GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
Brer Rabbit…
Brer Fox…
Coca Cola…
Kentucky Fried Chicken…
Sun-tzu…
…names I never thought to hear in an outlined proposal for America’s foreign policy. Well, I was wrong. Welcome to Operation Uncle Remus, err… the Huckabee plan to win the War on Terror. Here’s a sample of some of the key points Governor Huckabee outlines in his essay published in Foreign Affairs, entitled America’s Priorities in the War on Terror: Islamists, Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan:
Although we cannot export democracy as if it were Coca-Cola or KFC, we can nurture moderate forces in places where al Qaeda is seeking to replace modern evil with medieval evil.
I want to treat Saudi Arabia the way we treat Sweden…
Sun-tzu’s ancient wisdom is relevant today: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
When one stops talking to a parent or a friend, differences cannot be resolved and relationships cannot move forward.
When we let bin Laden escape at Tora Bora, a region along the Afghan-Pakistani border, in December 2001, we played Brer Fox to his Brer Rabbit. We threw him into the perfect briar patch…
Before we put boots on the ground elsewhere, we had better have wingtips there first.
While Ross Douthat argues that Huckabee is not prepared to win the campaign, I disagree. I think Huckabee is prepared to win the campaign, but not prepared to be the Commander in Chief. If Huckabee were to win the White House, the Republican Party would not be the only thing in serious trouble, but the country would as well. Huckabee criticizes the Bush Administration for what he refers to as their “bunker mentality,” but his lack of understanding the threats to the national security of the United States could cause even more setbacks. Huckabee believes that:
Sun-tzu’s ancient wisdom is relevant today: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Yet we have not had diplomatic relations with Iran in almost 30 years; the U.S. government usually communicates with the Iranian government through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. 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. The reestablishment of diplomatic ties will not occur automatically or without the Iranians’ making concessions that serve to create a less hostile relationship.
This closely follows the line of thought he outlined in a speech he made at the end of September:
“We haven’t had diplomatic relations with Iran in almost 30 years, my whole adult life and a lot of good it’s done. Putting this in human terms, all of us know that when we stop talking to a parent or a sibling or a friend, it’s impossible to accomplish anything, impossible to resolve differences and move the relationship forward. The same is true for countries.”
As the National Review editors were smart enough to figure out, this idea sounds like a foreign policy agenda based upon the Golden Rule. It’s just not realistic, and the fact that he’s in contention for the presidency makes it dangerous. Does Huckabee seriously believe that Iran will be content in their current position? Does Huckabee believe that the United States can negotiate with Ahmadinejad? Isn’t the Iranian government the same one that swears to “wipe Israel off the map” and to continue to argue the Holocaust-as-myth propaganda? Is the United States’ relationship with Iran really akin to that of a relationship of siblings, friends, or parental guidance? Huckabee’s solutions lie in communication and leading by example, where in his world, if we behave like gentlemen, then the rest of the world will love us:
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.
Huckabee’s foreign policy ideas seem to have been lifted straight from an imaginary Joe Biden cabinet. He was apparently serious when he said that he believed his “theology degree” uniquely qualifies him to understand the enemies mindset. It reads like the script from Field of Dreams- “If you build it, they will come.” Huckabee thinks that if we are a kinder, gentler nation, then they will love us:
A more successful U.S. foreign policy needs to better explain Islamic jihadism to the American people. Given how Americans have thrived on diversity - religious, ethnic, racial - it takes an enormous leap of imagination to understand what Islamic terrorists are about, that they really do want to kill every last one of us and destroy civilization as we know it. If they are willing to kill their own children by letting them detonate suicide bombs, then they will also be willing to kill our children for their misguided cause. The Bush administration has never adequately explained the theology and ideology behind Islamic terrorism or convinced us of its ruthless fanaticism.
This is an extremely naïve viewpoint. Do many Americans not understand that jihadists want to harm us? Does Huckabee really believe that he can convince those on the far left who haven’t already figured this out?
While Huckabee criticizes Bush’s communication, he seems to buy into the idea that the world is run by “good guys and bad guys,” which is exactly the Bush mindset. The world is a much more complicated place than that.
I want to treat Saudi Arabia the way we treat Sweden, and that will require the United States to be energy independent.
Becoming more energy independent will help ensure a relationship with Saudi Arabia like the United States’ relationship with Sweden?
This would be funny were it not so dangerous.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Huckabee has got to expand the horizon of his thinking beyond the rigid constraints of the Bible.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Huckabee scares me to death as he should everyone else. I would vote Hillary over Huckabee. That’s scary!
December 15th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Tommy,
You’re entirely missing the point. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, what were they doing at the very same time? They were in talks with the United States. Even if you cannot negotiate with somebody, that should not stop the talks. Perhaps a resolution will come, even if not anticipated. At the very least any attack with be unexpected. The problem we face today with Iran is that they are waiting for an attack. They have their finger on the button to counter attack and strike Israel. If we had taken a different route we could be at the table with them and if it came down to us having to strike, we could do so without them expecting it.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Mike Huckabee makes decisions about policy based on how clever he thinks he can make his headline, not on rationality and analysis. He panders to public opinion and he triangulates. Today, he bashes Bush to score a few PR points. He bashes conservatives in order to appeal to moderates, the way that Clinton bashes leftists to appeal to moderates.
He does this on every issue except abortion and guns.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
QuakHack,
You’re argument defeats itself because you already noted that there are issues that he does not do that one. If he doesn’t do it on all of the issues why do it on some? Huckabee does not take new positions to score PR points and appeal to certain groups, he says what he believes and you can accept it or reject it.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
A little OT but interesting. Seems the clergy is backing Obama even more than Romney or Huckabee.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13919.html
December 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
In the Charlie Rose interview, Bill Clinton refers to the war on terror as the “war on peace.” That needs to be a headline on Drudge.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Does Huck have a black book of analogies that he is required to use in every briefing? It’s almost as if he tries to force these trite statements into his speech as if to suggest that we can’t digest the complexities of a meaningful, scholarly dissertation. Or worse, maybe he doesn’t understand.
Making an official proposal and speaking at a town hall are different venues. I hope he can tell the difference. That’s what is appealing about Fred, he can tell the difference and speaks accordingly.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Another day, another hit piece on Mike Huckabee. I’d really think the honorable thing to do would be not to mention Huckabee until he’s given a front page poster at the site.
Let me see:
5 Rudy posters (Kavon, DaveG, Aron, Gary, Greg)
4 Mitt posters (Jason, Justin, Matthew Miller, Matt C.)
2 McCain posters (LJ, Michael Lawrence)
1 Thompson posters (Tommy)
0 Huckabee posters
You’d think given all the hit pieces on Huckabee he deserved at least one poster. If he wasn’t a competitive candidate he wouldn’t be trashed on the frontpage multiple times a day.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Econ grad,
I’d lay off if this wasn’t newsworthy. Unlike the hitpieces, this is directly related to policy issues taht are required of the next potus. If you want to defend it, then go ahead, but this is dead serious. Read his full piece, and tell me if you come away with different analysis than I do.
BTW, Gamecock is also a Thompson supporter
December 15th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Econ,
Interesting. You’re definitely right about that. Here is something you might appreciate:
http://www.forum.hucksarmy.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4252
December 15th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Right on, #8. I don’t think he understands the issues. I don’t think he’s all that bright. The job is way over his head.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Tommy it makes no sense for Huckabee supporters to be constantly on defense when Huckabee keeps rolling out positive news each day.
These contrived attacks are rather absurd. I’m considering whether they even rise to the dignity of a rebuttal. Especially when you use terms like “Uncle Remus” and “nuthouse”.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
We are not going to get anywhere by reaching out to Islamic extremists. I’ll agree that we need to focus more on reaching out to - and helping - moderate islam, but Huckabee seems to, once again, be following the liberal line of thought: “they hate us because we mistreat them, the U.S. is always the problem”
December 15th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
“medieval evil.”
…a phrase I wouldn’t start using too often.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Act,
Huckabee has already noted the contrary. He recognizes that their mentality is theocratic. They want to rule according to Islamic law and he recognizes that the extremists cannot be negotiated with.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Tommy is generally a fair guy, but I agree with EGS. And Tommy, being from the south yourself, you should be more sensitive to how southerners are portrayed. Folksy does not mean stupid - indeed it often means crafty.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Rudy would kill more of American’s enemies than any of the other candidates in two terms.
Huck would condemn it as loudly as Kucinich.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
“Rudy would kill more of American’s enemies than any of the other candidates in two terms.”
Thats is an absurd statement.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Actually, I meant:
Rudy would kill more of America’s enemies IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS than any of the other candidates in two terms.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
And that is not an absurd statement if you have studied his life.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Mike is signalling who his VP would be: Dr. Phil. Then in a general election, he’ll say to Obama: “I’ll see your Oprah, and raise you Dr. Phil.”
December 15th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Romney would be a good VP for Huck, IMO. Huckabee has already stated that he wants to appoint Duncan Hunter to a position, I forget which. Hunter, interestingly enough, says that if he does not get the nomination he likes Huckabee. Figure that one out Huckahaters.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Metro given Rudy’s close association with IRA terrorists and his business ties to North Korea, I wonder how can make such an idiotic statement.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
People,
The Uncle Remus remark is a direct reference to Huckabee refering to Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in the article, himself. Hint… Uncle Remus Tales- The Story of Brer Rabbit. The nuthouse is the site I linked- rightwingnuthouse. Read the whole piece.
Huckabee’s own words. EGS.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Tommy, I’m still not seeing why I should respond. If the site is going to be a purely anti-Huckabee one, I’m not going to give the attacks you’ve cut and paste from other sites credibility.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
tommy can’t help it that every who really knows Huckabee hates him. People here are pretty educated.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
#27 It looks like a winning percentage in Iowa don’t hate Huckabee.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
egs,
No, the only thing I cut and pasted was the rightwingnuthouse quote about how it was an embarrassment. I agree with that. The rest is all mine. I didn’t spend hours going over the article to be accused of cutting and pasting.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I agree with EGS in that we need Huckabee posters. And given Kavon’s past efforts to secure a balanced number of posters, I’d be surprised if the lack of Huckabee representation goes on for long.
In fact, given that Huckabee is now the national frontrunner, I would honestly like to see at least 2 or 3 pro-Huckabee posters. Someone had a list of suggestions yesterday, starting with MWS and EGS, but including a few folks from other sites as well.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
This guy is so dangerous. He could get us all killed!!
December 15th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
#29. Since when do we have to have a certain amount of supporters for a candidate. Sounds like the libs to me.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
#28. Sounds like a large number of them don’t know who is really is.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Tommy, you admitted you cut and paste the attacks at the end of the post. There weren’t attacks denigrating or insulting Huckabee up until the cut and paste at the end.
So I’d never accusing you of not fully reading Huckabee’s article although with an axe to grind.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Sorry #32 was referring to # 30.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I have asked Kavon repeatedly if I could be the official Huckabee poster, and so far he has declined my requests.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
#23 having a VP that is smarter than you is usually not a good idea. Just look at the current administration. Romney would never accept this. He has been in charge all of his life (call it ego or something else it just wouldn’t work out).
I don’t think there are any of the top candidates that would be a good fit. However, there are some top tier candidates would fit in other combinations, i.e. if Rudy, Mitt or McCain were the nominee.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I am so tired of trying to point out the obvious regarding Huckabee. Those that don’t see him for what he is, you deserve him if he is lucky enough to win POTUS. I for one am going to focus on why Romney should win, and let the Huckabots have their Koolaid party.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Romney on Huckabee: “I’m afraid he’s running for the wrong party”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/romney-on-hucka.html
December 15th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
#23 - Hunter also said he thought Romney’s answer was “quite good” during the last debate. Does that mean I should jump to the conclusion and imply that Hunter is an unspoken endorsement for Romney? That would be irresponsible now, wouldn’t it?!
December 15th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
How in the heck do you propose we find an intelligent Huck supporter?
December 15th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Jason #36: ROFL!
December 15th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Good on Romney to jump on Huck right away. Huck will just respond to the criticism by saying something stupid again.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I hope Romney did not claim to represent the republican wing again. He should be tired from getting bitch-slapped by McCain.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
It sounds like Mike’s speech didn’t go over as well as Mitt’s.
But then Mitt wasn’t calling for evangelical jihad.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Andrew,
One of the things that sets this site apart from many other forums is the fact that most top tier candidates have multiple contributors. It’s not a liberal concept to want there to be SOMEONE to advocate for their candidate, on a site whose purpose is to appeal to supporters of all the candidates.
I don’t support Huckabee, yet I can step back and see the disconnect objectively. Can you?
December 15th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
#36 - Jason -
December 15th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
What do you cal the US after 4 years of Mike as POTUS?
ARKANSAS, a poor, run down backwater. That’s a long way from being a super power, isn’t it?
After 8 years, we could be a poor third world country being run by religious zealots.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
#37,
I have seen nothing to indicate Romney is smarter than Huckabee. Huckabee has shown himself to be a very bright guy. You can’t listen to him talk and think that he is anything but very intelligent.
#40, the context of Hunter’s statement was not who was good in a debate, it was who he would choose to be nominated if it was not him.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
huck’s religion and the wya it seeps into his policy views if devastating. you just can’t get revelation from God on who to pardon and on what way you should go with foreign policy. He is not interestd in politics, he is interested in people applying his principles and ‘making it back to heaven’ whatever you think that entails.
idiots like huckabee don’t understand the difference. they want to murge the two together. the samet hign bush did with putin, “i looked into his eyes and saw his good soul” i mean seriously. do we need this again? i hate the gop right now. i hate bush and rove for making it hte evangelcial party.
December 15th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
btw, are the rudybots going to start attacking huck with more flare now that he has completly dismantled you lead in the national and florida polls and pretty much everywher else?
December 15th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
egs,
You’re right. I’ll remove the rightwingnuthouse remarks from Moran, but I do think they are spot on when they say it is an embarrassment.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
econ grad. you are being a baby. come on. it has been like a week of scrutiny for you. were you around when fred starting surging? or when the rudy romney fight started up. that is the way it goes. when one rises all fight to bring him back down.
stop whining and just make your arguments to push back. we don’t ‘hate’ huckabee. there is a reason that only 1 IN 7 NON EVANGELICALS SUPPORT HUCKABEE IN IA AND ONLY 1 IN 20 NONEVANGELICALS support him in new hampshire!!!! BEcause he is a pro-life liberal! why can’t you see that?!
not only that he is like mr jokster that has no foreign policy experience and is doing well because he makes funny jokes and speaks smoothly. seriously, if there awas ever a need for scrutinty it would be now. this guy is a disaster. he sounds like a democrat that does not support abortion.
can you imagine him running next year. both will be saying the war in iraq was a mistake, bush is arrogant!!!! ??? what differences are there. ppeople will pick the pro business foreign poliyc hawk, whether she relaly ist hose tings or not, over huckabee any time of the day. what would be even worse was if he won!!! you think bush was bad, this guy is 10 times worse.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
John, I like this notion that a blog for all Republicans ought to have at least one pro-Huckabee poster. I guess you’d like it if all 4 Romney supporters were canned and all we saw were anti-Romney posts?
December 15th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
egs –
“Another day, another hit piece on Mike Huckabee. I’d really think the honorable thing to do would be not to mention Huckabee until he’s given a front page poster at the site.
Let me see:
5 Rudy posters (Kavon, DaveG, Aron, Gary, Greg)
4 Mitt posters (Jason, Justin, Matthew Miller, Matt C.)
2 McCain posters (LJ, Michael Lawrence)
1 Thompson posters (Tommy)
0 Huckabee posters”
“John, I like this notion that a blog for all Republicans ought to have at least one pro-Huckabee poster. I guess you’d like it if all 4 Romney supporters were canned and all we saw were anti-Romney posts?”
This is all very silly. Kavon does not write pro-Rudy puff pieces; he’ll just drop by with a video or a big piece of news once in a while. Aron just posts essential reads and polls. DaveG usually writes serious pieces of analysis, not pro-Rudy puff pieces. Greg and Gary are the only legitimate pro-Rudy posters on the front page.
All of Romney’s posters, on the other hand — though Matthew E. Miller has yet to be seen — are constantly updating with “Romney is the greatest!!!!111one!!!” updates.
Huckabee does need a front-page supporter, though.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
#54 - “I guess you’d like it if all 4 Romney supporters were canned and all we saw were anti-Romney posts?”
Where have you BEEN for the past year. Anti-Romney posts are ALL that has been on this site. Maybe that’s why we Romney supporters are so loud in our objection to Huckabee. It’s his turn now.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Some voters hear body language of candidates clearly
In Kingston, N.H., retired engineer Bob Morse said he has watched Republican debates with a similar goal: finding subtle signals of character and intent. He thinks Rudy Giuliani seems to want the job of president, that Fred Thompson seems to want it handed to him, that Mitt Romney wants it so badly that it’s becoming a bit of a problem.
“I feel a little disconnected,” Morse said of Romney’s debate performances. “I feel like I’m getting a political, well-thought-out, politically correct answer or statement, rather than what’s on his mind.”
December 15th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
#57 Sounds about right
December 15th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Rule #1: Take anything published in the Boston Globe about a Republican with a grain of salt. If it is about Mitt Romney, take three grains of salt.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Huckabee scares the hell out of me. What’s happened to this party where someone’s religion and stances on social issues are more important than their stance on the WOT?
The nationalist/populist/xenophobic wing of the GOP scares me. But not nearly as much as the religious right. The sad fact is those 2 are largely one in the same - emotionally driven, reactive voters. And their prominence in the party damages the GOP to the point where the pro-economic liberty and WOT hawks like myself are left looking to a 3rd party candidate should a Huckabee or Romney emerge as the nominee.
December 15th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
TLG,
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
December 15th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
The reason why there are so many hit pieces on Huck on this site is because if he is our nominee, we ALL feel like our party goes down the drain. It’s warranted, there’s no need for taking a step back and looking at any kind of unfairness. If Michael D. Huckabee becomes the Republican nominee for President of the United States, the conservative movement started by Barry Goldwater will be dead.
December 15th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Ryan,
Agreed. And I’d be awfully pleased if the leaders of the Republican party did what the moderates did to Goldwater in 64′; walk-out of the convention, refuse to endorse him, and let the election end in a 45 state rout. In fact, it’s stunning to me that we’ve become so absurdly obsessed with power, that no one serious in the party is standing up, holding a sign saying “enoughs a enough. I will not support this guy”. What a spineless party.
December 16th, 2007 at 3:19 am
EconGrad and Murphy are right.
Before Huckabee’s surge, I could count on Race42008 to bring a fairly balanced view of the Republican race. Since the surge, all you guys are putting out is Huckabee attack pieces… it’s frustrating to say the least.
Someone else said it right: if all the Romney supporters were gone and suddenly the top story every day was an attack piece on Romney, all you guys would be so hacked. It’s sickening to see you guys trying to shred Huckabee just because he’s up… clearly he resonates with lots of people, even if it’s not the 12 or so of you Race42008 writers.
December 16th, 2007 at 3:25 am
By the way, when Huckabee states what he thinks about what Bush has done, foreign-policy-wise, he’s not just trying to earn points… he’s stating what most of American already believes… that we’re in a bind, foreign-policy-wise, and continuing on this track that Bush has us on would be devastating. I don’t hear the other guys coming out with anything near unique in their foreign policy ideas.
Giuliani? Nothing new.
Romney? Handle the US like a corporation? Yeah, that’s all fine and good if the Congress acted like managers in the chain of command… but getting things past Congress is a totally different ball of wax than being the owner of a corporation.
These guys just don’t get it. What we’re doing isn’t working, and it makes the rest of the world HATE America, rather than wanting to be like America. Clearly, we need a change, and Huckabee is thoughtful and creative enough to try to come up with some new solutions, some new ideas, and breathe new life into our foreign policy.
News flash: Bush didn’t win 2004 because he had great foreign policy. He won because Kerry was so unpalatable to the American people. We need to come up with something new in foreign policy before we tank, as a nation and as a people. Huckabee is trying to do just that. You may not like his solutions, but you’ve got to admire a man who at least tries to take on problems, rather than acting like they don’t exist.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:54 am
The Huck campaign has responded to Romney who attacked him on this:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=439
December 16th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
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