Posted on 02/07/2008 7:43:41 PM PST by Kurt Evans
Over the last 15 years, Mike Huckabee has improved and strengthened the Republican Party of Arkansas. From the time he was the U.S. Senate nominee in 1992 until he left the Governor’s office in 2007, Mike Huckabee was a powerful and influential figure in the Republican Party.
By understanding Huckabee’s 10 ½ years of leadership in the proper context, we can see that his leadership strengthened the party, elected Republican candidates, and helped shift the state government to a more conservative position.
We must have accurate historical context when reviewing the relationship between Huckabee and the state party. Huckabee’s election for lieutenant governor in 1993 became the GOP’s first statewide victory in over 10 years. His path to politics came from the private sector, outside the political arena, and led him to be just the fourth statewide Republican ever elected in the State of Arkansas.
Immediately, he brought credibility to the state party and a sense of tremendous excitement to the party faithful who were tired of fielding unsuccessful candidates. Huckabee became the titular head of the state GOP and began without hesitation to raise funds, headline dinners and support the GOP slate of candidates. No one has attended more Arkansas Lincoln Day dinners than Huckabee.
Huckabee’s 10 ½ years of leadership strengthened the Republican Party. Upon becoming Arkansas’ 44th Governor in 1996, Huckabee inherited a state that had been governed by Democratic governors for all but two of the previous thirty-six years. Democratic governors had appointed every member of appointed boards and commissions, and in addition, the 135 seat legislature had only 15 Republican members.
Huckabee stepped onto a stage that Republicans in Arkansas rarely walk on and governed in a difficult environment filled with partisan hostilities. In this environment, he passed conservative legislation, won statewide election in Arkansas four times, and maintained high approval ratings throughout the entire 10 ½ years as Governor.
Huckabee focused on governing to the best of his ability and fighting for the conservative values he espoused. As governor, Huckabee knew that to achieve any legislative success, the sheer numbers required him to reach across party lines. By doing so he scored extraordinary victories that state Republicans could have never achieved without his leadership. Legislatively he pushed through every possible pro-life bill allowable under Roe v. Wade, passed the first broad based tax cut in Arkansas’ history, and streamlined government. All of these were reforms championed by the state party.
Huckabee went on to reform education, refurbish the state’s crumbling infrastructure, improve life for the children of working families, and create new jobs. These results required both leadership and extraordinary political skills. Huckabee excelled at both. It was his compromise with Democrats in the Legislature on legislative details (not principles) that brought these changes about. Though a vocal minority in the Republican Party criticized Mike Huckabee’s willingness to reach across party lines, it was this willingness that allowed him to pass conservative legislation and allowed him to be an effective, forward-thinking governor.
Huckabee won statewide in Arkansas four times. This is more times than any other Republican in Arkansas history. His approval ratings stayed strong throughout the entire 10 ½ years as governor and he trounced any token opposition that arose in the GOP primary.
One legacy that is vital to the future of the Republican party of Arkansas is often overlooked. While governor he made thousands of appointments to state board and commissions.
When he left office in 2007 every single gubernatorial appointee was appointed by a Republican governor for the first time in Arkansas history. Republicans had never had a better seat at the table on these board and commissions.
These appointments put conservatives on every regulatory board in the state. Today, these appointments significantly impact the direction of state government and create a potential farm team for the party to draw from for future candidates for public office.
Huckabee tirelessly campaigned for his fellow party members. As the head of the state party Huckabee sent appeal letters, headlined events, and hosted receptions continually raising funds for the party. He did this for successful and unsuccessful candidates.
This is why he today enjoys the support of former U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson and Jay Dickey as well as Mary Jane Rebick, Sheffield Nelson, Randy Bynum, Betty Dickey, Bud Cummins and, of course, current Congressman John Boozman.
These candidates stumped in town after town with Huckabee and saw his efforts firsthand. They also know that when Republicans lost elections, their governor did not forget about the wounded. Many of these listed and countless others received appointments to key boards and posts in state government upon their defeat in order to utilize their skills.
Huckabee’s efforts on behalf of GOP candidates did not stop with statewide candidates. Huckabee campaigned tirelessly in every cycle on behalf of Republican legislative candidates. He rarely receives credit in the media for these efforts but there are a host of current and past legislators that can attest to his faithful efforts on their behalf.
He raised funds, sent letters, headlined events and stumped for GOP candidates in every part of Arkansas. He also wrote tens of thousands of dollars worth of checks to these candidates from his political action committee, Conservative Leadership for Arkansas.
He campaigned with the same fervor for candidates who were likely to lose as well as those who were likely to win. He also worked for Republicans with whom he had previous disagreements.
In 2004, Mike Huckabee publicly campaigned for state Senator Jim Holt, in spite of their public disagreements at the State Capitol. This is the same Jim Holt being paid by Ron Paul to campaign against Huckabee. It was clear that he was not only a team player but the team captain.
In spite of accusations to the contrary, Mike Huckabee never worked on behalf of a Democrat over a Republican candidate. Huckabee did support conservative Democrats because it is a necessity to govern in Arkansas. He worked with many of them to create winning coalitions in the Legislature, but again, he never campaigned on behalf of a Democrat who had a Republican opponent.
His support of Democrats was limited to Democratic primaries and where conservative Democrats faced no GOP opposition in the general election. It is also important to note that these instances were few and far between.
There is no smoking gun to the accusation that Huckabee helped Democrats. No one will find a contribution, a letter of support, a story about a fundraiser or public appearance on behalf of a Democratic candidate that faced a Republican in the general election.
Come election season, Huckabee did not support Democrats, and Democratic machine did not support Huckabee. Democrats never thought Huckabee was on their team when it came to elections. They worked hard to defeat him and complained about his tireless efforts against them.
One example of this was Huckabee’s hard campaign efforts to defeat the Speaker of the House Bill Stovall in a tough uphill battle for challenger Chee Chee Tamburo. The truth of the matter is that every campaign season Huckabee fought hard for his party and most importantly for his principles.
In 1993, Huckabee took an oath of office to serve the people of Arkansas and he did this without regard to party affiliation. He understood that after the elections were over that the people expected Democrats and Republicans to work together.
They expected results and he intended to deliver those results. He governed on behalf of all Arkansans and made life in Arkansas better for everyone as a result. His record is one that Arkansans are proud of because he governed by his unwavering core principles and a commitment to service.
It is because of his commitment to service that he carried Arkansas from 1993 to 2006, and it is this same commitment that will help him carry Arkansas one more time in 2008.
I won’t apologize for being “rigid” if that means that I’m upset about Huck proposing driver’s licenses and in-state tuition to illegals, pushing through a smoking ban on private property in Arkansas, raising taxes (then lying about it on the campaign trail), and granting clemencies to over 1,000 convicted felons. Huckabee can blame his liberal policies on the democrats in Arkansas all he wants - but those things were HIS ideas and he pushed for them.
100 clemencies per year in a state that funnels criminals through the governors office in lieu of “time off for good behavior.” Big deal. Not an issue.
You may be unforgiving, but Mike Huckabee has developed as a leader, regarding immigration.
And I and those I care for have the right not to inhale poison in my workplace, whatever smoke you blow, RebekahT.
BTW, the Arkansas state tax burden hardly grew at all in Huckabee’s 10.5 years as governor. Their national ranking actually went down, significantly. Roll that one up and puff it. ;->
“You may be unforgiving, but Mike Huckabee has developed as a leader, regarding immigration.”
ROTFLMAO.....that’s a good one. And he accomplished it in less than 3 weeks.
No, over months and months. See the interviews late last year. Keep laughing though. It may keep you alert.
“Huckabee was Jimmy Carter on foreign policy and invidiously played religious identity politics.”
You’ve apparently been brain-Rushed.
“It’s scary, isn’t it?”
Not to me.
“Does your man Huckabee agree with the liberal stances of McCain?”
Definitely not.
“Well then, why has he helped McCain all this time by focusing his venom on Romney?”
Romney is more liberal than McCain. He just lies about it.
“Ok, explain to me how Mike Huckabee can reasonably win it. It takes 1191 delegates to win the nomination.”
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/delegates/index.html
So far only 808 of McCain’s delegates are officially bound to vote for him on the first ballot at the convention. He’d need 383 more to win the nomination. According to a Tuesday night press release from McCain’s campaign, there were 774 delegates available in the remaining contests. That means McCain would still need to win at least 49.5 percent of the remaining delegates to guarantee nomination on the first ballot and prevent an open convention.
The results of an open convention will probably be largely dependent on what happens between now and then.
bump
“He would have to get 83% of the remaining delgates.”
Karl Rove was spinning for McCain. I’m planning to update the real numbers here again soon.
“And just to be specific on my prediction, McCain will win everything at least until the Mississippi election on March 11th, but he will have mathematically clinched the election on March 4th.”
Even if McCain won every district in Washington and Wisconsin on Tuesday, it would still be impossible for him to have 1,191 officially bound delegates by March 4.
“Huckabee - Hunter ‘12”
For RE-election.
:-)
I'm backing Huck, in part because Duncan Hunter says he's OK. I did some of my own research before Hunter endorsed him and thought Huck was better on some of the important issues.
It appears Huck initially resisted the anti-smoking NAZIS and then gave in after several years.
You may not think this is a big issue, but it is on many levels. Calling second hand tobacco smoke poison is simply wrong. You may not like the smell and it may irritate your eyes and nose but there are many studies that show no long term adverse health effects. The anti-smoking zealots are simply lying. The brainwashing started 50 years ago in the US.
The bigger issue is private property rights and how the anti-smoking NAZIS are able to convince local and state governments to trample over those rights. If your employer allows smoking in the workplace and you don't like it, find another job.
On this one, you and Huck are being duped.
“Care to explain why the Arkansas Republican Assembly awarded 80% of their vote to Thompson, while Huck got 5%?”
Actually I don’t.
It doesn't matter what Huckabee did or said. Having to inhale clouds of cigarette smoke every day is harmful. No question. And yes, it is government's role to see to it that people do not abuse each other.
Good one..especially when what you said is true..LOL.
sw
Well. according to RCP McCain has 825 delegates. In addition he has been endorsed by Mitt Romney, who has 291 delegates. I don’t know how many of those are required to go for Romney on the first vote, but presumably most will go for McCain on the second vote. Between the two that’s 1116 of the 1191, leaving him 75 delegates short.
McCain can probably get those 75 delegates from the “super delegates”, i.e. the Republican National Committee members from each state and the state party chairmen that total 3 delegates per state.
In other words he could probably get 1191 without any more primaries or caucuses.
You might want to start off here, it’s a good summary.
http://www.fumento.com/disease/smokingdebate.html
Are you associated with or work for an anti-smoking organization?
[Having to inhale clouds of cigarette smoke every day is harmful. No question. And yes, it is government’s role to see to it that people do not abuse each other.]
Holy cow....I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that statement. By that same logic, your car exhaust is harmfully abusing others. Perhaps the federal gov should protect us all from each other by creating a national ban on the combustion engine?
Buy a copy of the Federalist Papers. It will open a whole new world of intellect to you. Then read the Constitution to learn what the ONLY role of the fed gov is in the lives of citizens. Once you’ve accomplished those two tasks....inform Huckabee because that guy can use all the help he can get in that department.
Just watched a Huckabee commercial for Tuesday’s primary.
It definitely said —”Vote for me I’m a Christian”
Well, “Vote for me I’m a Black”, “Vote for me I’m a Woman”, “Vote for me I’m a Queer”, “Vote for me because I’m Hispanic” — Been hearing that from Democrats since the 80’s.
Never thought I’d hear it from a Republican. Perhaps I still haven’t.
Those who vote on the basis of identity rather than political positions and demonstrated character and judgement are “brain-Rushed”.
No, but I am someone who has a touch of asthma, along with others in my family. Working in a room full of cigarette smoke is harmful. Stinks. There are plenty of important governmental regulations regarding harmful chemicals in the workplace. Just that some are addicted to tobacco is no excuse not to include that among them.
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