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?
I’ll match SAT scores with him.
“Boy, now I know how to get a bunch Freepers upset, criticize the great Rush Limbaugh. What is funny is how personal you all get. Nice to see that so many people are able to set aside intellectual curiosity and allow Rush Limbaugh to do their thinking for them.”
Rush is the only conservative leader I can think of who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is - and he IS a leader, using his position as a talk show host to inform and discuss. And there are times where I’ve been so annoyed with something he’s saying that I’ve turned the radio off - he doesn’t “do my thinking for me.”
On the other hand, I think he personally saved the country with his courage in speaking out against the Bush-backed immigration bill, because - by explaining the situation (as opposed to issuing marching orders) he inspired people to contact their Congress-creatures and stop that atrocity. For that alone, he’ll always have my respect.
Rush speaks the truth, that’s why I listen to him, I do NOT get my talking points from him. If I wanted to hear inane statements I’d listen to liberal talk radio, oh wait there is no liberal talk radio because their beliefs ARE INANE. Rush can’t be countered because he tells the truth, all liberals can do is call him names and insult because Rush is out of their league in the realm of reasoning and ideas, you’re a good example of this. Go to DemocratUnderground, you and your ilk can be happy as pigs in mud as you lie to each other and discuss what a horrible and vile nation America is, just don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Class dismissed
It makes sense now because it will keeps his name in the spotlight. Pick a fight with Rush and it will be in the media all week.
This will also fire up the Evangelicals. They are tired of being dissed by the Drive-By Media and the Republican establishment They will vote for the Huckster just to stick it to the Drive-Bys.
But to the Evangelicals, the Huckster is THEIR corrupt socialist that doesn't support abortion, gay marriage, or grab their guns versus a MSM chosen corrupt liberal that supports abortion, gay marriage and is a gun grabber.
Why did NRO, the ACU and Bob Jones ignore Mitt’s shortcomings?
The establishment conservatives have no respect for the Evangelicals. They need the Evangelicals to win. Add in the Mormon factor and you get the Huckster. The Evangelicals will have a hard time voting for Mitt come November.
They would have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they would have endorsed the one true conservative from the beginning, Duncan Hunter.
My parents are evangelicals and they’d vote for him over Huckabee. I will be sitting out the election if Huckabee is the nominee or maybe vote 3rd party. He’ll be the Jimmy Carter of the Republican Party and probably set it back 20 years.
“I was excited about Fred Thompson last summer, but he has greatly disappointed me.”
I’m sick of hearing this. Grow up! Fred is the same guy now as he was when you were excited last summer.
Are you all that fickled?
You have the opportunity to vote for the man who most closely represents our conservative positions and beliefs.
What do you care what others and the MSM think? He can still win this, if we all come together.
But Rush is on vacation until at least January 2nd.
The caucuses are January 3rd.
You’re not alone.....plenty of us out here....not all Freepers worship Rush.
I used to listen to Rush everyday as I drove around on sales calls. Since I don’t do that, I rarely get to hear him. I do read the threads around here though.
Just courious, does he have more listeners than the MSM?
BTW, I think this will be a fatal blow for Huckabee.
You misunderstood. I mean the results of the Iowa primary don’t have the power that Rush has, if he chose to use his power.
Rollins attacking Rush will get attention all week.
Yeah, that’s the mark of a has-been./sarc
You got it right!
When I started to read up on this guy’s record and statements it was totally at odds with how he campaigned earlier on in Iowa (before I lived here but I got the scoop on it.)
And I can assure you, this country (right now) will not have enough votes, popular or electoral, for a Baptist minister named Huckabee(of all names!)
It’s a guaranteed loss if he runs. He’ll lose big in the general election but even if somehow all the Dems stayed home, he’s still a disaster for what remains of the Burkean Right.
He has to convince some more people out there on the campaign trail. Most of FR allready supports Fred.
“LOL. Rush drew blood if Hucksters like you are screaming.
Huckabee combines the worst of the Christian right with the worst of populism. He is wrong on:
Immigration
Taxes
Spending
School choice
and as a bonus he’s soft on criminals
Other than that he’s just swell.”
You left out:
Iran Appeasement
Attacking Pakistan
Closing Gitmo
And Condi pwned him on the “bunker” lie.
You are nuts. We like Rush because we think like him and enjoy hearing our thoughts expressed, and there are 20 million of us. As opposed to the Err America small puddle of listeners who can’t think and don’t stay tuned in long. The end result.....bankruptcy.
>That is my opinion... and I also think he might break his rule about primaries, for the good of the Nation.
Lets hope so. Once he realizes that Fred helped author McCain-Feingold his only logical choice will be Duncan Hunter.
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