Mike Huckabee wants some respect

Politico ^ | December 6, 2010 | Jonathan Martin & Ben Smith

[Hawk720]

Dial down the deafening Sarah Palin buzz for just a moment: The most consequential decision in the 2012 Republican presidential sweepstakes could be whether Mike Huckabee decides to run again – and associates say the former Arkansas governor may well take the plunge.

If Huckabee gets in, he will unquestionably be a force to be reckoned with in the fight for the nomination. He’d be the undisputed frontrunner in lead-off Iowa, where he won by nine points in 2008. He’d be the candidate to beat in South Carolina, which he narrowly lost to John McCain two years ago in part because of a divided conservative vote. His weekly Fox show, thrice-daily radio program and Grisham-like ability to crank out a book-per-year has given him a direct media presence akin to Palin’s – but without the sky-high negatives.

And should Huckabee stay out, it would create a vacuum on the right among both religious conservatives and tea party activists that would significantly re-order the race and potentially create a larger opening for Palin. He polls well with self-identified evangelicals, women and low-income voters – all blocs that also favor Palin. And a PPP poll conducted last month found that 34 percent of Huckabee supporters said that Palin is their second choice.

Yet a potential Huckabee candidacy has been little discussed, in part because of his place well outside the Republican establishment, and in part because of a conventional wisdom that he’s enjoying his current career and income too much to risk it on a run.

Huckabee, for one, is tired of being left out of the conversation and sounds increasingly like a candidate.

[mad_as_he$$]

Alan Dersewitch (sp?) cleaned the Hucksters clock on New Testament knowledge over the weekend. Funny stuff.

[RichInOC]

We’ve got two clemency recipients of his who killed people. So far. What exactly is there to discuss? I mean, Sarah Palin can prove she’s not an airhead. Unless Mike gets God to resurrect those folks...he’s hosed.

[RetSignman]

Mike Huckelberry is a snake in the grass, a back stabber who will destroy any Conservative Republican who stands in his way.

He is nothing more than a syrupy talking little weasel with all the genuineness of Elmer Gantry.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Yeah, put me on the Upchucklebee ping list ;-)

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’ll give Mike some respect...

He is a damned fine TV personality.
If they need a replacement host for the Today Show, he’s your guy!

A new judge on American Idol, a red carpet reporter on Entertainment Tonight, or the next time they need to change hosts on Family Feud....Mike would be an excellent choice.

[MrEdd]

I don’t care how “viable” a socialist is, i will oppose him or her.

Take your big government snake oil salesman elsewhere. I will oppose him at all points in the coming campaign.

[Son House]

Or if they need a Mr. Magoo for a movie

[Responsibility2nd]

I don’t care how “viable” a socialist is, i will oppose him or her.

_________________________________________________

So. Taking Huck and Sarah out of the equation leaves Newt and Mitt.

Why not just actively campain for Obama, why dontcha?

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Yeah, the financial crisis doomed the GOP ticket, though McCain's bizarre "suspension" of his campaign didn't help.

I'm not a fan of Huck or Palin, so I hope he runs because I suspect he'll split some of her vote off in the primary.

[Blue Ink]

Ratings are easy to spin when you have an agenda, and Hollywood has an interest in making Sarah Palin’s numbers look bad.

The facts: her show dropped in Week 2 at the end of a holiday weekend with special programming competition. (Most new shows, even big hits, drop the second week.)

In Week 3, the show was back up 17 percent to 3.5 million viewers — an UNUSUALLY LARGE INCREASE for a new show in its third week.

3.5 million viewers is a GINORMOUS number for a podunk channel like TLC. Mrs. Palin has done for TLC what she has done for countless politcos who’ve won elections — singlehandedly launched them.

Make no mistake: “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” is an enormous hit. There is no credible way to spin the numbers otherwise.

[MrEdd]

You got bored at your usual perch at DU, didn’t you, troll?

Lumping Palin with Chuckleby, and listing only RINOs as alternate possibilities - which for you personally is likely true.

[convertedtoreason]

I’m not fun of Palin or Huck either.

But I defend them both.

If they become President, I will support them 100% in achieving the conservative goals.

Plus, I will always be their Number 1 critic in terms of policy.

I’M FAN OF LIBERTARIANISM (CLASSICAL LIBERALISM) AND LATER CONSERVATISM. I THINK SENATOR DEMINT IS THE BEST FOR THE JOB. I HOPE HE RUNS IN THE PRIMARY DESPITE THE FACT HE LACKED THE “EXECUTIVE/GOVERNORSHIP” CREDO.

That doesn’t mean that I am blind with the executive credentials of Gov. Palin: 2 1/2 years leading to a sterling budget improvements in Alaska and a huge natural gas project. That’s besides the the obvious limitations of a governor’s powers in AK (State Legislative branch in AK is relatively more powerful than the governor’s office.)

There’s a difference between us:

I BELIEVE THAT YOUR “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” STRATEGY IS DECEITFUL.

[Responsibility2nd]

Come on - admit it. YOU have a burning desire for John McCain. Especially his piggy daughter. Or maybe you’re stuck in the 80’s and want the Newt.

If not, then who? Who do you think is viable enough to oppose Øbama?

[Hodar]

You miss my point.

I can point to hordes of people who want Sarah to run, myself included. For her ‘faults’ and ‘shortcomings’ she may have - one thing you can definitely say is that she is a Conservative - she doesn’t need a poll to tell her how to believe - she believes in Conservative values, and it’s in her speeches and in her books.

Can you point to a horde of people who are asking Huck to run? Or, is Huck running to appease his ego?

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

If they become President, I will support them 100% in achieving the conservative goals.

I'd support Palin 100% in a general election and as President, but I'm honestly not at all sure that Huckabee's goals are conservative.

There’s a difference between us: I BELIEVE THAT YOUR “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” STRATEGY IS DECEITFUL.

I don't get this. I'm not a professional political strategist or kingmaker, so I don't know how my expressed desire that Huckabee run so as to take primary votes from Palin can be "deceitful" at all. Especially given that I came stratight out and said exactly why I'd like him to run.

Would it be "deceitful" is I admitted hoping that Obama would have a significant primary challenger because it might split the Democratic Party?

[DrewsMum]

You are hating on Palin b/c she RESIGNED from a job that was costing her more than she was making??????

For real??????????

[jim35]

The media are trying to set Huckabee or Romney up to be our candidate as they know that when the time comes they can both be easily beaten. Romney has his problems with flip-flops and the health care mess in Massachusetts, as well as being a Mormon. Apparently you can be a Muslim and be president, but not a Mormon.
Huckabee’s past embrace of nanny-state policies and illegal immigration will turn off many. Then there's Huck's pardons of rapists, murderers and drunk drivers that led to tragic consequences for innocents in more than one instance. Let us not forget that his son cold-bloodedly killed a dog and LOOKS like a fat psycho in general. The MSM know all of this and will run it 24/7 if this bozo is the Republican nominee. Further, I wouldn't be surprised if they have dirt on the two of them (Huck and Romney) to save for an October surprise.
I don't know if Sarah Palin can win. If she runs she has my vote. I do know the media must think that she can win as she is the one that they are constantly attacking. (Jim's W)

[bmwcyle]

Fat chance.

[A CA Guy]

I would respectfully ask him to go away.