Posted on 03/12/2014 7:18:27 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Mike Huckabee had asked me to send him my picture. He’d be sans entourage for our meeting at a Starbucks near Fox News’s midtown Manhattan headquarters, and he wanted to be able to pick me out of the crowd. Sure enough, at the appointed hour, he’s waving at me through the glass walls before he even makes it through the entrance. The barista line is long; since Huckabee hasn’t brought anyone to stand in it for him, coffee is forgone.
“We’ll do our work,” Huckabee says with a shrug. Later, after he realizes he has been droning on, he implores, “Stop me at any point and tell me, ‘You’re chasing too many rabbits out in the field here.’” Six years as a right-wing media host have not corroded the folksy charisma and self-deprecating wit that were hallmarks of his political persona. The man can charm.
There are Republican kingmakers prepared to bank on just that. When Huckabee ran for president in 2008, the former Arkansas governor and Southern Baptist preacher beat expectations by winning the Iowa caucuses and finishing second in the overall delegate count. He passed on another run two years ago, when race-watchers thought the nomination was within his reach. But the 2016 election might present his best opening yet. Chris Christie is tarred by Bridgegate (etc., etc.). Scott Walker could wind up similarly tarnished by a slow-motion scandal of his own, involving public workers dispatched on campaign tasks. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are ... Ted Cruz and Rand Paul. Meanwhile, early indicators suggest an appetite for Huckabee and his brand of conservative populism: This winter, at least four polls put him at the head of the primary pack—two of them even before Christie’s reputation tanked.
(Excerpt) Read more at newrepublic.com ...
RE: Mike Huckabee seems to be a very nice guy
So nice that he would commute and accept recommendations for pardon for twice as many prison sentences as his three predecessors combined; in total: 1,033 prisoners.
Twelve of those had previously been convicted of murder.
One wonders how many captured terrorists he would pardon as President...
SeekAndFind: “Many could not forgive him for his clemency controversies when he was governor of Arkansas.”
That wasn’t his only problem, but he’s a decent man. I don’t think he’d make a good president. That wasn’t my point.
My point was all the ridicule here, even some using cornpone (folksy, countrified, down-home) as an insult. Since when is being cornpone a bad thing? Country folks, and I’m not one, can be some of the most moral and conservative types around. Why do some FReepers burn bridges where none need burned? Seriously, let’s say Huckabee IS our next presidential nominee. I bet some FReepers would sit THAT election out, too, letting Shrillary win for example.
I sometimes talk about Presidential Politics on two tracks.
There is who COULD be elected, or WILL be elected vs who SHOULD be elected. Many times that is totally different.
I think Huckabee is the kind of guy who could win if tings were really really bad. Now, many of us THINK its really bad, but the reality presented on TV is not one of a depression or recession.
He has that folksy, calming Preacher thing down, but I don’t think that is where the 2016 battlefield terrain lies. Unless we have another crash like 2008...which is possible....its going to be more of a shake up election on the right. That isn’t Huckabee’s thing IMO. The left will probably nominate the you know who, which is a status quo.
The GOP, unless Jeb Bush comes round, will seem “new”. I would literally pay to see Hillary debate Rand Paul or Ted Cruz. The others? eh.
An endorsement by New Rpublic is equal to one by the CPUSA!
Huckabee tries to tell us what words we can’t say, like rino. How’s that different than the left. I am a Christian first and that is what Huckabee also means to a lot of people, and he may be a good Christian, but he’s a terrible lawmaker. He uses his show to entice Christians. Like some people he says lots of true and good things, then throws or leaves out pertinent info.
The differences between conservatives and the Republican establishment are not merely tactical. The differences are fundamental to the direction of the federal government over the next few years. Huckabee seemed to indicate in his speech that if you think Mitch McConnell deserves being replaced, you are a Nazi.
Think about that. In telling Republicans they should stop using words like RINOs and challenging the Republicans who helped get us to $17 trillion in national debt, Huckabee is upping the ante on the name calling front.
Huckabee was attacked badly yesterday by Democrats who took some of his remarks out of context. I am happy to defend him on those remarks. But I hope he seriously reconsiders these remarks in his disagreements with conservatives. That is really uncalled for. The establishment has no inherent right to re-election and supporting Matt Bevin in Kentucky does not make one a Nazi. It makes one serious about reforming the size and scope of Washington power.
Rick Santorum was pretty left behind the scenes, for instance secretly supporting Specter in 2010.
“As governor, Huckabee commuted and accepted recommendations for pardon for twice as many sentences as his three predecessors combined; in total: 1,033 prisoners.”
So he is guilty of the Christian virtue of believing that people can change and can be redeemed?????? My what a “noble” reason to hate and denigrate a man.(sarcasm)
Do you condemn the Lord Jesus Christ for the same things?
It is my belief, based upon the numerous posts on this forum, that Huckabee bashers are actually haters of real Conservative Evangelical Christians (like a true Southern Baptist like Huckabee).
I don’t think the problem is showing compassion or even believing that people can change.
The problem is sometimes, he overdoes it resulting in the DEATHS of people.
Maurice Clemmons and Eugene Fields are two of the examples.
“The problem is sometimes, he overdoes it resulting in the DEATHS of people.”
Yes, the same way you and your ilk overdue your Huckabee bashing, that could very well result in the DEATH of this country. We NEED a true SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE to be the next POTUS. Someone that will actually try to end abortion and reverse the homosexualization of the country (to name things at the top of the list). Other than Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Michele Bachmann....I haven’t seen any others that are serious about fighting that fight. So, until the GOP can produce someone better, that only leaves Mike Huckabee.
Although I suspect that the Lord Jesus Christ wouldn’t quite meet with your approval either.
RE: Yes, the same way you and your ilk overdue your Huckabee bashing
You are confusing not putting Mike Huckabee at the top of the list with Huckabee bashing.
Between Huckabee and Hillary, there is of course no contest. I’d vote for Huckabee in a heartbeat.
But hey, in the primaries, if there are better choices, why would I choose Huckabee?
Aside from being too soft on criminals, he is all over the place on immigration.
On August 2009, he said he was in favor of granting aid to children of illegal immigrants.
But even earlier in 2007, he was adamant that a Pathway to citizenship must start at back of line, out of US.
And in 2012, he tells us that Obama’s Immigration Policy: ‘It’s An Admirable Thing’
He seems to be going from tough to soft on illegals.
I think I’ll look at some other candidates in the meantime. He isn’t at the top of my list ( and nope, this isn’t bashing. It’s just confronting his policies as he articulates them ).
RE: Although I suspect that the Lord Jesus Christ wouldn’t quite meet with your approval either.
Hmmm... I find this to be very strange indeed... making doubts about Huckabee’s ability as president equivalent to doubting Jesus Christ Himself.
Coulter: “Huckabee is the Republican Jimmy Carter”
Ann Coulter is a political slut that backed Romney. She doesn’t have ANY credibility.
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