Posted on 01/02/2008 8:38:10 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee traded jokes with Jay Leno and played bass guitar with the "Tonight Show" band on Wednesday, the eve of the Iowa caucuses he hopes to win.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton also made a cameo appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show" as the funnymen returned to work for the first time since their writers went on strike two months go.
The visits broke some of the tension surrounding the nominating contests that begin Thursday with the Iowa caucuses. Clinton and Huckabee are in tight races, she with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and he with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Huckabee told stories about his hardscrabble upbringing, including that it took his parents a year to pay for a $99 guitar they bought him for Christmas in 1966.
"It was a big sacrifice for them, but I played that guitar until my fingers nearly bled, and until their ears nearly bled," he said. "And they said, 'Son, why don't you become a minister?'"
He went on to become a Baptist minister, then was elected Arkansas governor.
Clinton opened Letterman's show with a taped greeting: "Dave has been off the air for eight long weeks because of the writers strike. Tonight, he's back. Oh, well, all good things come to an end," she said.
Huckabee had to cross a picket line to appear on Leno's show, despite earlier saying he supported the writers. Picket signs read, "Huckabee is a scab," and, "Huckabee, what would Jesus do?"
Campaigning earlier Wednesday in Iowa, Huckabee said he believed the writers had agreed to allow late-night shows on the air. But only Letterman and fellow CBS host Craig Ferguson struck deals allowing writers to come back to work. Corrected, Huckabee murmured, "Hmmm," and, "Oh."
The writers guild urged him not to cross their picket line after he flew out to California. "Huckabee claims he didn't know," chief union negotiator John Bowman said. "I don't know what that means in terms of trusting him as a future president."
Huck just said Romney spent 8-9 million in Iowa, also “McCain is a great American hero”,and “maybe he should give Romney a shower”.
Huckabee looked pretty funny in his “double wide” coat in front of the double wide trailer.
From FlyingVintage.com:
Checking out Gibson's 1959 Price List, the Les Paul Custom guitar was priced at $395.00, plus $47.50 for a Faultless case. Next in line is the now famous Les Paul Sunburst Model at $265.00, plus $42.50 for the case.
So in 1966 dollars, the Husckster certainly didn't get a Les Paul, but he didn't get some cheapy starter either.
RIGHTTTTT. Bet He got a military deferment to go to “preacher” college. I got to spend Christmas in a “Fukkkkkkkkinnnnnnnnnnn M60” Tank. He is a bible toadding piece of rat rectum.
I’ll give the Huckster credit. When it comes to fooling the regular folks and appearing genuine and funny, he is great. He is good. Really good.
Almost as good as me....Almost.
What a coup it was getting on the show, even with the writers’ strike! And Leno was obviously solidly in his corner. Everything was softball. Should easily be worth a few percentage points tomorrow.
All I could think about watching it was how it was *identical* to the Clinton visit where Clinton blew the sax! Let’s see “aw shucks” routine from Arkansas - Check - Musical performance - Check. Grovelling by host - Check.
Looks like Jays’ trying to put the fix in.
I, for one, ani’t that dumb!
You must be older than me. I was blissfully ignorant when that took place. But I could picture it.
Leno has been paying his writers out of his own pocket since December.
>>So, Clinton is a strike breaker???<<
No. Letterman has a private agreement with the writers’ union. Leno does not.
>>What kind of guitar ran $99 bucks in 1966? And why would you spend that much for a kid?<<
According to Huck, his 1966 guitar included an amp and speaker, so the $99 does not sound unreasonable.
Oh Iowa... Please don’t fall for the Huckster. He’s very appealing, but he’s also a Huckster..The Huckster.
You know I will give him one thing... Out of all them running for President - He’s my favorite Democrat.
Too bad I don’t vote for Democrats.
Huckabuck also said that he is in favor of scrapping the IRS. In favor of a twenty three percent retail tax. That sounded good until he said then even DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS would be paying taxes on all their retail purchases gas,food,cars,etc. And those below the poverty line would have tax rebates so in effect they would pay no tax. Well Huckabuck I have a question for you how many DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS do you know who report their income. So I guess they are all showing up at the poverty level and getting tax rebates. A nice reward for making a secret unreported living. Think Huckabuck use your brain are you really that dumb.
The Huckster can’t even go on a silly talk show without creating controversy. Now I know why Rudy is laying low. He wants somebody else to be on point, and be the media punching bag for awhile.
Why don't you tell us how you really feel? So much for standards in our etiquet. I think your pills are in the cupboard next to the Jack Daniels.
“Well Huckabuck I have a question for you how many DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS do you know who report their income?”
And that’s exactly his point. They don’t report their incomes so we see no tax on their activities. But under the fair tax, they will pay taxes every time they purchase something with their “hard-earned” labors. Bag of chips, pay the tax; new house, pay the tax; Alaskan cruise, pay the tax.
I haven’t made up my mind on the fair tax yet, but your criticism doesn’t apply, at least as far as their INCOME goes. On the other hand, technically the drug dealer is supposed to charge the fair tax too, and send it in to the government. That’s going to be a bit of a challenge, I suspect.
But since there is no agreement with the union, wouldn’t those writers be scabs? And wouldn’t Leno be a strike-breaker, paying scabs to work on his show?
You seem to have forgotten your man Huckleberry will be rewarding them with poverty level tax rebates. Duh.
Good grief. Most middle class kids who got instruments in that time had parents who took a year to pay for them. He makes it sound like he was dirt poor.
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