Rich Lowry takes a sledgehammer to Mike Huckabee today. Key paragraph:
Like Dean, Huckabee is an under-vetted former governor who is manifestly unprepared to be president of the United States. Like Dean, he is rising toward the top of polls in a crowded field based on his appeal to a particular niche of his party. As with Dean, his vulnerabilities in a general election are so screamingly obvious that it’s hard to believe that primary voters, once they focus seriously on their choice, will nominate him.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:18 am
The HUCK-A-BUST is Coming…..Jan 3rd!!
OHHHHH, YeaHHHHH……..You sick twisted Freaks!!
(A little homage to Glenn Beck)
December 14th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Lowry’s argument that Huck is an under-vetted former governor (with zero foreign policy credentials, he stresses elsewhere in the essay) is the same argument used time and again against every candidate who has not served in a presidential administration.
Voters ignored that argument and chose Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Dubya.
It simply overlooks the fact that the same argument is applied to nearly all the other candidates this cycle, save JMac, JDodd, and HRod (to be overgenerous). The argument has yet to be proven effective.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:25 am
#2: Strike JDodd, insert JBiden.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Months and months ago I saw Obama when he appeared on Letterman. Where he spoke of policy it was the usual Liberal crap.
But there was something about him, calm, cool, charismatic, that he really scared me. I have always doubted, even to some ridicule, that Clinton would be the nominee. But Democrats are foolish enough to nominate a totally unqualified guy who makes them feel good.
If Huckabee is the Republican nominee, Republicans are even worse. They want the feel good guy with God’s imprimatur.
I wouldn’t be shocked any more to see Obama as the next President. Seems surreal, but then so does Huckabee.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Mike Huckabee=Jimmy Carter. He would be a disaster. He would bring the destruction of the conservative coalition. We can only hope that Iowa is smarter than that.
Here is another good article involving Huck.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/
December 14th, 2007 at 11:31 am
#2 MarkG – Huckleberry is so blaringly underqualifeid when it comes to conservative accomplishments its sickening. To prove this obvious statement Here’s the question I’ve posed to all the huckleberrys on this site. Not one of them could give me any and thats pretty sad considering he’s been a polotician for endless years.
Putting Huckleberrys negetive record aside can you point me to a notworthy accomplishment (I stress noteworthy). I’m not looking for a copy and past bulleted list from his site. I’m looking for somehting simple and noncontroversial (nobody can dispute) like turning around the olympics or turning around private companies or turning around NYC. You know something big that he has done that can’t be debated wether it was good or not. (By the way it must be considered a conservative accomplishment.not buliding roads on taxpayers back or starting government kids programs)
December 14th, 2007 at 11:33 am
MarkG
Carter, Clinton, Bush. Foreign policy?
Worked out great in each case!
Please voters may I have another.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:35 am
Romney guys need to focus on bringing their candidate up, not tearing others down. It just makes you look like your chasing Huck, which you are, but you don’t need to look like it.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:36 am
The best president EVER of these United States was Theodore Roosevelt. The only candidate running now that comes anything close to him, is Rudolph Giuliani.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Um, Carter worked out great in foreign policy? Are you being sarcastic?
December 14th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Just about every article in the conservative media world is going after Huckabee today. It’s good to see people coming to their senses.
Here’s a shocker: Boston Globe of all places has published an op-ed today that strongly endorses Romney (written by Governor Weld)
December 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
9 Joe M
Those favoring other candidates will of course disagree.
Especially considering what I feel the country will be facing in the coming years, I believe it will be nothing less then an American tragedy if Giuliani is not President.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
10
You have to ask?
December 14th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Where does Romney Get his foreign Policy Credibility, or Rudy for that matter? I don’t get why
those of you that support your Romney and Rudy can say Huckabee doesn’t have foreign policy experience can say those two do have it. Some one please explain.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:41 am
#8 – why does you think we are “tearing” HUck down when I am simply trying to compare his record with other candidates. THere is nothing negative about comparing records. Don’t fall for the Huck camp rhetoric that comparing records = negativity.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:42 am
The Rudy peeps, Rombots, McCainiacs, Fred isn’t dead crowd and the Ron Paul isn’t nuts crowd need to arrange another Iowa debate.
Have another Iowa debate and strip the bark off of Huck.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I can appreciate the appeal that Huckabee has to a certain segment of our Party. I personally think that he is a much better candidate than Fred Thompson.
That said, does anyone really think that Huckabee can win the general?
More importantly, what effect does Huckabee have on the 22 Republican Senators that are up for re-election in 08?
22 out 34 Senate seats up for re-election are Republicans in vulnerable Blue states. Without a strong presidential candidate that can compete in Blue states, we will lose much more than just the presidency. The Democrats will have a filibuster proof Senate to push their agenda through.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I agree Opinionated, but unfortunately MOST people who vote in the early republican primaries are so narrow-minded and stuck up on moral-social issues that they refuse to see the dynamic qualities of this man. And PHONY candidates like Romney and Huckabee pander to them like pigs.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Sorry, here’s the link to the Globe article: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/12/14/romney_is_the_kind_of_leader_we_need/
Either the Our-main-purpose-in-life-is-to-destroy-romney Boston Globe is making a token effort to be fair and balanced with this article, or they are even more scared of a Huckabee presidency than they are ofd a Romney presidency
December 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am
#8
Jack you need to pick another alias
December 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
James Boulder
The UN is in NYC. Giuliani likely met more foreign leaders then many Presidents.
In foreign affairs events are always changing. How does the man react to pressure? Is he competent? Is he a leader? Does he have balls?
That’s the abstract.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Today Huck will announce his new campaign manager Ed Rawlings.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:51 am
#14 – I think the fact that they read the newspaper (read: Huckabee COMPLETELY in the dark on the NIE) is one. But as far as Romney, he has done business in more than 20 countries (which requires a little know how in terms of HOW those governments operate, etc.) and then he ran the Olympics for 3 years where he was responsible for meeting with foreign dignitaries and representatives trying to ensure that each country was represented and had a chance to compete in the Olympics. Name a POTUS in the last 2 decades who has had MORE foreign policy experience. Dubya? No. Slick Willy?? Double No! Bush the 1st? yeah because of his Veep role.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Cnances that the Boston Globe are starting to be more fair towards Romney:
Nil.
Chances that they think that Romney would be better than Huckabee in comprehending how his foreign policy would influence the U.S. and the World:
High probability.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Joe M
Romney and Huckabee are not “Phony” candidates. They are real candidates. They know exactly what the simple minded electorate want.
As did Carter and Clinton and Bush.
Real and great candidates. Just lousy leaders.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:54 am
That’s it. I’m getting angry. I’m about tired of all these Huck supporters. Huckabee is an idiot. He cannot win and he is not a conservative.
Rudy, Romney, or McCain . . . anybody but Huckabee. A good pastor, maybe, but not Presidential material.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Bush 1 was also head of the CIA, which certainly gives him foreign experience. Unlike a lot of conservatives, I like the first Bush a great deal.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Joseph,
The Boston Globe also has a piece today by former Massachusetts governor Paul Celluci on Rudy Giuliani:
Rudy will shake up Washington
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/12/14/rudy_will_shake_up_washington/
December 14th, 2007 at 11:59 am
#27 – I too liked Bush 1 quite a bit. I think some of what made Reagan great, carried over to Bush 1.
December 14th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Rudy better shake up FL. Rudy’s fire wall is on fire.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Side note: Not to Thread-jack
Did anyone else see snippets yesterday of Nancy Pelosi calling the 2/3rds vote needed to overturn a veto “unconstitutional”?? It was hilarious. She said, ” I think the part of the Constitution that requires a 2/3rds majority is . . . unconstitutional” And she is a LEADER on the left. Stunning.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Rudy is done.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Huckabee has done trade missions when he was Governor with numerous foreign countries, and that type of business actually requires the meeting of the leaders of those countries, not just sports dignitaries as in the Olympics or business people from those countries. The NIE report had been seen by Huckabee yet, not that he didn’t understand it, the president took several years to see it so I am not sure what the fuss is about there. Look at Huckabee’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and the numerous ice storms and tornados that came to Arkansas and see if he can respond in a crisis. I am not saying that Rudy didn’t respond well on 9/11 but there are many in the city who don’t think he did. I don’t think you will find many people critizing Huckabee for response to disastersor crisis. Look at the record from his first day in office when the state had a constitutional crisis on its hands, I think that you will find Huckabee was praised universially for his management there as well.
All I am saying is that if the observers would step back and take a look objectively, Huckabee has just as much Foreign Policy experience as Rudy or Romney.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
David Freddosso over at NRO just said that if this is confirmed by other polls, Rudy near the end of his rope. I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I really what exactly he’s doing here. I’ve wondered that this entire year, and nothing has come along to clarify the situation. Go after Huckabee, and hard. Bring his Iowa win to 10 points or less. Try to eke out second in NH (first is probably out of the question) Take a stab at Michigan. Secure Florida. Secure Florida. Secure Florida. These are the only sane things he can do at this point.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
James Boulder, go to http://www.powerlineblog.com and read the posts about how completely idiotic Huck’s foreign policy statements have been. He will implement the golden rule, lift the embargo on Cuba, engage in direct talks with Iran, etc., etc. I mean this is the kind of stuff openly spoken at the democratic debates. Huck will worse than Carter in this area.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
#28 Its never good when a fellow home-state governor of your party calls you out. That’s like your kids not liking you.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
FL is Rudy’s last stand, but if he waits to hit Huck until after Huck wins IA and SC, it will be too late for Rudy because the momentum will help Huck in FL.
Rudy needs to hit now. Take the Dumond video and strip the bark off of Huck.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
The point I was making in #2 is that the argument about foreign policy experience, or lack thereof, is a commonplace. The only folks who can plausibly claim real FP experience are past and present Presidents, SecStates, and SecDefs. Others’ positive arguments are weaker: serving on a congressional committee is not much in terms of direct negotiation experience; serving as a governor of an exporting state or of a large city also requires selling your location and its products abroad and meeting foreign officials. Also, by way of disclosure, I happen to be on the side of the Rudyites here.
We can argue about which foreign policy approaches of recent presidents were good or bad until we’re blue in the face. Was the idealism of Carter or Dubya useful, or did it unravel? Was the pragmatism of Nixon, GHW Bush, or Clinton helpful? Those questions will be infinitely debatable. One thing that seems to persist in our foreign affairs is a certain consistency in our alignment. That helps stability.
For me it comes down to individual personalities. And I think Rudy captures most of what I’d like as the nation’s face abroad: conciliatory and pragmatic in most cases, tough-as-nails when necessary. He, Romney, and other GOPers would, I think, work to open markets to our products abroad. And I hope that is what we can focus on in the future. To clear the way for such economic relations, our adversaries need to know America will be neither fleeced (like Dubya by Putin wearing an Eastern Orthodox Cross pendant in their first meeting) nor coerced. In the end, I think Huckabee comes off as having a bit too much goodwill towards all comers (since he’s the topic of this post).
December 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
#33 – I believe you are right about Huckabee having foreign policy experience.
Why, I heard that he established a Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He had so much finesse as a foreign policy expert that he was able to arrange a deal where the Mexican Government only had to pay $1.00 a year for their rented facilities.
The really special thing is that the illegals that came to Arkansas received countless “Matricula Consular” ID cards. Those cards help illegal aliens send billions of dollars back home, helping to prop up the corrupt Mexican government. And, their consul even encouraged civic leaders to advocate for illegal immigration.
Even the New York Times has alluded to Mexico overstepping its bounds, and the FBI has called those ID cards a security risk.
What an amazing man Mike Huckabee is!!
I have copied an excerpt from the article below. Read the whole thing!
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58430
By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee
A lingering controversy over the role former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee played in establishing a Mexican consulate office in Little Rock financed by taxpayers and local businesses continues to follow the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign, even as he enjoys a surge in polls.
Critics in Arkansas contend Huckabee worked with some of the state’s most prominent and politically powerful businesses to draw illegal immigrants to the state to accept low-paying jobs.
Huckabee strongly denied the charges in a telephone interview with WND yesterday.
This week, as WND reported, Rasmussen Reports added Huckabee to its daily tracking of top tier GOP presidential candidates following a surge that pushed him past former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with the support of 13 percent of likely voters nationwide. In Iowa, a University of Iowa poll released Monday showed Huckabee surging to a virtual tie for second place in the key primary state with Rudy Giuliani at 13 percent.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
#38 makes good points, but serving in congress is actually excellent foreign policy experience if you serve on the right committees. One reason Nixon and Kennedy were two of the best foreign policy presidents is because of their senate tenure. Its like going to Harvard because you are literally conversing with and being advised by the top foreign policy people in the country. You also have access to data not available to the public.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
[...] been taking a beating from political sites like Race 4 2008 and from hacks and morons like Rich Lowry. But despite a couple weeks of relentless attacks Huck continues to soar. He flies like a [...]
December 14th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Does anyone here really believe that Iran has stopped working on a nuclear ability? I don’t.
When it comes to light that the NIE was wrong, when Iran is further along, when they are threatening US vital interest- who of the candidates would you want to face them down and make the life and death decisions?
December 14th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
41
Why would hacks and morons count when God wants you to win?
Huckabee’s surge is a miracle from God. And it multiplies.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
The “appeal to a particular niche of the party,” which is fueling Huckabee’s rise to Republican front runner position, is clearly his deft championing of the anti-Mormon cause, and the NY media seem to gleefully beat the bandwagon of his rise in the polls (CNN’s spin takes it to new heights), which is perhaps motivated by the sense that a vote for Huckabee is ultimately a vote for the former mayor of NYC.
The fact that religious bias is playing such a central role in politics is lamentable to many, but only the most determined idealist would think it could ever be otherwise.
The cold, hard, truth of the matter now is that Mormonism has become an important issue, if for no other reason than it may determine whether or not Huckabee gets the nomination, or putting it in a more meaningful way, whether Romney does, or does not, get it.
That Romney’s abilities to deal so competently with the nation’s challenges should get lost on the Republicans, because they don’t understand the Mormon Church’s doctrine is just the sort of irony that makes politics fascinating, in an aggravating way.
The appearance today of the NYT article, “Huckabee Is Not Alone in Ignorance on Mormonism,†by Laurie Goodstein, is evidence that this is widely understood, although that Huckabee’s “ignorance†of Mormon doctrine is dissembling on his part, is amply demonstrated by his role as the keynote speaker of the SLC Baptist Convention, convened several years ago for the express purpose of “ministering†to the Mormons, in order to disabuse them of their “false†doctrines.
But the relevant doctrine of the Mormons is that Christ didn’t just pay a visit to the ancient American Hebrews, as Ms. Goodstein explains it, in her article, but that he led them here to America, solemnly declaring to them that this land is a land “choice above all other lands,†and that all those nations who inhabit this land are brought here by his hand, and blessed from on high, but they are under obligation to recognize that fact and acknowledge him, the God of Israel, as the fountain of all righteousness, or, he has decreed, they shall be swept off the land when they become “fully ripe in iniquity,†as the former inhabitants of the land have been swept off of it.
The clear teaching is that the people of this land will become ripe in iniquity, thus suffering the dire consequences promised, unless they serve him, the God of the land, because he is the source of all righteousness.
This is strong doctrine and who is able to bear it? The important thing to understand, though, is that, in this land, no one is required to worship, or not to worship, except according to the dictates of his, or her, own conscience. The only requirement for remaining free and secure in this land is not to ripen in iniquity, or in the practice of moral and ethical abominations.
What America desperately needs then, from the Mormon perspective, is not theological leadership, but moral leadership. If an atheist, agnostic, Christian, or non-conformist believer in a Provident God can provide the requisite leadership, then so be it. Huckabee’s theologically-based view that such a person cannot, by definition, provide that leadership is just simply out of bounds.
The only religious requirement incumbent upon the American people is that we turn from the evil practice of lies, robbery, rape, murder, and criminal mischief.
Our laws punish the perpetrators of these crimes, when possible, but when the government justifies murdering the unborn in wholesale abortion, and grinding upon the face of the poor to get gain, and conspiring in high places to accrue power, and accepting the blatant and defiant practice of fornication, adultery, and homosexuality, in the mass pursuit of popularity and pleasure, we are surely ripening in iniquity, and we can be sure that the sword of his justice hangs over us.
In short, the highest issue of national security is in the hands of those who can most influence this nation for good. It’s in the hands of those leaders who can set the best example of righteous and upright living, before the God of this land, and who are in a position to persuade our people, lawmakers, and judges, to uphold the ideals of America, the ideals that have made this country great, the ideals of liberty, justice, and the American way of faith, hope, and charity.
I believe that the best man to do that is Romney, but not because of his religion, but because of his character, because of his demonstrated power to exercise good judgment, and because of his preparation and training to understand what it is this country needs in terms of economic, social, and foreign policy.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Straight from Powerline blog:
December 14, 2007
He’s not a doctor of theology, he just plays one on tv
In a post-debate interview with CBN News last month, Mike Huckabee claimed that he is uniquely qualified to lead the war on terror because he has a theology degree.
Huckabee said:
“I’m as strong on terror as anybody. In fact I think I’m stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamofascism. These are people that want to kill us. It’s a theocratic war. And I don’t know if anybody fully understands that. I’m the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well.”
The notion that a theology degree constitutes a special qualification for fighting the war on terror is only marginally more coherent than Huckabee’s joke in which he substitutes a night at the Holiday Inn Express for foreign policy experience. Moreover, Huckabee’s comparison of Iran to a wayward family member in need of dialogue and respect tends to undercut his claim that he possesses special insight into the theocratic nature of the war on terror.
But now Huckabee is denying that he has a theology degree. His staff corrected Jim Geraghty, who understandably thought Huckabee had such a degree. The Huckabee campaign stated: “Governor Huckabee doesn’t have a theology degree. He only spent a year in seminary.â€
Geraghty had cited Huckabee’s alleged theology degree to question Huckabee’s suggestion that he was outgunned in terms of knowledge about comparative religion by the New York Times reporter with whom he discussed Mormonism. Now that it no longer seemed in Huckabee’s interest to have the theology degree, the campaign revealed that he lacks one.
In any case, Huckabee’s background as a student of religion — whatever its scope — seems more relevant to his ability to hold his own in a discussion of religion with the New York Times than to his ability to conduct foreign policly.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Huckabee’s surge is due to 2 things:
1.) He tapped into the pastor’s network in recent months.
2.) He paid some guy hundreds of thousands of dollars for his unique and extensive database of conservative email addresses. He had 414,000 such addresses just for Iowa. Not saying this is a bad strategy at all, but it’s far from miraculous.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Of course Huck is in the lead, because he is the most presidential!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/who_seems_the_most_presidential
I guess when you compare him to the failures we’ve had in the white house for the past 16 years, then yeah,
I could see how you might think Huckabee is the most like these guys.
Unfortunately, the problem with freedom is that people get what they deserve, and it scares me to think that the rest of us will be stuck with a Hillary or a Huckabee because the majority of voters are undeserving of something better.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
beth, does Huckabee have a degree? If so, is it from an accredited university? He wants to be the leader of the free world, so I hope he at least has a an accredited 4-year degree.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I am actually starting to agree with Abe, the Huckabust is coming. It might not be a sudden implosion, but he really only attracts one segment of the republican party, and he does not attract 100% of it. When voters really have to check their boxes at the voting booth, they usually look for candidates that best represent the issues important to them.
December 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
OK, Huckmeisters. Please spin #45 for us. I suspect that we’d all like to hear it.
You know, Huckabee is beginning to remind me of the time Charles Barkley was asked about a particularly outrageous comment in his autobiography. His response? “I was misquoted.”
December 14th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Arguably one of the greatest Presidents, Truman, did not graduate college. Non sequitir.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
46
Facts don’t matter. Huckabee implies it’s God’s will. A segment of Republican voters believes it and the polls go up. Huckabee’s claim is reinforced. A larger segment believes it and the poll goes higher. More reinforcement.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I agree with Cliff. Huck’s education credentials don’t bother me. It’s all his other credentials that are supremely worrying.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Speaking of Huck’s Degree – check this out. Only more evidence Huck can’t tell the truth.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2007/12/019282.php
December 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Rudy has to pull out all stops and take Huckabee down. He can take his chances on Romney later, but for now he has to stop Huckabee.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
The Club for Growth is doubling their ad buy on Huck in Iowa and SC. And NBC just gave Huck a thrashing for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts. I almost feel sorry for the guy. He’ll be so beat up, if he does win the nomination, Huck will have to fight to win all the states Goldwater carried.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I agree that a degree isn’t required. However, claiming he had a degree as the basis for some actual or perceived competence should result in exactly the same result as when the same thing happened to George O’Leary when he was hired by the University of Notre Dame. He apologized and withdrew. Schmuckster should do no less.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
It’s a positive that Huckabee is uneducated.
It’s why he wasn’t fooled into buying that evolution nonsense like those other candidates that God does not endorse.
If history has proven anything, it’s that everything always turns out great when God is politically active.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
56 IllinoisGuy
I disagree. In Iowa, Huckabee is still a Giuliani asset.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
You know what, I like this. Rudy’s support is eroding, and Huckabee’s support is increasing, yet Romney stays pretty much the same with a few modest gains here and there. I was scared about Rudy beating Romney, now I’m not so sure that is the case, because, although I consider this still a 2 man race between Rudy and Romney, I now see that Huckabee’s limelight is putting a shadow on Rudy. Rudy has lost that luster. As I watch Huckabee collapse on his face, I will see Rudy trying to make a big push at the end, but the fact remain that most of Rudy’s advantages are all gone now. If it was Mitt vs. Huck, there would be no contest.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I would like to see a poll on this site–Who do you think is the most unacceptable canidate?
I think Huck would win, followed my Paul
December 14th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
#51 (Cliff) and #53 (Matthew E. Miller) –
The problem is not that Huckabee might not have a college degree or theological degree.
The problem with Huckabee is that he lied about it.
It seems he has the same penchant for sociopahtic lying that his predecessor, Clinton, has.
The more I hear about Huckabee and the more I hear what Huckabee says, the more I see
this tendency of his — to lie and mislead in order to promote himself.
I’m sure he believes these things are true when he says them — that’s what sociopathic liars do. They actually believe their own lies – that’s why they can come across as so convincing and sincere.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrXijUzepxI
December 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
#64 – that is a truly creepy video.
“How do you know when Huckabee is lying? When his lips are moving.”
— a commenter regarding this video
I am beginning to believe it.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
#64 – Im very anti Huckabee but thats a little unecessary
December 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
#60, that’s what you would like him to believe!! Is it Christian to lie for political expediency?
December 14th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
#64 is abuse and should be reported as such. Is that possoble here. If it is, I’ll report it!
December 14th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Scooter, even as a Romney guy, I find that offensive.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
#64 I can’t stand Huck for a lot of reasons but that is crap. Get it off here.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
#64, You have issues.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Sorry, #60, I meant #64. Man, I hope you’re not a Romney supporter scooter! I too hope you’ll take it down.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Who is scooter supporting?
December 14th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I don’t know who Scooter is – never saw that name before today, but apparently, there are a lot of Republicans from Arkansas that are extremely angry at Huckabee and feel that he betrayed them. Made conservative promises and then governed as a liberal.
Check out the new Thompson ad over at Jonathan Martin’s Politico blog.
Also, I read today that Ron Paul is paying for several anti-Huck folks to go to Iowa and campaign against Huck.
I think the GOP in general are aghast at the rise of the liberal Huckabee. Any of the candidates look better than Huckabee. Only Huckabee’s cult following believe he is sent from Heaven above.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I found only one past post by scooter:
“@ 13, never no way. You have no idea what you are talking about. Do you live in Utah? There is no way anybody but Romney will take Utah. Not in a million years. People here KNOW him. They know what he is capable of, w/the Olympics etc. No other candidate even compares.”
It sounds like he lives in Utah, and he’s definitely for Romney. Scooter go home dude. If you think you’re helping your candidate you need medication. If you created the video, you’re demented.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Is huck sliding in his iwowa support already. he was up 22 points for a week there, the last few polls are saying 5 and 9 lead. it looks like some of hte attacks are having an effect, on the no ‘idiot’ vote of course.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
scooter go home. that is the stupidest thing i have every seen!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Ed Rollins served as the National Campaign Director to Ronald Reagan in the 1984 presidential election in which Reagan won 49 states.
“I am honored to be joining Governor Huckabee’s remarkable campaign,” added Rollins. “I have always said that I want to work for candidates with convictions who can communicate those convictions. And Governor Huckabee is that candidate. He has the ability to change the political conversation in this country. Among the presidential contenders, he is also the one with the most executive experience. I look forward to working with the Governor over the coming year on the road to the White House.”
Rollins served in the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, including serving two tours of duty at the highest level of the White House as Assistant to the President and White House Political Director. His book, Bare Knuckles and Back Rooms, was the number one selling political book in America in 1996 and made the top of the New York Times and every other national best seller list. He is currently the Chairman of the Rollins Strategy Group, a communications and crisis management firm with offices in New York and Washington, D.C.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
The game is on.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
#78 His last two campaigns bombed out – Reagan was goping to win in a landslide anyway.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Ed Rollins supported Perot for crying out loud – that kind of kills any credibility he might have had.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Great move if you don’t like Huck. I am excited to see this loser join another!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
#81, “In 1992, [Ed Rollins] briefly served as an adviser to Ross Perot’s campaign before resigning in frustration, citing an unwillingness on the part of the Texas billionaire to follow advice.”
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/12/rollins_to_join_huckabees_camp.html
December 14th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
It was all due to Perot.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
He will help him formulate effective 40 second responses to the attacks.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Yes, Rollins did something stupid in 1992. That was almost sixteen years ago folks. Has he done anything stupid since? If not, then this is a good pickup for Huck, when he sorely needs them.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Lighten up you knuckleheads……….geeez…..its just a video (actually, quite original)
December 14th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Michael and Mark – Regardless…the last 2 campaigns he supported bombed out. The last campaign he suppoerted was Perots in 1992. THat was before the internet.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Scooter,
That was in poor taste. Huck is not the devil. Though I will say that is some crazy editing in that video. The skeleton morph was freaky. Please save that stuff for elsewhere. That is the stuff that will make people vote for Huck out of sympathy. That is the last thing we need a disaster for POTUS becuase people pitied him.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
#63 said,
“The problem is not that Huckabee might not have a college degree or theological degree.
The problem with Huckabee is that he lied about it.”
Exactly!
And not just to a reporter, but in a speech on foreign policy, delivered at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC; Huckabee told the audience there about his theology degree,
“Many Iranians are well-disposed toward us. We should remember that on 9/11, while there was dancing in the street in other parts of the Muslim world, there were candlelight vigils and mourning in Tehran. When we first invaded Afghanistan, Iran helped us, especially in our dealings with their allies, the Northern Alliance. They wanted to join us in fighting Al Qaeda, hoping this would lead to better U. S.-Iranian relations. The CIA and the State Department supported this partnership, but some in the White House and Pentagon did not. When President Bush included Iran in his Axis of Evil, everything went downhill fast. As the only presidential candidate with a theology degree, along with years of political experience, I know that theology is black and white, but politics is not. My enemy today on one issue is my friend tomorrow on another.”
So a credential that Huckabee doesn’t hold is used to tell us that it will help him handle Iran.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
#78 – Was THAT the bombshell announcement that someone (maybe you) was ranting about yesterday?? Who CARES who Ed Rollins supports!! The fact that he is willing to endorse someone with a snowballs chance in hell tells you something about his judgement. Yawn.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
He didn’t endorse him, he took over the campaign. And whatever people think of Rollins, he’s a step up for Huckabee. And he is someone the media knows, giving him pretty good access.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
#90 – regarding Huckabee’s questionable theological degree:
My dad was the business administrator at Grace Theological Seminary and College in Winona Lake, IN for nine years.
Many Princeton graduates and other college graduates came to the Seminary to obtain their theological degree.
I have a BA in Bible (similar to Huckabee’s – if, indeed, he ever finished and got a degree).
My BA in Bible would qualify me to get a theological degree.
ANYONE who goes to Bible College for a BA in Bible KNOWS that it is a prerequisite to getting a Theology Degree.
For Huckabee to twist the truth in order to make himself look good or qualified and to
further promote his political career is deceitful and definitely qualifies as un-Christian behavior.
He is turning out to be really smarmy liar with a smooth tongue who is in the process of trying to deceive the masses.
He may have been able to pull it off before We, the People got real freedom of the press through talk radio and the Internet, but I doubt if it will be long before most Conservatives realize that their “gift from Heaven,” Mike Huckabee, is hardly the gift they thought they were getting for Christmas.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
#93 – should be bethtopaz not santa claus. That’s my alias!
from justin’s christmas thread.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Steve (#6) Huckabee started government kids programs? What are they? It’s the first I have heard of that! And it worries me.
December 14th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
James Boulder (#33)
You cannot be far off the target. Iran NIE report is released frequently, at least on annual basis. It summarize the danger that is Iran. Pres. Bush saw this month’s report right away — he was one who decided to release this top-secret document to public. It is not the old report from a few years ago. It is recent.
The problem is further made complex with the fact that Huckabee was the last person, out of all candidates from both sides, to know about it, and he found out about it only because a reporter asked him about it, 3 or 4 days after it has been released to public. His staff does not even know about it. That shows you what kind of people he will have working for him — they won’t know the nuts and bolts of US Government. Are you sure you want him at the head of it?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
“Huckicide” LOL, that was clever.