Posted on 02/11/2008 7:02:40 AM PST by pissant
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Huckabee suggested the Republican Party could meet the same fate as 1976 if it elected a moderate candidate who does not inspire voters.
Speaking at a press conference after addressing Thomas Road Baptist Church, Huckabee continued to compare himself to Ronald Reagan, who ran in 1976 against the party establishment, which led to a floor fight at the national convention. When reminded that the Republicans lost the 1976, Huckabee said it wasnt because the party was divided, but because Gerald Ford did not energize the party.
He never championed himself as a conservative, not a pro-life person for whom that was important, Huckabee said. He was a really nice moderate Republican, a true gentleman. But a member of Congress and more a part of the Washington Republican establishment than representing the grassroots of conservatism.
And in a thinly veiled reference to McCain, Huckabee went on to say Republicans could lose again with a similar candidate.
I would argue that if we do not have a candidate who can excite the base of this country, and particularly the base of our party and make them energetic and going out and getting the folks to put the yard signs in and making phone calls and traveling all over the country asking people to vote, we can lose again, he said.
Standing with Jerry Falwell Jr., the chancellor and president of Liberty University, Huckabee acknowledged that he was surprised by his success on Saturday.
Quite frankly we were very surprised, Huckabee said. And we weren't confident of anything like that kind of victory in Kansas. We felt we were doing well in Kansas and I thought we would win Kansas. I thought it would be close.
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
“Huckabee has demonstrated that he is an incredibly astute politician. His being reelected over and over against the Clinton democratic machine should have given people a hint that he knows how to win under unfavorable conditions” Huckabee has never run in an election against the Clintons. If it should turn out to be Huckabee vs. Clinton look for all the dirt to come out on Huckabee. I bet Hillary has a file on him 2 feet thick. The MSM have been good to both Huck and Mc Cain so far, the gloves will be off soon.
Sorry for the double post.
Pardoning more criminals than even the Clintons did when they were in office here is a big problem. It was not just Wayne Dumond, there are several bad apples he set free. There will be more crimes committed by the thugs he set free, it’s just a matter of time. The “anybody but Mc Cain” are not going to get a brokered convention, they are going to get a Mc Cain/Huckabee ticket. That is my worst nightmare. Already the MSM are saying that Mc Cain needs Huckabee to win the South as if no other Republican for VP could bring us the Southern vote. It looks like the MSM will get their dream ticket with Mc Cain/Huckabee.
Not quite yet. Since the conservative insurgency began full force last week, McCain has been effectively shut out. He was skunked in Kansas. He was denied any delegates in Louisiana, and the Wash. caucus is being disputed so delegates have yet to go to McCain there either. Conservatives are winning. McCain is coming up empty-handed.
Also, the polls in Virgina are rapidly indicating conservative momentum there as well. I hate to borrow from Jesse Jackson, but it is applicable. "Keep Hope Alive."
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your words not mine, I never said being pro-life was the only pre-requisite but in my world being pro-abortion is inconsistent with conservatism period.
Huckabee is no more conservative than McCain and actually less so if you examine all their bona-fides.
We were talking about Ford not Huckabee....but I would give Huckabee a slight edge over McCain on firearms and campaign finance and yes...abortion.
btw....ending abortion is well down the NeoCon wishlist as is proof plenty on this forum from the getalong gang
I more and more believe that obama will be the nominee. It will be '96 revisited, without the clintbilly charisma.
I assume you are a Paul fan if you are tossing around the term neocon so loosely.
Huck is not only very pro-life but VERY, VERY strong on our 2nd amendment rights. There is none better.
Show the Washington State RINOs that they can’t get away with CHEATING, by not counting ALL of the votes.
They can count 87% of the votes in a couple of hours, but can’t count 13% of the votes in a couple of days. Grrrr
Huckabee definitely won 2 out of 3 primaries, and possibly THREE OUT OF THREE, and the Washington State RINOs don’t want Huckabee to have MOMENTUM!
Vote for Huckabee.
Huck has read “the word” that he never criticized McCain for 7 months or more in the campaign. So now he’s doing some fake crap that he pre-arranged wtih McCain’s guys. To make Huck look ALL INDEPENDENT and stuff.
There were no delegates at stake. It was basically a straw poll. Huckabee's flailing at their process is not going to help him at their state convention.
As far as his chances, they are virtually nonexistent. If only he had the foresight to understand he was never going to be VP and would have gone after McCain and not the other candidates before. I could say that of virtually every candidate.
I can add to your list that Huckabee has said he will pardon border agents Ramos and Compean.
Hunter has been a positive influence on old Huck. He’s even going after China these days. LOL
Oh and for all the "Get-along-Go-Along" crowd- McCain is one of two people in the GOP-who I said years ago- I could never vote for.
This is not something I arrived at overnight.
I don't necessarily agree. I don't know the details of their process, but would be hopeful that the 75% of delegates that did not go to McCain would appreciate Huckabee's efforts, and perhaps prefer to back him. Also, when the primary occurs this next week, I believe, maybe Huckabee can pick up some extra votes by having fought for the rights of voters.
If only he had the foresight to understand he was never going to be VP and would have gone after McCain and not the other candidates before.
I think all the candidates perceived Romney as the major threat. He had a lot going for him, but also, his negative ad campaign in Iowa seemed to irk a lot of them. McCain was ignored because of his earlier troubles during the summer. His comeback in New Hampshire was not expected, and unfortunately, McCain commands a lot of gravitas. One almost has to pay him respect for the sacrifices he has made. On top of that, his friendship with Fred might have brought on double the response. Just the way things played out. Sadly.
Oh, I'm sure that Romney's negative ad campaign in Iowa irked Huckabee. I think it was both Huckabee's machinations and his peronal animus against Romney which did him in in the end.
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