Archive for Mike Huckabee

On Visionary Leadership

Posted by: Jason | July 30th, 2008 · 2:13 AM

(image: harrisonburg)

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Institute Address, February 27, 1860.

After Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of 1863, dark days loomed over the fractured union. We tend to forget that conflict had lasted a while longer, as a warm spirit began to lift the nation ever so slowly towards peace. Spawned undoubtedly by those powerful words uttered by Lincoln at Gettysburg, we had passed an inevitable destiny in our life as a nation, only to become reborn.

In so many ways, beyond the men who gave their lives, the munitions spent, or the tactful positioning of troops, the right of God in the affairs of man should receive the glory for our nation’s healing after the Civil War. Further, that God uses man in His plan for the human race. Perhaps this nation, and a people with a long heritage of belief in divine intervention, believe that Abraham Lincoln was one child of God, instrumental in His plan for us.

The very words of the Gettysburg Address, words which many argue to have calmed the nation, and allowed us the opportunity for a broad and lasting unity, themselves the work of God’s vision through man. For the cause of the United States of America, as Thomas Paine once said, indeed is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.

Too often than not today, we as Americans live in a state of fear over loosing our self-interests, an inability to sacrifice for the greater good. That statement isn’t a call on my part for a national moratorium on our individually held principles, but a correct recognition of a reality I see that’s dividing this country. For too long, we’ve embraced the notion that those running for office must clone our specific structure of thinking on all parts, for anything short of entire allegiance is not only unacceptable, but somehow a mythical threat to the future of our parties, God forbid they cease to exist.

In the fog of this ridiculous way of considering our choices for public office, we tend to forget what has always made America great. What kind of men made this nation what it was. It wasn’t the meek or the conservative, and it wasn’t the calculated choice. It was picking a mediocre general who would later become father to our young nation. It was an orator, a mere lawyer from Illinois and former two-year congressman, who emancipated not only an entire race of enslaved men, but a nation held captive by those who feared compromise and a sacrifice of their own self-interests.

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Was Reagan a Socialist?

Posted by: Jason | July 22nd, 2008 · 3:10 PM

During the campaign it looked almost as if we could put our fiscal house in order without resorting to new taxes. We did not know just how bad the situation was then. Now we have had access to, and a chance to read, the fine print. As a result, we have, as you know, submitted a revenue bill of nearly one billion dollars in increased taxes.

Address of Governor Ronald Reagan to California Republican Assembly
Layfayette Hotel, Long Beach
April 1, 1967

I still remember the joy I felt on a cold November morning in 1984 after Ronald Reagan won his re-election bid the night before. An image of the Gipper and Nancy waving to a crowd of admiring supporters glanced the front page of the morning paper which I had carried onto the school bus. Unable to describe my excitement, as politics doesn’t usually enter the mind of the average 5th grader, I felt an innocent sense of happiness for our president over his victory. Reagan always was memorable, even for kids.

The Reagan legend lives strong today. We see it in answers given by the Republican candidates in last night’s South Carolina debate. Rudy Giuliani often invokes Reagan’s optimism, Thompson the coalition of Reagan, and Huckabee reminds us of his ability to reach out to blue-collar workers in building an unstoppable Republican majority. But in many ways, Ronald Reagan has become a myth to us, a symbol of what Republicans want to be, a man devoid of any real scrutiny of his actual record.

In defending his record after a scathing attack by Senator Fred Thompson yesterday evening, Governor Mike Huckabee mentioned something that is worth noting. He said, “if Governor Reagan were standing on this stage with us right now, he’d be called a liberal”. I was taken back by the comment at first, considering Ed Rollins, Reagan’s former campaign manager, now heads up the national aspirations of Governor Huckabee. But then it hit me… Considering the unreasonable standard of “absolutely purity” we’ve set for our Republican candidates this year, Ronald Reagan would indeed have been called a liberal by the likes of Fred Thompson and others.

Allowing ourselves to get down to brass tax, there is admittedly a large segment of the establishment Republican base which is uncomfortable with Governor Huckabee as a presidential candidate. In large part, it stems from an unfair bias of evangelical Christians within the party, seen by the blue-blood establishment types as unworthy of leadership positions. They believe these people are rogue, unpredictable, and a threatening force who constantly pledge to leave the Reagan coalition at a moment ’s notice (never mind that economic conservatives have threatened the same thing if Huckabee wins the nomination).

In fairness to those seeking the chalice of conservative purity, there are legitimate concerns the Huckabee critics have on the issues. Albeit, I believe out of ignorance to his actual record, but we should examine them in order to set the record straight. Ask anyone who fears a Huckabee administration, they’ll site two major problems with the candidate; taxes and immigration. “He’s a tax and spender”, a Christian Democrat, a liberal. Baring my desire to defend against such nonsense, I’ll choose the route of facts to make my point.

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Farewell My Friend…

Posted by: Jason | January 20th, 2008 · 1:02 AM

(image: time.com)

Unlike the Hugh Hewitt’s of the world who would spin a 2nd place finish like it’s going out of style, you’ll get no such treatment from me. In almost prophetic fashion today, as the sleet and rain poured down on the religiously conservative region of northern South Carolina (the so-called evangelical stronghold), Mike Huckabee’s chance at the nomination slipped away in the form of a narrow three-point loss to Senator John McCain. We congratulate the Arizona senator for his victory tonight.

Agree with his policies or not, Governor Huckabee’s attempt at the nomination should be commended. He spoke from the heart about the types of people we all too often forget to expand into our base, in hopes of reestablishing that old Reagan tradition which included blue collar and working folks of moderate means. Without a fraction of personal fortune or funding, and at the expense of establishment attacks, Governor Huckabee came within a margin of error of defeating a party name, the next Republican monarch if you will. Well done Governor.

But 2nd place will not be enough for this Arkansas governor, as we prepare for the inevitable battle between the winner of the first in the south primary, John McCain, and some new rising challenger in either Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani for the eventual nomination. Fight on he may, winning his portion of social conservatives and evangelical Christians, but any hopes of expansion within the base through sheer momentum is now left behind in South Carolina.

In perhaps the height of honor, I commend Governor Huckabee for speaking to many of us who see the American culture fading before our very eyes. Where as terrorism and economics are certainly of great concern, and the bedrock of our Republican Party, so too is the concern that only through a people of moral decency does our nation survive. Where strong families provide the first foundation of who we are as a people.

Mike Huckabee understood this. It’s why many of us fled from other candidates to support him. His inspiration and sheer ability to communicate to the people will not be forgotten, for it was a hell of a run at building something different. But we go on, without him now perhaps, still fighting for other things we believe in. Whomever the nominee should eventually be in our Republican Party, we will support him with pride.

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Rudy Tanks

Posted by: Jason | January 9th, 2008 · 4:13 PM

(image: observer)

New Rasmussen numbers out today have Rudy Giuliani dead last in the Republican field nationally. Also, John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck and neck in the polls behind Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee: 22%
McCain: 19%
Romney: 19%
Thompson: 12%
Giuliani: 9%

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It’s McCain!

Posted by: Jason | · 10:36 AM

(image: washingtonpost)

Further along in my “anybody but Romney” quest for the Republican nomination, McCain thankfully wins the New Hampshire primary:

McCain: 37%
Romney: 32%
Huckabee: 11%
Giuliani: 9%
Paul: 8%
Thompson: 1%

A few thoughts…

Not quite the 9-point lashing Huckabee put on Romney in Iowa, but McCain’s victory was decisive enough hopefully for the pundits to begin questioning how Romney can win. How can a guy spend $8 million in both Iowa and New Hampshire and win neither? Yet again, proof positive that Mitt Romney is a weak candidate.

Mike Huckabee carries third place, slightly impressive considering his former 5th-6th place standing before the Iowa victory. He beats a northeastern Rudy Giuliani who actually campaigned 40 times in New Hampshire. Huckabee leaves the granite state in great condition, able to compete in Michigan, and up in every major South Carolina poll.

Fred Thompson is officially finished. I don’t care if he didn’t campaign here. You can’t take 1% of anything and expect to be taken seriously anymore. He’ll stake his claim in South Carolina, and I’d wager won’t go over the 12% mark, only to drop out afterwards.

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Carolina’s a waitin’

Posted by: Jason | January 7th, 2008 · 11:38 PM

(image: destination360)

George W. won Iowa in 2000. He went on to loose New Hampshire and Michigan shortly after to John McCain. But the old moderate soldier just couldn’t outlast his southern rival once South Carolina had a say in the matter. Sound familiar?

New Rasmussen numbers out of South Carolina:

Huckabee: 28%
McCain: 21%
Romney: 15%
Thompson: 11%
Giuliani: 10%

Two significants points to consider with these numbers: First, if Romney wins NH and goes on to fight another day, he’ll need to make up a 13-point lead against Governor Huckabee in a state that caters to gun-touting Baptists more than Mormons from Massachusetts. Likewise, if McCain wins NH and sets up 2000 Part Duex, he’ll need to do what he failed to do before (at a much younger age), beat a southern conservative in a southern conservative state.

Second to consider is Fred Thompson. Most Huckabee fans had to worry about Fred catching fire in South Carolina, if anything, as the potential spoiler with pro-lifers and gun owners. These numbers may change as Fred spends more time there, but it seems his South Carolina organization has completely tanked for the moment, and I’m not sure we should predict a further increase after NH (most polls show him at 3-5% support). Plus, Ed Rollins will surely frame the South Carolina debate as conservatives needing to rally with Huck to stop Romney or McCain.

*Most recent polls have Huckabee up 8-10 points.

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SC SurveyUSA Poll: Huck+17

Posted by: Jason | · 11:12 PM

SurveyUSA poll just out of South Carolina:

Huckabee: 36%
Romney: 19%
McCain: 17%
Thompson: 11%
Giuliani: 9%

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Back On Track

Posted by: Jason | · 11:11 PM

(image: flickr)

Despite establishment attempts to damage his Iowa chances, new Gallup numbers have Huck up nationally again.

Huckabee: 25%
Giuliani: 20%
McCain: 19%
Thompson: 12%
Romney: 9%

Rasmussen also has him up nationally:

Huckabee: 20%
McCain: 19%
Giuliani: 17%
Romney: 15%
Thompson: 11%

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2 Republican debates this weekend

Posted by: Jason | January 5th, 2008 · 9:55 AM

(image: nationalgeographic)

Saturday-January, 5

7pm
Saint Anselm College-Manchester, NH
ABC and Facebook jointly host
Invites: John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul (Duncan Hunter excluded)

Sunday-January, 6

TBA
New Hampshire Republican Party-Milford, NH
Fox News Channel
Invites: John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson (Ron Paul/Duncan Hunter excluded).

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Underestimated: What the skeptics don’t get about Mike Huckabee