Iowa Caucuses - Results Live Thread

January 3, 2008 | xjcsa

[xjcsa]

I thought the time was right to start up a live thread for results and comments about tonight, so here we are!

[RockinRight]

Eat crow about what? There’s nothing conservative about Huckabee (save for two issues - guns and abortion) and Rush is absolutely correct about him.

[TalonDJ]

I wasn’t kidding in an earlier post. Is there a way to cheat in the Iowa caucuses ? Are all the people involved in the caucus signed in and checked ? Could a PIG like the PIAPS find a way to cheat ?

There are always ways to cheat and it is a pretty informal process. But since it is not a matter of winning it all it will probably be fine. Fred does not have to win it all to be in the serious running. Even a third place showing will shock many and shut up those (even freepers) saying he does not have 'momentum' or 'fire' or what ever such garbage they heard on the MSM.

[Miss Didi]

RUSH: ... We've talked about abortion on this program countless times, the sanctity of life and how it is the root of many things. But in terms of electing a president, there are a couple things the president can do about abortion, one of them substantive, the other is somewhat ephemeral. The substantive thing that a president can do about abortion is to nominate judges, primarily Supreme Court justices. That's it. Now, a president can lead, a president can try to inspire and motivate, change hearts and so forth, but, in a substantive way, there's not much a president can do about abortion. Rick from Kansas City is a good illustration, a good example of what I mean when I describe Governor Huckabee as campaigning on identity politics. There are some people who will overlook every aspect of Governor Huckabee that is really something in total opposition to most of their beliefs, because all they will see is the Christian characteristic, particularly if it fits right with the abortion issue.

Now, my friends, I'm sorry here. I haven't spent a lifetime, and particularly the last 23 years on radio, advocating conservative principles only to throw them away to embrace some candidate. I don't support open borders and amnesty, as does Governor Huckabee. I don't support the release of hundreds of criminals. I don't support repeated increases in taxes. I don't support national health care. I don't care what you call it, whether it's in the name of the children or not. I don't support anti-war rhetoric that sounds as if it was written by Nancy Pelosi. And yet I'm being asked to put all that aside in the midst of a Republican primary. As I've tried to point out countless times, a primary is a time to sort these things out. Now, I, speaking for myself, am not going to put aside my principles to accommodate a single politician or campaign operative, period. Too much is at stake here. And being asked to do this, to put all this aside for any single issue is not the point.

Now, I don't want somebody in the White House who has no problem with abortion. I don't want anybody in the White House who thinks that it's okay and that we ought not do anything about it. Don't misunderstand. But I also don't want anybody to misunderstand what a president can actually do about it and how far a president can actually take the issue. It's about judges, if your concern is overturning Roe vs. Wade. If it's not, if you realize that's going to be a ways down the line and yet we want to do something about abortion prior to that then it's about changing minds and hearts. There are several ways of going about doing that, and one of the ways is not wagging your finger in people's faces and telling them they're sinning or telling them they're wrong, you're just going to seal their resolve against you. I think we're in the process of changing minds and hearts. I think abortion figures are falling. I think as generations grow and change, there's a greater repugnance attached to the whole practice. It is not an 80% majority issue, pro-choice isn't. It's not even 50% now. Progress is being made on this. But I'm not going to sit here and put aside all of these things that I believe in and have worked for and that I know work. (cont.)

RUSH: Why Conservatism Matters Most

[RockinRight]

Gotta disagree strongly there.

Huckabee doesn’t appeal to me.

Go Fred!

[mad_as_he$$]

Were you around for the immigration bills? Then no way you should be shocked about how most FReepers feel about the Huckster.

[trisham]

Gotcha. :)

[Victory Rocks]

I just hope the reporters covering Hillary’s campaign are wearing full body armor or can evade dangerous flying objects tonight. NEWS FLASH! HILLARY GOES ON VIOLENT RAMPAGE AFTER GETTING DUMPED IN IOWA!

[RockinRight]

I think we need a strong Christian President.

Yes, but he also must be pro-tax cuts, in favor of small government, limited regulation, and respect the boundaries of the Constitution and the borders of our nation.

[TalonDJ]

I dont want to vote based on fiscal conservatism alone or social conservatism alone

Me either. That is why I am voting for Fred. Never another shyster from Akansas ever again. I have lived there. Politics there are as crooked as they come. His antics with Romney's religion and the attack ad have show him to be a man lacking in character. No thanks.

[dinoparty]

We should all be thankful for the great things Rush has done (and will continue to do) for the conservative movement as a whole.

I do not think he would disagree, however, that when push comes to shove, fiscal conservatism/limited government form the essential nugget of his beliefs. In that respect, if someone is not on that bandwagon, Rush will show no mercy on him, regardless of their other conservative beliefs. It is the one unforgivable sin.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

The wife and I are going to caucus for Fred and so is the Mother-In-Law.

None of the three of us had been planning to caucus until the weekend. So maybe he will come up some ;)

But truth to tell, you have no IDEA how much I'm looking forward to this whole process being over with. 4-5 candidate commercials back-to-back in one commercial spot is enough to make one puke.

Then the phone calls, emails, mails and on and on and on.

Is it midnight yet???

[Colofornian]

There’s nothing conservative about Huckabee (save for two issues - guns and abortion) and Rush is absolutely correct about him.

Hey, I'm not a big Huck fan...but I know you're wrong here...

What about protecting marriage from takeover by gays? What about opposing homosexual activists' agenda? What about religious liberty issues? What about healthcare?

I think there's plenty to "ding" Huck on...the problem becomes so many scale down their scorecard because they--and you--exclude these kinds of issues as of any importance to them/you.

[RockinRight]

If the Republican party throws religious people off the bus. The base is gone.

SE, I like you, and have spoken with you a lot in the past so don't take this personally...but any religious person voting for Huckabee is throwing THEMSELVES off the bus.

[Colofornian]

Never another shyster from Akansas ever again.

What about never another RINO from Massachusetts again?

[CedarDave]

I'm going to love to see the look on Hillary's face if she comes in third. We may witness the MOTHER OF ALL MELTDOWNS before the night is over. I bet.

Caught a bit of Fox News at lunch. Reporting that they asked to see Her Heinous campaign headquarters, but were kept to the public area and not allowed to film behind a wall, though without cameras were given a looksee but no questions. Obama on the other hand, invited them to come in, look around, film, ask questions etc. Her campaign is so scripted that there is no flexibility.

[cornfedcowboy]

Doug, are you a Huckster? The page your link sends us to is for a full bore high-powered Huck supporter. Jut wondering. I’m voting tonight for Fred.

[SoCalPol]

The American Spectator

Huckabee’s ‘Clueless’ Foreign Policy - Saturday, December 15, 2007

By using the word “clueless,” I refer not only to Michael D. Huckabee’s understanding of international relations as outlined in his Foreign Affairs essay, but the 1995 Alicia Silverstone teen movie, which seems a surprisingly relevant comparison, given Huckabee’s opening paragraph:

The United States, as the world’s only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised.

More than anything, Huckabee’s essay is startling in its incoherence, and it has something within it to scare off any faction of the conservative movement. To those who remain supportive of President Bush and believe he has helped keep us safe since Sept. 11, Huckabee writes that “the Bush administration’s arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad.”

He goes on to echo liberal talking points in criticizing Bush for his handling of Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Al Qaeda. For those conservatives who believe that Iran does not deserve to be awarded with diplomatic ties to the U.S. given its “a world without America” and “wipe Israel off the map” rhetoric—not to mention funding of terrorist activities directed at Americans in Iraq—Huckabee thinks we should talk with the Islamist government, because “When one stops talking to a parent or a friend, differences cannot be resolved and relationships cannot move forward. The same is true for countries.” ...........

[dschapin]

I agree that we need someone who is both a fiscal and a social conservative - thats why I support Hunter and I presume that you probably support Thompson. My shock is simply that many freepers seem to hate Huckabee more than they dislike Guiliani. Whereas, I see Huckabee’s misguided populism as much less evil than Giulianies support of Abortion and Homosexuality.

[TalonDJ]

Nobody honestly believes that Huckabee would back down to terrorists like Jimmy Carter did in the 70s...

Right after he gives them instate tuition. Get a clue. Soft on immigration = soft on terror.

[dinoparty]

Rush underestimates the ability of a President to use the bully pulpit to help “change minds and hearts” on abortion, IMO. Aside from the judges issue, which is very important, I believe that the Reagan, Bush I and Bush II presidencies have gone a long way in “legitimizing” the anti-abortion position in the minds of the public. This is important.