win without a third-party candidate in the race.
Full Disclosure: Huckabee is a lib from way back, my sources tell me; going back to when the conservatives re-took the Southern Baptist Convention from the libs.
Cheers!
That sounds more like Giuliani...
Rush does not pretend to lead, nor to lead by example.
He is a tremendously skilled radio personality and an astute political observer.
Cheers!
Jesus Himself stated, "My kingdom is not of this world."
Which means:
1) He's KING, not an elected position.
2) His Kingdom is not worldly, so he's doubly not elected.
3) Jesus relied on volunteers not employees.
...or, to put it another way, slaves.
Cheers!
...oh, and Merry Christmas.
The last time I “laughed all the way to the BACK” I ended up inside out!
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