Posted on 10/20/2007 7:28:15 PM PDT by Delacon
David Brooks and Dean Barnett both tackle Huckabee's gradual rise today, and both see a lot of promise: Brooks writes that whereas "each of the top-tier candidates makes certain parts of the party uncomfortable ... Huckabee is the one candidate acceptable to all factions," while Barnett acknowledges that the Huck's "taxing and spending in Arkansas may not be every conservative's ideal," but suggests that he "probably has fewer policy skeletons in his closet than anyone else in the field."
I dunno - as Matt says, taxing and spending are a pretty big deal in the GOP, and it's clear that Huckabee wouldn't be acceptable to this particular faction, at the very least. Throw in his wetness on immigration and his various rhetorical forays toward a "conservatism of the heart" on trade and inequality and so forth, and you have a candidate with as many deviations from GOP orthodoxy as John McCain and Fred Thompson, certainly, if not Giuliani and Romney (both of whom have enough skeletons to fill the whole house).
Which is why the current Republican race is so interesting - it's a laboratory, in a sense, for determining which interest groups really have clout in the GOP primaries, and which issues really excite the faithful. If Rudy Giuliani wins the nomination, it will tell us a lot about the real influence (or lack thereof) of folks like James Dobson; if John McCain gets the nod, we'll know that immigration and (to a lesser extent) campaign-finance reform are more important to activists than to actual voters; if Huckabee becomes a significent spoiler (or, though it's much more unlikely, an actual contender) then we'll know the Club for Growth doesn't have quite as much clout
(Excerpt) Read more at rossdouthat.theatlantic.com ...
Who are these idiots kidding. They are really trying to put the screws to Americans. Really trying to make us mad with all of these stories trying to insinuate that our own people are turning on us. Keep using that Chinese brainwashing guys because when the rubber finally meets the road; you guys are going to be in for a big surprise. You will be the first to go.
In other words; your guys will turn on you. Think about it; it’s not hard to figure that one out.
I dunno who owns the GOP, but they couldn’t be any worse than the Kos, MoveOn, Code Pink, Soros traitors that own the RATS.
Kudoes to the Atlantic but I think it’s much, much more interesting to explore for bones and skeletons in the Dim candidate closets. After all, there are so many more of them to pause over and much more elaborate scheming. By contrast the GOP is just dull.
Let’s consider the Clinton death list for example; I’m sure the Atlantic blanches at the thought, but there are plenty of entrees to munch on there, enough for a veritable feast of investigating, not that the Atlantic has any interest.
I don't think this is at all true -- Huckabee has a poor record across the entire small-government spectrum, from taxes and spending to nanny-state laws and endorsement of big federal government programs. I will never vote for Huckabee; I'm interested in seeing what other small-government conservatives think about this.
Which is why the current Republican race is so interesting - it's a laboratory, in a sense, for determining which interest groups really have clout in the GOP primaries, and which issues really excite the faithful.
This is exactly right, which is why the choice of nominee will affect the overall direction of the GOP long past 2008 -- especially if that nominee wins.
“I don’t think this is at all true — Huckabee has a poor record across the entire small-government spectrum, from taxes and spending to nanny-state laws and endorsement of big federal government programs. I will never vote for Huckabee; I’m interested in seeing what other small-government conservatives think about this.”
I think the writer was agreeing with you on this. As for me, Huck is a repeat of all the bad things of the Bush presidency. Immigration, spending, big government, and yes religious conservatism(which isn’t bad) handled badly at a national level.
“This is exactly right, which is why the choice of nominee will affect the overall direction of the GOP long past 2008 — especially if that nominee wins.”
Not if 06 is any indication. I see no realignment. Unless the republican party gets truly wiped out, it will be more of the same from both parties. If the republican party gets wiped out, what will happen is democrats will run the country into the ground as they did in the 70s. Look for a republican controlled govt in say 2020.
Right. Why can’t the one rising be Duncan Hunter? He’s the one we need. Huckleberry is a squish on a lot of key issues.
LOL. If so, Rich, I am just waiting to get to that point in the primary where “two man enter...one man leave”.
“Right. Why can’t the one rising be Duncan Hunter? He’s the one we need.”
Well if we are going to whine, why not about Tancredo who has actually been on the rise recently. :)
Huckabee supports illegals. I could never vote for him.
I just had to bump a post that was from George Bush to the Ghost of Rudy McRomney. Some Freepers have the most interesting login names.
(( ping ))
Over here.... Check this out.
BUMP what you said.
And throw in a retroactive de-citizenship of “anchor babies”.
Huckabee is a pro amnesty.
“I once thought it belonged to conservative Republicans. Not so sure now. “
Try Wall Street and global business. The last time conservatives were valued was during Reagan.
I’m afraid you’re right.
Sadly, you may be right. The fact that those idjits pushed amnesty against the will of the people, and now continue to try to push it piecemeal, says that they're not listening.
On the other hand, GOP strategists with no personal convictions would love it if they could win with, say, a pro-abortion or anti-gun politician. Strategically, that would allow our strategiests to nullify two potent donk issues -- so I do think it's likely we would see realignment there in the form of many more future pro-abortion and anti-gun GOP candidates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.