Huckabee: Trump doesn't pretend w his principles or change his message depending on location

Twitter ^ | 12/23/2015 | Mike Huckabee

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

Mike Huckabee: "Whether you agree w him, 1 reason I respect Trump: he doesn't pretend w his principles or change his message depending on location/audience."

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

GO TRUMP, GO!

GO HUCKABEE, GO!

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

Nice!

[entropy12]

Cruz is flailing away on the issues of legal status to illegals, 500% increase on H1-B visa cheap foreign workers to suppress American wages and reduce American workers. His only consistency is to push for the cheap labor express as ordered by his rich donors.

Cruz is a good conservative on social issues. But his stance on illegals is unacceptable to me. I came to USA LEGALLY and had to toil for 10 years working my butt off to be sponsored for Green card by my employer. No way I can accept any kind of cheap amnesty in the form of path to legal status for ILLEGALS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CwVrfydjOI&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHlGlNwsQb0

[DoughtyOne]

I don’t know what this “you guys” stuff is, as I doubt that you’ve ever seen me doing figurative back flips if Cruz is doing well in the polls.

You'll have to understand there are generally two groups here.  There are ones who like Cruz and ones who like Trump.  Yes I know some folks say they will be okay with either, but then I see them on Trump threads taking him to task too.

When you come here and point out Romney didn't win and he had big crowds, I do default to you being a Cruz backer.  If not, I'll take your word for it.

Note that I didn’t attack Trump or his supporters in my reply to you. As a matter of fact, while I have no qualms with saying I’m not supporting Trump and don’t want him as president, I also am at least trying, in general, not to attack him or go out of the way to attack those who support him.

Admittedly, that’s not easy to do here.

Well, okay but then let's look at what you posted too, okay?  We'll look at your response, further down.  I think you'll see why I was more inclined to think you supported Cruz later on.

And with that said, and it’s not meant as an attack, but if we’re going to play the “us vs. you” game, I know I’m not the only one here who notices that it IS usually TRUMP SUPPORTERS who post good news polls (sure, Cruz people do it too), but seemingly look at EVERY POLL that shows that there is even a possibility of someone getting close to Donald, or God forbid, beating him in a state, well then immediately something is wrong with the poll.

And why is that?  One poll the other day showed Trump in an unfavorable light.  Then we looked at the data, and they had a +/- of 7%.  Generally polls with a 4.9% +/- are considered iffy, so a 7%er was obviously problematic.  Was it wrong to point that out?  I don't think so, and I doubt you do either.  Other outlier polls come out, and we talk negatively about them too.  A few weeks back there was a poll on a Tuesday and a poll on the following Friday.  During that three day span, Trump was supposed to have gone down 12 points, and Cruz was supposed to have gone up 11.  Nothing happened to generate that change, so we said it was a very iffy looking poll.  Sure enough, a day later a poll came out revealing the one showing 11 and 12% changes was out of line.  Why shouldn't we deduce on our own what looks problematic?

One day last week a supporter of the other candidate said this to me.  "Who even cares what those polls say anymore?"  Then two sentences later he was braging how his candidate had done in a poll.  So this isn't just one direction.

When Cruz looked really good in that one poll, I held off saying anything for a day or so.  And then it became quite clear what had taken place.  Shouldn't I say something if a poll does have noticable problems?.

So basically, the whole m.o. seems to be, “Embrace the polls that show the Donald cleaning up”, but ignore and attack every one that shows someone may have passed him up.” They attack Iowa polls that show Cruz in the lead as GOPe or liberal ploys, even though the last two elections show Christian conservatives winning the state (Huckabee, Santorum)and almost anyone with influence in Iowa having endorsed Cruz.

Yes, and who are those folks in Iowa who have endorsed Cruz?  Aren't they in-state establishment GOPe people?

I didn’t say anything about what I would “like” to see. I said that again we need only look 3 years back to see one can draw massive crowds at their rallies and yet still lose an election.

Yes, and yet what you failed to notice, is that you are comparing Romney's rallies before the general election to Trumps pre nomination rallies.  You have never seen rallies like these now before.  Trump was bringing in upwards of 30,000 people months ago.  At that time Romney wasn't bringing in more than 100s.  And you also failed to mention, that Romney did win the nomination.  That's what Trump is headed into, not the general election.

When I read your comparisons, it immediately jumped out at me that Romney did win part of the process.  And the part he won, he wasn't turning out these types of numbers or anything like them.  I am so used to Cruz folks making these types of mistakes, that I naturally thought you were trying to take Trump down with negative comments that didn't match up..

Which I thought was kind of the whole point all along. I’ll guarantee it is for the guy you’re supporting, although I’m sure he’s happy, obviously he’s happy, with the crowd sizes too.

Look, this is silly.  The Cruz folks think it's a big deal that he is drawing 1,000 people right now.  Now someone is telling me that 10,000 20,000 or 30,000 aren't important, because Romney didn't win.

Okay, so why are the Cruz folks happy with 1,000 people showing up?

[DoughtyOne]

Catherine, you’re an idiot.

[American Faith Today]

Number one, I am a Ted Cruz supporter.

But I’m a Ted Cruz supporter who’s made a conscious decision to at least attempt to not simply sling mud at Trump and his supporters. I may criticize, I may get impassioned or hot under the collar myself. But I try not to start anything, and indeed as I made a statement I believe it was Sunday when a Trump supporter came in to try to rain on the parade of a positive Cruz thread, I said that is probably what a lot of people get tired of on BOTH sides. So if I’m going to say something like that, publically, I’m going to try to hold myself to my own standard.

That said,yes I support Cruz. I support Cruz over Trump for these reasons that I gave CottonBall.

Look, I don’t hate the guy. I personally don’t want him as president because I personally want two things.

1. A legitimate Christian who puts God first and seeks His
will and advice in running the country. Someone with
the humility of Solomon in his earliest days who says,
“God, I can’t handle all of this. Please give me the
wisdom to lead.”

2. A legitimate constitutional conservative. A lot of
people are comparing Trump to Reagan. In some ways,
perhaps. But one of Reagan’s most famous lines was that
government IS the problem. I listen to Trump,
admittedly not at all his rallies and speeches as Doughty
once scolded me for in my early posting days here. But
I hear him talk about “stupid people, management, and
how everything he do will be great” as well as, as
someone pointed out, “taking care” of all sorts of
people, and I’m pretty sure I’m listening to a guy say,
“Even if the government is huge, I’m the one guy smart
enough to make it all work regardless.” And when I hear
him say things like “people will have to reassess their
liberties” and people bringing up the First Amendment
are “foolish”, I mean heck, Lindsey Graham once said,
“Freedom of speech is a great idea but we’re in a war.”,
then all I see and hear is a big government guy first
and foremost and I wonder how far he’ll go and even if he
doesn’t himself cross the line, will he set a precedent
or actually continue the pattern to make it so much
easier for the next Democrat president to do so. I mean
I don’t have any confidence in Donald Trump to roll
government or executive power back. None at all. I’m
pretty sure he doesn’t care.

Look, people want to support him, that’s fine. Clearly
for the most part no minds are being changed. But it’s
amazing to me that in an election in which we have
someone outlining the difference between conservatives
with scars to show and campaign conservatives, we have
so many so called conservatives running to follow the
very definition of that campaign conservative, because
he isn’t a politician (though he is now), is self funding
and even Democrats will vote for him.

Have to it I guess. I’ll pass for now.

Now, I said I don’t do back flips when Cruz rises in the polls. That’s because I know that it’s a situation that changes almost constantly- or at least it has with everyone under Trump.

And, I honestly don’t think ANY of these candidates is going to “save America” or maybe even put it back on the right track. I hope I’m wrong. But I really do think we’re at the point where only Christ Himself can fix not only our mess, but THE WORLD’S mess.

I don’t know if those guys are GOPe or not. Steve King is not. The others first and foremost would probably best be described as evangelical or Christian. Perhaps at times they have lined up with the GOPe. But I’m assuming, or at least would HOPE that their CHRISTIAN beliefs and values actually come before their political ones.

Probably everyone here who has identified as Republican at least used to side with the GOPe as well. Franklin Graham likely did too. I guess with the move he made yesterday, no one can say that anymore, if they were still saying that.

[DoughtyOne]

Number one, I am a Ted Cruz supporter.  I don't have a problem with that.  Where I have a problem is when folks come over to Trump's threads to say things that cause the needle to go across the record.  Some of it isn't accurate.

But I’m a Ted Cruz supporter who’s made a conscious decision to at least attempt to not simply sling mud at Trump and his supporters.  Ok, I appreciate that.  And if I detect someone being honest and trying to dialogue, I'll try to respond in kind.

I may criticize, I may get impassioned or hot under the collar myself.  But I try not to start anything, and indeed as I made a statement I believe it was Sunday when a Trump supporter came in to try to rain on the parade of a positive Cruz thread, I said that is probably what a lot of people get tired of on BOTH sides. So if I’m going to say something like that, publically, I’m going to try to hold myself to my own standard.

Okay, but you're going to have to understand why some of us do come into the Cruz threads.  It wasn't my habit of going into Cruz threads until I finally had had enough, and I started to come over there for no other reason than to piss people off.  I've been called a person willing to follow Hitler.  I've been accused of being the victim of a sexual violation by Trump.  Just how long do you think I'm supposed to put up with that stuff before I start making a response in kind?  Sure some good Cruz folks get the ugly end of the stick, but they all thought it was fun and games as long as it was all happening on the Trump threads.  And then when I went over to the Cruz threads, they tried to act all sanctimonious like they were above it all.  Bull stuff!  And what's more, they know it.  They have a guy that has posted lies for months on end.  None of them ask him to stop it.  For the most part, we try to be honest about Cruz.  I have had to tell some FReepers the same corrections over and over for months, and providing proof each time.

That said, yes I support Cruz. I support Cruz over Trump for these reasons that I gave CottonBall.  That's okay.  Support who you like, but I've read down further now, and I see things that cause me consternation.  I'll address them there.

Look, I don't hate the guy. I personally don't want him as president because I personally want two things.  Okay, lets look at them.

1. A legitimate Christian who puts God first and seeks His will and advice in running the country. Someone with the humility of Solomon in his earliest days who says, "God, I can't handle all of this. Please give me the wisdom to lead."

What if I told you that I could look ahead 11 months and tell you without a doubt Ted Cruz could not win the general election?  What if I told you that once he had sewn up the nomination (which I don't think he has a prayer of winning), he would be focused upon by the media and they would literally destroy him?  What if I told you that Donald Trump may be the Lord's messenger, since those facts couldn't change?  This is how I see it.  I am not convinced Donald Trump is evil.  He has been very successful at making deals and conducting business for over 40 years.  My father was not a church-going Christian, but he was a very good honorable man.  I look at Donald Trump and cannot see him as a vile evil person.  His kids are too amazing for him to have been evil.  They all adore him.  He is their champion.  I think folks are soiling themselves by the evil they are sure they see in him.  In all too many cases, I think it's the evil they have in them, that lets them trash this decent man that way.  It's character assassination, pure and simple.  

2. A legitimate constitutional conservative. A lot of people are comparing Trump to Reagan. In some ways, perhaps. But one of Reagan's most famous lines was that government IS the problem. I listen to Trump, admittedly not at all his rallies and speeches as Doughty once scolded me for in my early posting days here. But I hear him talk about "stupid people, management, and how everything he do will be great" as well as, as someone pointed out, "taking care" of all sorts of people, and I'm pretty sure I'm listening to a guy say, "Even if the government is huge, I'm the one guy smart enough to make it all work regardless." And when I hear him say things like "people will have to reassess their liberties" and people bringing up the First Amendment are "foolish", I mean heck, Lindsey Graham once said, "Freedom of speech is a great idea but we're in a war.", then all I see and hear is a big government guy first and foremost and I wonder how far he'll go and even if he doesn't himself cross the line, will he set a precedent or actually continue the pattern to make it so much easier for the next Democrat president to do so. I mean I don't have any confidence in Donald Trump to roll government or executive power back. None at all. I'm pretty sure he doesn't care.

This part is actually painful for me to read.  If you have watched Trump's rallies, you have heard him state that government spending is out of control, it needs to be reigned in, and we need to pay down the debt.  How can you possible tell me you see a big government mindset in him?  He has made every indication he can, that he wants smaller government.  He talks continually of the $20 trillion dollar debt, that it is dangerous and needs to be reduced.  Honestly, how can you listen to him, and not come away understading this?  It's just painful for me to read this, when he has addressed directly what you say your concern is here.  I'm not trying to be unkind at all, but it is very frustrating for me to witness him addressing these issues and to have folks come by later and state that what he just addressed, is an area of concern for them, and they haven't seen him address it.

Look, people want to support him, that's fine. Clearly for the most part no minds are being changed. But it's amazing to me that in an election in which we have someone outlining the difference between conservatives with scars to show and campaign conservatives, we have so many so called conservatives running to follow the very definition of that campaign conservative, because he isn't a politician (though he is now), is self funding and even Democrats will vote for him.

I recently became aware of something about Ted Cruz that literally made my blood boil.  I am sorry, but I will never see Ted Cruz as a Conservative again.  I have promised to post it on the forum after the first of the year.  I will.  This goes back to the mid and late 1990s, and it continues to this day, although morphed.  It was a real eye opener for me.  So when I see folks wax rhapsodic about Ted and Conservatism, it distrubs me.

Have to it I guess. I'll pass for now.  That's fine.

Now, I said I don’t do back flips when Cruz rises in the polls. That’s because I know that it’s a situation that changes almost constantly- or at least it has with everyone under Trump.  

Yes, that's true.  Ted was at around 10% in one poll I watch.  He climbed to just short of 15% in that poll.  He's now back to 11%. there.  So he has risen and fallen.  It may happen again.  I don't know.  I don't watch the polls and say they are totally accurte or totally not accurate.  I view them with some skepticism, but they are all we have right now.

And, I honestly don’t think ANY of these candidates is going to “save America” or maybe even put it back on the right track. I hope I’m wrong. But I really do think we’re at the point where only Christ Himself can fix not only our mess, but THE WORLD’S mess.

I'm not opposed to that mindset.  I can buy in, but I'm not convinced we need to yet.  This would would be a much safer place if we had a good leader.  Obama has destabalized the entire world.  It's amazing the power of that one man to destroy.  Trump on the other hand is as good at building up.  I trust him.  What have I go to lose, with you admitting what you think here.  It is going to take a strong man.  Cruz is not that man.  I watched him in Tulsa for a few minutes, and honestly, it was painful.  I cannot watch that guy.  His stage presence is downright painful to observe, for me.

I don’t know if those guys are GOPe or not. Steve King is not. The others first and foremost would probably best be described as evangelical or Christian. Perhaps at times they have lined up with the GOPe. But I’m assuming, or at least would HOPE that their CHRISTIAN beliefs and values actually come before their political ones.  

Well, don't hold your breath on that one.  I can't say for sure, but the GOPe keeps pretty tight reign on these folks.  State leaders usually defult to the GOPe.  If someone can correct me about Iowa, that's fine too.  I raised the issue because that factor is of concern to me.  If I'm right, these folks are merely propping Cruz up the harm Trump.  Then they'll trash Cruz.

Probably everyone here who has identified as Republican at least used to side with the GOPe as well. Franklin Graham likely did too. I guess with the move he made yesterday, no one can say that anymore, if they were still saying that.

We are in a catch 22 situation.  If we stay in the party, it has strength.  If we don't, we can't affect the nomination process.  One of the reasons I want Trump to win, is because I want him to rebuild the party without the Leftists.

[DoughtyOne]

Correction:

That said, yes I support Cruz. I support Cruz over Trump for these reasons that I gave CottonBall.

That's okay. Support who you like, but I've read down further now, and I see things that cause me consternation. I'll address them there.

[ I made it look like I said all this. You had said the first part. ]

[American Faith Today]

“What if I told you that I could look ahead 11 months and tell you without a doubt Ted Cruz could not win the general election? What if I told you that once he had sewn up the nomination (which I don’t think he has a prayer of winning), he would be focused upon by the media and they would literally destroy him? What if I told you that Donald Trump may be the Lord’s messenger, since those facts couldn’t change? This is how I see it. I am not convinced Donald Trump is evil. He has been very successful at making deals and conducting business for over 40 years. My father was not a church-going Christian, but he was a very good honorable man. I look at Donald Trump and cannot see him as a vile evil person. His kids are too amazing for him to have been evil. They all adore him. He is their champion. I think folks are soiling themselves by the evil they are sure they see in him. In all too many cases, I think it’s the evil they have in them, that lets them trash this decent man that way. It’s character assassination, pure and simple.”

Regarding the first part, I would say I don’t care whether or not Cruz can win. Because first of all, that obviously is an unknown. Sure, you have a theory. Maybe it’s correct. Maybe it isn’t. What it isn’t is a guaranteed outcome one way or the other. I also tend to look at such arguments (no intended offense to you) as something that would indeed come from the establishment. It’s a round about way of the exact same argument they always make. We have to get behind THIS GUY because he’s ELECTABLE. But regardless of who wins and who loses, regardless of what you may or may not know, I’m going to stick with my principles. If Trump is nominated and if I think it may be a close race, I’ll vote for him in all likelihood.

I would never call him evil. I think he believes in God. I think HE believes he is a saved Christian, or a committed Christian. And I’m not judging him because God knows his heart. BUT, again, as I said, I’m not looking for someone who is simply “not evil.” In MY OPINION, Trump would be a guy coming in relying on his own smarts and “wisdom”. That’s not what I’m looking for, as I said. I want the guy who knows he’ll mess up if he tries it on his own, so each and every day he’s on his knees asking for God’s guidance and direction.

“This part is actually painful for me to read. If you have watched Trump’s rallies, you have heard him state that government spending is out of control, it needs to be reigned in, and we need to pay down the debt. How can you possible tell me you see a big government mindset in him? He has made every indication he can, that he wants smaller government. He talks continually of the $20 trillion dollar debt, that it is dangerous and needs to be reduced. Honestly, how can you listen to him, and not come away understading this? It’s just painful for me to read this, when he has addressed directly what you say your concern is here. I’m not trying to be unkind at all, but it is very frustrating for me to witness him addressing these issues and to have folks come by later and state that what he just addressed, is an area of concern for them, and they haven’t seen him address it.”

There’s more to big government, in my opinion than simply the debt. The debt I suppose IS the consequence, or a big consequence, of big government. The fact is ANY republican is going to say we need to do something about our debt during a campaign. Heck, some Democrats will at least pay it lip service. As we’ll recall, Barack Obama said George W. Bush was unpatriotic for raising the debt as much as he did. And I’m sure Trump is sincere in wanting to do something about it. But again, what other conclusion am I supposed to draw with some of the other things he’s said? Okay, he says the debt needs to be brought down. Great- completely on board with that. But I’m not trusting a guy who looks at all of this and diagnoses the problem again as “stupid people who don’t manage government well enough”- paraphrasing here. I don’t trust a guy who again refers to civil liberties as something that “need to be reassessed” I don’t agree with a guy who supports Kelo or sounds again more like Lindsey Graham than Thomas Jefferson when it comes to the First Amendment. I don’t think he understands that when he rails at Nabisco for not making Oreoes in the country, Nabisco isn’t the problem- not really. Government taxes and regulations are the problem. And maybe, probably as a businessman he DOES get that. But he sure didn’t say it. The same goes, btw, for Ford moving any production to Mexico. Maybe he can come to the conservative or small government side on some things, but I think he needs a compass and a road map to get there. Meanwhile, there’s another candidate who I don’t believe does.

A lot of everything else you said is perfectly fine with me.

[conservative98]

Great post, Doughty.

[flaglady47]

“He’s pining for a position in the Trump Administration.”

Bingo, you win the astuteness prize. Huckabee is pandering to Trump who he sees as being the Primary election winner of the Pub Party this time around. Huck is going after Cruz in Iowa because the Cruz fortunes have risen amongst the Christian Evangelicals, the exact group the Huckster considers his past base in Iowa.

The operative word here is “past”, as Huck has no chance in Iowa this time around. Plus Huck going after Cruz helps Trump too in Iowa, so a double win for the Huckster; he gets to again pander to Trump by going after Cruz in Iowa who allegedly is neck and neck with Trump to win the State. Also he enhances his own chances, however slim, with the Evangelical Christians, the base he successfully appealed to in his first run for the Presidency.

The Huckster knows how to play the angles. The real question is, will the Huckster get his show back on Fox that he gave up to run for the Presidency. Does he even want to go back on TV, as he is obviously angling for a position now, with a future Trump Administration.

[CatherineofAragon]

If you dish it out, you better be ready to take it.

[flaglady47]

“That’s why I’m sticking with Cruz.
Keep crowing about the rallies.
They aren’t votes, and you’re going to find that out.”

And you and your candidate Cruz are going to lose. Just one of life’s losers, you are. Get used to it. You and your cohorts are going to lose big-time in the New Year.

I and so many other Freepers are enjoying being Trump’s winners, a thought you just can’t abide by. So you and your infinitely small flock jump on Trump threads to try to bring Trumpsters, with our great optimism for the future of our Country under a Trump Administration, down. It’s an impossible task for you guys to accomplish though. However you continue to waste your breath trying.

Merry Christmas in spite of being the political loser you are. And for us Trumpsters, I wish all of us a Happy New Year as we win the Primaries, one after the other for our candidate, Trump. And then win the general election in November, a clean sweep in this indeed, soon to be very Happy New Year.

[bjcoop]

Huckabee pardoned a murderer who went on to slaughter again. He’s awful

[HarleyLady27]

I have always like Huckabee...he is a sincere, straight forward person...and believes in God...same as I do...

[CatherineofAragon]

LOL!

You sound just like the nasty, bratty little child you are-—mentally, that is.

Just as a Trump supporter told me, “winning” is the only principle you Trumpsters care about. So good luck with that, sweetie. After it’s all over, you’ll be looking in the mirror and trying to gather the shreds of your principles around you, but it’ll be too late. We see what you are.

Despite the slavish adoration of a particular subset, you hero will never be able to increase his support to the size he needs to win an election..,or to secure the nomination.

So you go right on, trashing the Christian Constitutional conservative in the race, and slobbering over the liberal sleaze.

Go kiss your Trump poster.

[CatherineofAragon]

LOL, thanks. If you thought otherwise, I'd know I was doing something wrong.

[flaglady47]

“Go kiss your Trump poster.”

LOL, I went over and gave it a big smooch. I so love Trump.

I must say you are a nasty piece of work. I assume it just comes naturally to you, your inner venom, just oozing out of every pore. I retract my Merry Christmas to you, as it is casting pearls before a swine, and I must save all my energy in order to advocate for Trump every chance I get.

Okay, time for you to rejoin the rock you crawled out from under, in your attempt to pollute this thread with your anti-Trump bile. On to the next Trump related thread only to find, I’m sure, that our fellow Freepers once again will have the misfortune of having to deal with you and your political gang of two or three ineffective Trump haters. It will be such a treat for us all.

[Jane Long]

The delusional and irrational have become quite insufferable. I think it will only get worse, as Trump continues his ascent, in this race. He is the HISTORIC GOP FRONTRUNNER, for a reason. He relates and resonates with We the People.

Thank God for Donald Trump....who has completely changed the political landscape and has brought the time-tested issues that we conservatives have been clamoring for...for YEARS (illegal immigration, our dear vets, the border wall, our military, etc, etc) to the forefront. If not for Trump, Jeb would be ‘winning’....by touting a paltry tax cut, or two.

Go Trump!! Patriots cannot wait until you Make America Great, Again!

Merry Christmas, FReepers....

[Ohioan]

Merry, Merry Christmas to you!