Your memory is correct. Huckabee was very popular with FR at the time he was in office and was twice the guest of honor at the FR inagural ball. He was nicknamed "the Freeper governor" and particularly applauded for going after Kerry on gun rights and for coming up with the name "tax me more fund" to make fun of liberals constantly saying the rich aren't taxed enough.
The history revistionists here vowing to let Hillary win if "RINO" Huckabee gets the nod would have you believe Huckabee was an evil socialist in office, in much the same way the RATs will try to convince you Bush "lied" about WMDs and made it all up on his own, despite the historical facts showing every Dem agreed Saddam had WMDs long before Bush ever became President.
In both cases, they can try and rewrite history all they want, a simply search engine about what was said AT THE TIME it occured will refute their lies.
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How freepers felt about "liberal" Mike Huckabee back when he was actually IN office:
Governor Mike Huckabee (left) and the Capitol Offense Band, hosts of the The FreeRepublic.com Inaugural Ball, a rousing success for 61 million Americans in 2005.
Arkansas - Freeper Governor Mike Huckabee reelected
Freeper Governor Huckabee (R-Arkansas) wins Arkansas Republican primary 85%+
Freeper Governor Huckabee's "Tax Me More Fund" tops $1,000 with $200 donation
Gov. Huckabee's thank you letter to Free Republic
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Once Again, a Little Rock From Arkansas [Gov Huckabee and the FR Inaugural Ball]
Washington Post ^ | Sunday, January 16, 2005 | Richard Leiby
Posted on 01/17/2005 4:10:05 PM CST by Jim Robinson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/13226841322684/posts
Hes a Preacher! Hes From Hope! (Gov. Huckabee, Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball article)
Washingtonian Online - Capital Comment ^ | January 2005 | SUZI PARKER
Posted on 01/02/2005 9:02:42 PM CST by tgslTakoma
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/13127031322684/posts
ANNOUNCING THE FREE REPUBLIC W2 INAUGURAL BALL, FEATURING GOV HUCKABEE AND CAPITOL OFFENSE
Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball ^
Posted on 01/18/2005 1:18:17 PM CST by Jim Robinson. [history]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/12922461322684/posts
Freeper Governor Huckabee's "Tax Me More Fund" tops $1,000 with $200 donation
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | 5JAN 01 | BILL SIMMONS
Posted on 01/05/2002 1:06:07 PM CST by DCBryan1
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/6023051322684/posts
Arkansas - Freeper Governor Mike Huckabee reelected
Associated Press | November 5, 2002
Posted on 11/06/2002 12:29:32 AM CST by HAL9000
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/7833091322684/posts
Freeper Gov. Huckabee (R-Arkansas) wins Arkansas Republican primary 85% +
www.kark.com ^ | 21 MAY 02 | DCBryan1
Posted on 05/21/2002 10:41:42 PM CDT by DCBryan1
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/6873641322684/posts
FR Inaugural Ball Pictures for ***Governor Huckabee***
Source: Self (with nudging from CAL)
Posted on 01/28/2001 21:04:24 PST by Gracey
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a74f9d80c0e.htm
Huckabee's Knees Need Surgeries After Freeper Inaugural Ball
INAUGURAL BALL, DANCING
Source: Donrey News
Posted on 01/22/2001 23:52:23 PST by HAL9000
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a6d38370b7d.htm
FREEPER INAUGURAL BALL MESSAGE TO FREEPERS FROM ***GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE***
Source: e-mail
Published: 1/22/01 Author: Governor Mike Huckabee
Posted on 01/22/2001 18:32:01 PST by Clinton's a liar
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a6ced21441d.htm
Arkansas Gov. Huckabees Tax Me More Fund Spreads
News Max ^ | Jan. 23, 2002 | Dave Eberhart
Posted on 01/22/2002 9:19:46 PM CST by concerned about politics
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/6137661322684/posts
Freeper Governor Mike Huckabee on the 'Tax Me More' Fund
Governor's Electronic Message System (GEMS) ^ | December 4, 2001 | Governor Mike Huckabee -- Arkansas
Posted on 12/04/2001 12:19:43 PM CST by Sloth
Governor Huckabee Criticizes Kerry at Gun Shooting Range
KATV ^ | July 21, 2004
Posted on 07/21/2004 8:52:38 PM CDT by Lazarus Longer
Governor Huckabee Signs Abortion "Womans Right to Know" Bill
Posted on 02/24/2001 08:13:05 PST by AppyPappy
Governor Huckabee Signs 'Choose Life' Plate Into Law
TBO.com ^
Posted on 03/10/2003 6:57:42 PM CST by Sub-Driver
Freeper Gov Huckabee signs abortion consent into law
Associated Press | February 3, 2005 | CARYN ROUSSEAU
Posted on 03/03/2005 11:54:30 PM CST by HAL9000
Huckabee Supports Gay Marriage Ban
Times Record ^ | 2-27-04 | David Robinson
Posted on 02/27/2004 12:02:36 PM CST by Indy Pendance
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/5835691322684/posts
Gov. Huckabee's thank you letter to Free Republic
Source: Personal letter from Governor Huckabee
Posted on 02/28/2001 07:05:41 PST by Taxman
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a9d13c55b87
This was 2005, the Huckster had already been Governor of Arkansas for NINE YEARS at the time.
At the time, Huckabee was called "the freeper governor" and hailed as a conservative hero on this forum for mocking the liberals "tax the rich" policies by naming the "tax me more" in Arkansas. Huckabee was personally invited TWICE by the owner of this very forum to serve our as special guest of honor at the presidential inauguration, and received an outpouring of allocates and standing ovations from freepers. Imagine how members would have reacted if a real "RINO governor" showed up at our event like Christie Todd Whitman or Arnold Schwarzenegger , let alone the outrage from the rank and file members of this forum if the owner of the website personally invited them as the keynote "attraction".
The freepers trashing Huckabee as an evil RINO are trying to rewrite history worse than Michael Moore's fictional film about the NRA.
Amazing how NOBODY on this forum pointed out what an awful, evil, RINO, nanny-state, illegal alien loving, Clintonite governor he was when the guy was actually IN office, eh? You'd think with such a horrid RINOish record, JimRob wouldn't want him anywhere near our event.
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Your defense of Huckabee is admirable. The Thompsonites are in the process of burning bridges and eating their own. I am supporting Mitt because he has the best chance to beat Hillary, but Huck is way better than Fred.