Posted on 12/10/2007 5:46:54 PM PST by dano1
The most surprising conversations running through Republican circles this week are all about Mike Huckabee. As one veteran strategist put it in an e-mail message Monday morning, "I -- and I would suggest damn few others -- never anticipated you even asking [about Huckabee] this late in 2007."
Huckabee's rise is real, the result of months of dissatisfaction on the right with the rest of the Republican field. His success in Iowa, where he has dislodged Mitt Romney atop the polls, and in other early states, represents what another strategist calls "the revenge of the social conservative" wing of the party.
"It's the night before the prom," this strategist said, "and they've been sitting by the phone for a year, waiting for a date." Huckabee has come calling and they are responding.
Huckabee's rise is real for a second reason. He fills another vacuum in the Republican field -- which is that of a strong, southern conservative candidate. In 2005 and 2006, that role was to be filled by Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader from Tennessee, or former Virginia senator George Allen. Fred Thompson thought he would be that candidate, and for several months last summer he was -- until he entered the race.
Thompson's campaign has fizzled from lack of energy, lack of a clear message and lack of visibility. It is no accident that Huckabee's rise has come at Thompson's expense, but to succeed, strategists say, Huckabee cannot allow Thompson back into the competition anywhere.
The big question is not whether Huckabee is real but whether he can make it all the way to the nomination. Will he ultimately prove to be a skillful spoiler, or a candidate with broad enough appeal to unify a party that is badly fractured?
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
Unless I find out this guy is a foreign policy national security whiz, I just have to feel he isn’t what the country needs right now. But then, how often does the country get who it needs?
For what it’s worth, I have to agree with you.
Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005
By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.
"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.
Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.
About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.
Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.
He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."
Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."
"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."
During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
“The Huckster: Smarmier than Jimmy Carter, and Slicker than Willie Clinton.”
The Washington Post?....get real This is a conservative website. Please post some conservative article supporting the Husckster. As it is you are just playing the game of the left by promoting this guy.
As attention now draws on Huck’s real record, I predict he will sink as fast as he has climbed.
Don't late "surgers" tend to stay on the top in the early going?
I like Mike, but I absolutely have become convinced that he can not win a general election. He is just not a War Time President which we so greatly need at this time. I also don't like his nanny state ideals, but I could overlook those, just not his lack of foreign policy knowledge.
the little girl is a lefty. thats why she is pushing huckelclown.
Worth repeating.
Most true Conservatives including myself can't.
Huckabee seems to be dancing quite a slippery fandango on today’s <”Hannity and C****s.”
It’s plain scary how he reminds me of Carter and WJC.... weak,liberal and slick like Bill.
I meant if he does become our nominee. It is the War Time President that scares me to death.
America is at heart, a lower to middle class nation in tastes.
TV has made the visual, voice, popular presentation more important than in the old days of Newspapers and sonorous big three networks.
Seriously, do you think if the Democrats all disappeared tomorrow, the Republican party would return us to small government, low tax/regulations? Naw, too many business are set up to prosper in this environment. Too many new, low cost business would be started up, risking old investments and long term debts. Frankly, the Republican Party loves the existance of the Democrats. Who would of thought after winning the the Presidency and both houses they would manufacture themselves back so that Dems would lead and they could comfortably go along, all the while spewing shibboleths about low taxs, small state.
Once again the Washington Post tells us just how awful poor ol’ Fred Thompson is....gee, Dane, do ya think they do things like that on purpose? Duh-errr...
I am waiting for the other shoe to fall.Rest assured it will fall.
I think the whole “left” is supporting this guy as I see little support on the right.
I suspect John McCain is just biding his time for the REAL rise!
With just a little effort on our part, McCain can come out gangbusters!
Yeah, that’s the real story here - like the tortoise who gets a sudden burst of energy during the last lap!
Isn’t that inspiring!!
Let’s pull together & give him the boost he needs! Don’t waste your vote on someone else - give it to the candidate who can really win AND do the best job!
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