tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69161976938177987412024-03-08T16:00:07.870-05:00I Vote HuckabeePolitical Blogging from a Young ConservativeAlex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-53325594630779756502010-10-21T14:30:00.001-04:002010-10-21T14:33:47.534-04:00Seattle Weekly: We Blamed Wrong AR GovernorIn a shocking admission, <a href="http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/10/the_maurice_clemmons_case_we_b.php">the <i>Seattle Weekly</i> concludes</a> that Washington and national press have blamed the <i>wrong</i> Arkansas governor for the murder of four police officers in 2009. This is in response to <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013170132_otherside20.html">the final installment</a> in a series from the <i>Seattle Times</i>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>After Maurice Clemmons shot and killed four Lakewood police officers last November, the world went looking for someone to blame other than the gunman. It found Mike Huckabee, who made for a convenient target. But it turns out that the world, in all its infinite wisdom, had scapegoated the wrong Arkansas governor.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the Seattle Times latest entry in the remarkable series on what led up to the shootings, we now know that if any elected official in Arkansas deserves some blame for Clemmons massacre it's not Mike Huckabee, whose only crime was to reduce the sentence of a teenager forced to serve 100 years for non-violent crimes, it's current Governor Mike Beebe.<br />
<br />
Last summer, Clemmons was in jail for a number of felony charges, including child rape. His home state of Arkansas had issued a no-bail fugitive warrant, meaning he couldn't get out no matter how much money he offered.<br />
<br />
As reported by Jonathan Martin and Ken Armstrong, Clemmons turned to someone he referred to his old lawyer Stephen Morley. To Clemmons, Morley was a "heavyweight" with the connections he'd need to get sprung. He was also a total sleaze.<br />
<br />
<i>A onetime traffic judge in North Little Rock, Morley had resigned from the bench in 1997 in the face of 26 disciplinary charges. Adultery accounted for two of the allegations: He was accused of cheating on one wife, getting a divorce, marrying the mistress, then cheating on her.<br />
<br />
Morley was also accused of punching both wives in the stomach while they were pregnant.</i><br />
<br />
Somehow, despite the pregnant-lady punching, Morley still had his hands in a number of important pockets. Including Gov. Beebe's liaison to the Arkansas parole system, who he referred to as his "real, real, real good connection" in the statehouse mansion.<br />
<br />
Two weeks later, the no-bail warrant was dropped. And shortly thereafter, Clemmons posted bond.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/10/the_maurice_clemmons_case_we_b.php">Read the whole thing...</a></blockquote><br />
The question is: Will the national media pick up <i>this</i> development in the story?Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-9435802452866814122010-10-18T21:39:00.000-04:002010-10-18T21:39:08.290-04:00Huckabee Sets the Record StraightIn response to a recent slew of articles and commentaries on the tragic shooting of four police officers in Washington — several of which unfairly blamed him for his commutation of Maurice Clemmons — Huckabee sets the record straight in an email to POLITICO:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The senseless and savage slaying of 4 police officers in Lakewood, Washington has raised many questions as to why the alleged murderer was even on the streets. My name has figured prominently in many of the stories because I commuted his 108 year sentence to a term of 47 years back in 2000. I take full responsibility for my decision then. Unfortunately, many of my fellow conservatives don’t seem to want to take responsibility for reporting the facts surrounding the case.<br />
<br />
The Maurice Clemmons presented in a commutation request in the year 2000 was much different than the one who was being sought for the killings of the police officers.<br />
<br />
The case before me was of a 16 year old who received a disproportionate sentence of 108 years for burglary and robbery charges. He had served 11 years in Arkansas prison by that time, which is more time actually served than most similar cases would have netted in sentencing alone. Under Arkansas law, governors don’t parole anyone. The Post Prison Transfer Board does. That board can recommend clemency, and in this case recommended by a 5-0 vote that his sentence be reduced. This was one of 1000-1200 cases I reviewed each of the 10 ½ years as Governor. 92% of the time, any request for clemency was denied. Most of the ones granted were for clearing a person’s record for a minor offense from 20 years previous, so they could move on with their life, get a job, and become a productive member of society. The trial judge in the case supported the commutation. During the legally required 30 day public comment period before action on the case was complete, there were no objections registered by my office by any authorities, despite claims of the local prosecutor that he “was afraid something like this would happen.” <br />
<br />
Interestingly, if he was so afraid, then he has failed to explain why in 2004 when Clemmons was back in prison for a parole violation, his office failed to pursue charges and in fact DROPPED them, allowing Clemmons to go free, move to Washington, and for reasons beyond me, continue to avoid extradition back to Arkansas or be kept by Washington authorities as he displayed signs of psychotic behavior. I am responsible for the commutation in 2000. I would not have commuted his sentence in 2004 after the re-arrest or in any of the years following. I can explain my decision in 2000. I cannot explain the decision of the very vocal prosecutor in Little Rock who seems to avoid answering the questions as to why he didn’t keep Clemmons in prison in 2004 or get him brought back to Arkansas for his repeated parole violations, or why the no-bail warrant was waived while he was in Washington.<br />
<br />
There are some glaring facts that some conservative talkers seem to ignore:<br />
<br />
1. He was never PARDONED. Amazingly, that word has been used to describe my actions 9 years ago. He was never even considered for a pardon.<br />
<br />
2. The commutation didn’t release him. It made him PAROLE ELIGIBLE. He had to meet the conditions of parole for the parole board, who in fact paroled him. He had been in prison for 11 years at the time of his release.<br />
<br />
3. Despite news reports, there are no records that the prosecutor, law enforcement, the Attorney General, or victims objected to the commutation. The only responses my office had record of during the public comment period were support letters from the trial judge, and members of the community.<br />
<br />
4. He was back in prison by 2001 and would have remained there until 2015 due to his parole violations had the prosecutor chosen to properly file the paperwork or enforced the warrants for him when he was arrested in Washington after being released in 2004.<br />
<br />
5. The Clemmons of 2000 did not exhibit traits of psychosis and the kind of behavior that he would later express during several arrests in Washington state during the past year.<br />
<br />
6. Religion had nothing to do with the commutation. It’s been erroneously expressed that my own personal faith or the claims of faith of the inmate factored into my decision. That is simply not true and nothing in the record even suggests it. The reasons were straightforward—a unanimous recommendation from the board, support from a trial judge and no objections from officials in a case that involved a 16 year old sentenced to a term that was exponentially longer than similar cases and certainly longer than had he been white, upper middle class, and represented by effective counsel who would have clearly objected to the sentencing. (His race, economic status, or education level are not excuses for his behavior because many people of color who are uneducated and living in abject poverty are civil, trustworthy, and honest to a fault and many well-educated, wealthy, white people are scumbags—think Bernie Madoff). But sadly, Arkansas has had numerous instances of disproportionate sentencing in which a probation and fine would be meted out to white upper class kids whose parents were able to obtain the services of excellent defense attorneys, while young black males committing the same crimes and represented by public defenders would end up with inexplicably long prison terms. Blacks comprise 15% of the state’s population, but 50% of the inmate population, some of which is due to the fact that their sentences are often longer and they are less likely to be paroled.<br />
<br />
The two professions I value most in our society are soldiers and police officers, with fireman and schoolteachers right behind. Soldiers and police officers are the line between us and anarchy. The death of the four officers in Lakewood should never have happened. I regret that I ever saw the name of Maurice Clemmons and that I commuted his sentence and made him eligible for parole. That is my responsibility and it was based on the evidence before me in 2000. If presented the same facts today, I would have acted in the same manner. But once he violated that parole and his second chance in 2004, he should not have received the treatment he appeared to have received from the Arkansas prosecutor or the officials in Washington, who failed to send him back to prison and who let him go free on bail even after repeated violent outbursts and a rape charge from this past year. I take responsibility for my actions, but not for the actions of others, nor the misinformed words of commentators.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Huckabees_clemency.html?showall">Read the original article here...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-24512863891176596272010-10-13T11:21:00.001-04:002010-10-13T12:53:08.133-04:00NYT: Obama Aides Predict Huckabee as Nominee [UPDATED]In a fascinating New York Times Magazine article entitled, "The Education of President Obama," presidential aides look to 2012 and handicap the race for the GOP nomination — with none other than Governor Huckabee coming out on top:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Obama’s aides say they will most likely set up their re-election campaign around next March, roughly the same as when Bush and Clinton incorporated their incumbent campaign operations. They are more optimistic about 2012 than they are about 2010, believing the Tea Party will re-elect Barack Obama by pulling the Republican nominee to the right. They doubt Sarah Palin will run and figure Mitt Romney cannot get the Republican nomination because he enacted his own health care program in Massachusetts. If they had to guess today, some in the White House say that Obama will find himself running against <b>Mike Huckabee</b>, the former Arkansas governor.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/magazine/17obama-t.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewanted=all">Read the whole thing...</a><br />
<br />
<b>Update #1:</b> A simple mention in an 8,000 word piece on the President, this nugget is being pulled out by numerous political news media:<br />
<br />
<b>Politico:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>“The Education of a President,” Peter Baker’s cover story in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine, offers a few glimpses of what President Barack Obama and his top aides are thinking nearly two years after his historic election as the nation’s first black president.<br />
<br />
Here are 10 takeaways:<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> Some of those around the president believe he’ll face former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2012, “if they had to guess today.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43532.html">Read the whole thing...</a></blockquote><br />
<b>NPR:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>President Obama really expected he would be able to change Washington, it wasn't just campaign rhetoric.<br />
<br />
And some in his White House expect the 2012 Republican presidential nominee will be Mike Huckabee.<br />
<br />
Those are two of the most salient elements from Peter Baker's New York Times Magazine piece on Obama before the midterms.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/10/13/130535838/obama-fought-washington-and-it-won">Read the whole thing...</a></blockquote><br />
<b>GOP12.com:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Mike Allen pulls a fascinating nugget from Peter Baker's upcoming, Sunday N.Y. Times Magazine feature, "Education of President."<br />
<br />
Is this a case of public posturing or private concern?<br />
<br />
If it's the latter, the irony is that top Democratic bigwigs give Huck a better shot than Republicans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gop12.com/2010/10/report-obama-expects-to-run-against.html">Read the whole thing...</a></blockquote>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-26936764567290442022010-10-08T08:32:00.001-04:002010-10-08T08:35:08.418-04:00Huckabee Keeping Iowa Options OpenAfter nearly a week of very little (significant) Huckabee news, POLITICO's Morning Score email alert serves up this exclusive on HuckPAC's activity in Iowa:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>2012 EXCLUSIVE – HUCK’S MARKER:</b> Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee put a total of $8,000 into Iowa last quarter, including $1,000 each to state Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, attorney general candidate Brenna Findley and state Sen.-turned-congressional candidate Brad Zaun. Huckabee also gave $500 donations to eight state legislative candidates and to incumbent Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham. The $8,000 figure is less than a fifth of what Mitt Romney put into Iowa last week, but it’s money that shows Huckabee is at least leaving his options open in the state that made him a national figure in 2008.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/morningscore/1010/morningscore186.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-4232102704013961682010-09-28T20:46:00.001-04:002010-09-28T20:49:48.393-04:00Huckabee Leads 2012 Field in WSJ/NBC PollFollowing right on the heels of the POLITICO/George Washington University poll comes another poll of national favorables — this one from the Wall Street Journal and NBC:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b><u>Favorables/Unfavorables</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (26/25, +1)</b><br />
2. Mitt Romney (21/30, -9)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (24/35, -11)<br />
4. Sarah Palin (30/48, -18)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rightosphere.com/blog.php?user=Aron&blogentry_id=9927">Read the full results...</a></blockquote><br />
<b>Analysis:</b> As some will point out, the better known a candidate is, the higher their unfavorables. But Huckabee beats Romney by 10 points, despite identical name identification — and he nearly matches Palin's total favorables (the highest in the lot), despite her far greater name recognition. This has been a good week for Huckabee.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-88264899790752850002010-09-28T13:49:00.001-04:002010-09-28T20:49:26.422-04:00PPP: Huckabee Leads in WV, Trails in CA and MIPublic Policy Polling releases their latest 2012 state polls — for California, Michigan, and West Virginia. They will have Illinois and North Carolina numbers later this week:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><u><b>California:</b></u><br />
<br />
1. Mitt Romney (24 percent)<br />
2. Newt Gingrich (21 percent)<br />
3. Sarah Palin (18 percent)<br />
<b>4. Mike Huckabee (17 percent)</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>Michigan:</b></u><br />
<br />
1. Mitt Romney (30 percent)<br />
2. Sarah Palin (17 percent)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (16 percent)<br />
<b>4. Mike Huckabee (14 percent)</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>West Virginia:</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (27 percent)</b><br />
2. Sarah Palin (24 percent)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (16 percent)<br />
4. Mitt Romney (13 percent)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_CAWVMI_924.pdf">Full results here...</a></blockquote><br />
<b>Analysis:</b> While Huckabee supporters would wish it otherwise, it is not surprising that Huckabee trails Romney, Gingrich, and Palin in the first two. Neither were strong states for him in 2008. But Huckabee leads the field in West Virginia in almost every category, including men and women, every age group, and among moderates and conservatives. The only group he fails to win is self-described "liberals," proving his controversial victory in the 2008 primary was no fluke. With <a href="http://ivotehuckabee.blogspot.com/2010/09/politico-huckabee-polls-best-for-2012.html">high national favorables</a>, a bigger platform, out-of-the-gate grassroots and fundraising, <i>and <a href="http://ivotehuckabee.blogspot.com/2010/09/halperin-huckabee-with-substantial-iowa.html">enduring support</a> in the states where he won last time</i> — Huckabee should only improve on his 2008 showing.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-35211956526029161492010-09-27T11:29:00.001-04:002010-09-27T12:59:16.944-04:00Halperin: Huckabee with Substantial Iowa SupportThe <i>Globe Gazette</i> (based in Mason City) has <a href="http://www.globegazette.com/news/local/article_69a7fb28-c92f-11df-9387-001cc4c03286.html">a great article</a> on Mark Halperin and John Heileman in Iowa, working on their 2012 sequel to the 2008, behind-the-scenes book <i>Game Change</i> — with the following analysis of the 2012 caucus:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>THE RACE FOR 2012: It’s a wide open Republican field in 2012 with more than a dozen possible GOP presidential candidates, and Heilemann said the race is shaping upto be the most competitive he’s ever seen.<br />
<br />
Halperin said he sees seven main contenders in 2012, three of whom are Fox News contributors. Halperin believes former Georgia congressman Newt Gingrigh, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels are the most likely to make deep runs for the nomination.<br />
<br />
Halperin isn’t picking a Republican who might fare best in Iowa in 2012, but said Huckabee, won the 2008 GOP Iowa caucus, still has a lot of supporters in the state.<br />
<br />
“His Fox role has helped that too. He’s the reigning champ, but I think it’s too soon to say the potential that some of the others would have,” Halperin said.<br />
<br />
Heilemann named Huckabee, Palin and Gingrich as Republicans who would play well in Iowa in 2012, with Palin appealing to Christian conservatives and Huckabee having substantial continuing support. He said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty would likely have a hard time nosing his way into the top tier of candidates, unless he found a key issue to make inroads.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.globegazette.com/news/local/article_69a7fb28-c92f-11df-9387-001cc4c03286.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-50477217336118416092010-09-27T11:17:00.001-04:002010-09-27T12:59:37.367-04:00411 Politics: Most Likely GOP Nominee in 2012411mania.com — a user-driven, pop-culture site — puts together a collection of rankings for the GOP nomination for president in 2012. The rankings are far from scientific, but Huckabee shows up in a number of the submitted lists, along with good-to-great analysis:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>2. Mike Huckabee</b> - Has the ego and charisma to connect with voters. Has executive experience. The fact that he's been out of office for a few years, allows him to brand himself as an "outsider". Will appeal to social conservatives. Good in debates. Moderates may be scared off by his extreme social conservatism.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee</b> - I put him first because he has run one campaign and is the host of his own show on Fox News. This gives him a ready platform to espouse his ideas and to increase his name recognition. His positions are basic republican positions and he has nothing in his past to contradict this.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
<b>3. Mike Huckabee</b> - This is your stereotypical GOP golden boy (I don't mean that in a negative sense, mind you). Strong religious/moral background as a former pastor of the Baptist Church, Reagan fiscal acolyte, wealth of experience as a two term governor in a liberal leaning state, strong 2nd amendment advocate, capital punishment supporter, strong anti-abortion stance, national notoriety, good deal of personality (performs in his own rock band... seriously),and an overall likable/approachable guy. In addition to all of that, according to a recent Public Policy Polling presidential survey that was posted a week or so ago, care to take a guess who the only Republican was that beat out president Obama in a hypothetical head to head 2012 match up? It was Mike Huckabee, beating out Obama 47 to 44. So why don't I have him higher on the list? There are two things the Huckster lacks that #1 and #2 on this list have going for them-Voter Anger, and Balance. I will explain as you read on. <br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
<b>2. Mike Huckabee</b> - Mike Huckabee is the candidate that even liberals can't hate. He appears to be a real person as opposed to the fake Romney. He ruined Romney's early strategy by winning Iowa with no money and very little name recognition. This time around he'll be able to raise money and everyone knows Mike with his Fox News show and great appearances on the Colbert Report. His preacher background will make him stand out in a crowded field of Republicans.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee</b> - In August Mike Huckabee won the Iowa Straw Poll beating out Romney, Gingrich and Palin. He's widely considered to be the favorite among the Republican Party apparatchiks and he's kept a pretty positive public profile with his Fox News gig. Provided that Sarah Palin doesn't eclipse him in the eyes of the Republican establishment, it is likely that he will end up being the nominee for president. Though primaries are known for candidates running far to the left or right depending on which party we are talking about, for some reason the nominee ends up being the safe bet rather than the really exciting or polarizing figure (see John Kerry's nomination over Howard Dean). Huckabee has made major inroads with national Republican Party and seems to have moderated his image such to the point that he's being referred to as the "American Mullah" anymore. I think that many will see him as a likely candidate to beat Obama even though he's not the ideal conservative candidate in many people's eyes. Many people agree with the idea that you should vote for the most (in this case) conservative candidate that can win the election. Out of all 17 people running, the only one that really fits that definition at this time is Huckabee.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.411mania.com/politics/columns/154897/The-411-Politics-Top-5-9.27.10:-Likely-Candidates-to-Win-the-GOP-Primary-Nomination-for-the-2012-Presidential-Election.htm">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-77493245977881998902010-09-27T11:06:00.001-04:002010-09-27T13:00:32.416-04:00POLITICO: Huckabee Polls Best for 2012The latest <a href="http://www.politico.com/static/PPM156_bg_41_questionnaire.html">Politico/George Washington University Battleground</a> poll is out, and it's good news for Governor Huckabee — who beats out all the other potential GOP candidates:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><u><b>Favorable (Strongly and Somewhat)</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (49 percent)</b><br />
2. Mitt Romney (45 percent)<br />
3. Sarah Palin (44 percent)<br />
4. Newt Gingrich (39 percent)<br />
<br />
<u><b>Strongly Favorable</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (23 percent)</b><br />
2. Sarah Palin (22 percent)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (17 percent)<br />
4. Mitt Romney (16 percent)<br />
<br />
<u><b>Unfavorable (Strongly and Somewhat)</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (25 percent)</b><br />
2. Mitt Romney (28 percent)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (39 percent)<br />
4. Sarah Palin (49 percent)<br />
<br />
<u><b>Strongly Unfavorable</b></u><br />
<br />
<b>1. Mike Huckabee (14 percent)</b><br />
2. Mitt Romney (15 percent)<br />
3. Newt Gingrich (29 percent)<br />
4. Sarah Palin (39 percent)</blockquote><br />
<b>Analysis:</b> While poll watchers rightly point out that both Huckabee and Romney do well (Gingrich and Palin, not so much), Huckabee is the clear winner. Particularly, his strong favorables are over 25 percent higher than Romney's, who comes in 4th — another indication that Romney's support is shallow compared to the rest of the field.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-16586744529649862752010-09-24T12:55:00.000-04:002010-09-24T12:55:11.086-04:00Huckabee on the "Pledge to America"Governor Huckabee has posted <a href="http://www.huckpac.com/?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=3231">some great thoughts</a> on the House Republican's recently released "Pledge to America" — which you can read in full <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/38020848/GOP-Pledge-to-America-Final">here</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I read with great interest "A Pledge to America" introduced today by Republican Congressional leaders. <br />
<br />
The 21 page document contains many good core conservative ideals - but as my parents taught me as a small child - the proof is always in the puddin'. <br />
<br />
Republican Congressional leaders have pledged "to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national economic prosperity;" and "to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values." <br />
<br />
These are all very good things and like many, I will be watching to see what concrete steps Republicans offer to actually stop out of control spending, reduce the size of the federal government, repeal Obamacare, reduce our growing deficit and solve unemployment. These principles are fundamental to conservatism and there's no doubt in my mind that a Conservative Congress can accomplish these things - or at the very least, serve as a backstop to prevent President Obama's radical liberal agenda. <br />
<br />
However, personally, I wish they would've also pushed for term limits and a balanced budget amendment because - many groups like the Tea Party are sick and tired of career politicians and budgets that saddle our children will trillions in debt.<br />
<br />
I am glad though that Republican Congressional leaders are willing to put forth a pledge that clearly outlines the difference between conservatives and liberals because elections matter. After all, we've seen what we get with a liberal Congress: universal healthcare, higher taxes, weak foreign policy, refusal to acknowledge the use of the term "terrorist" or "terrorism," weaker borders and amnesty talk, extreme government spending and a certain level of disregard for the sanctity of marriage and life. <br />
<br />
"A Pledge To America" shows the clear differences in the two parties and motivates voters to support conservatives this election . . . and that's a good thing. Also, when you provide voters with a checklist of what conservatives stand for and should do in office - voters can more easily hold members of Congress accountable - and if our GOP Congressional leadership fails to honor their "Pledge to America" we will vote them out too.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.huckpac.com/?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=3231">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-23151782263703665592010-09-21T23:49:00.003-04:002010-09-22T09:44:38.922-04:00Huckabee and Unions = Strength for 2012Philip Dine, a Washington-based journalist, author, and expert on labor issues (see his website, <a href="http://www.philipdine.com/">here</a>), has <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/21/dine-gop-should-look-for-the-union-label/">an editorial</a> in the <i>Washington Times</i> that argues that the Republican nominee in 2012 should look to draw more support from unions. He explains:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Now, it's true that unions inevitably support a Democrat for president. But members' votes are more complex. More than a quarter of rank-and-filers are Republicans; in some unions, the number tops 40 percent. Then there are the Reagan Democrats/NASCAR dads/blue-collar conservatives who helped elect Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. And the continuing high unemployment rate and other concerns might put even some other Democratic members' votes in play.<br />
<br />
In recent national elections, one-quarter of all voters have come from union households. Among this group, three-quarters have chosen the union-endorsed candidate. This means that the Republican starts at a distinct disadvantage, having to win 58 percent of the rest of the vote just to pull even, while the union-endorsed candidate needs only 42 percent of the remainder to secure half of the electorate.<br />
<br />
So the more a Republican presidential candidate cuts into the union vote, the easier his overall task is.</blockquote><br />
Dine then turns his attention to which Republican candidates are most positively perceived by "union folk." Topping the list? Governor Mike Huckabee:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Mike Huckabee:</b> Much good will here. Though the media explained his strong showing in the 2008 primaries by his religious appeal, this was just one factor. Mr. Huckabee is a rare Republican who speaks the language of the working people, not of corporate America (which is why he's distrusted by Wall Street and the GOP establishment), while welcoming union support (including last time from teachers and machinists). With him, working-class social conservatives don't have to sacrifice their economic interests.</blockquote><br />
This is high praise, especially when you read Dine's evaluations of the other GOP contenders. Palin and Pawlenty round out the top three, but both are a mixed bag:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Sarah Palin:</b> Ridiculed by many union folks, revered by others; not much different from among the population as a whole. It's less her views than questions about her qualifications that turn off some, but others admire her independence and moxie. Being married to a card-carrying union member doesn't hurt her standing, but being vague about job creation does.<br />
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<b>Tim Pawlenty:</b> Seen by some as a fiscal conservative who relates to average people. A former labor lawyer (for management), he's not particularly friendly to labor. He displays concern about what he calls "Sam's Club" people and their struggles, while warning the GOP not to be the party of the "country club." But he did himself no favor by recently opposing federal aid to states to prevent teacher layoffs.</blockquote><br />
And bringing up the rear, Romney, Daniels, Gingrich, and DeMint:<br />
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<blockquote><b>Mitt Romney:</b> Widely viewed as a champion of the wealthy and business executives. Although he is grudgingly respected for his knowledge of economics, his opinions are strongly opposed.<br />
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<b>Mitch Daniels:</b> Aggressively took on Indiana's public employees; no love lost here.<br />
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<b>Newt Gingrich:</b> Fuggedaboutit.<br />
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<b>Jim DeMint:</b> Seen as a bomb thrower; talks frequently of the need to confront "union bosses." He might gain an audience if he occasionally mentioned the problems wrought by "corporate bosses." Actually not, after he put a hold on a qualified presidential nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration after the attempted Christmas airplane bombing. His aim: to prevent TSA workers from forming a union.</blockquote><br />
Granted, many Republicans support positions union members would oppose — but when it comes to defeating Obama in 2012, Dine's analysis provides a glimpse at a hidden demographic for the GOP, one missed by pundits and pollsters: the blue-collar worker.<br />
<br />
As <a href="http://ivotehuckabee.blogspot.com/2010/09/huckabee-and-his-base-2008-and-2012.html">I have noted elsewhere</a> on this blog — and Dine confirms — this is a demographic with which Huckabee has earned a lot of credibility and goodwill, and long before it was the popular thing to do. If he runs, which I hope he does, it could serve him well.<br />
<br />
Read Dine's full editorial <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/21/dine-gop-should-look-for-the-union-label/">here</a>.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-88173991840962589292010-09-21T08:56:00.001-04:002010-09-22T09:50:00.270-04:00Chuck Norris Fundraises for HuckPACChuck Norris, martial arts legend and Huckabee endorser in 2008, is back in the saddle raising funds for his friend Mike. From POLITICO's <a href="http://www.politico.com/morningscore/0910/morningscore173.html">Morning Score</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>2012 WATCH - LIKE OLD TIMES:</b> Martial arts star Chuck Norris, the most influential and popular endorser of Mike Huckabee's 2008 campaign, is making another pitch for the former Arkansas governor in a fundraising e-mail today for Huckabee's PAC. "I've been watching with interest as conservatives in state after state go to the polls to express their frustration with the status quo in Washington. You and I are witnessing a powerful moment in our nation's history," Norris writes. "We must get more involved today and help Mike Huckabee and Huck PAC fight for strong conservatives. If we don't, then we will have lost a great opportunity to elect candidates who will work to turn this country around." Norris even raises the thought of Huckabee in the White House: "Had we elected Mike in 2008, things would have been very different today - they'd be better."</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/morningscore/0910/morningscore173.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-55105417609853309002010-09-20T12:56:00.003-04:002010-09-22T09:53:49.699-04:00Huckabee on Pre-Existing ConditionsAfter receiving criticism over <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/09/huckabee-values-voters/1">his (misunderstood) comments</a> about the Obamacare and pre-existing conditions, Huckabee has released <a href="http://www.huckpac.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=3222">a statement</a> through HuckPAC. <br />
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I can relate with those who criticized (if not with their colorful choice of words). As a young husband navigating the health insurance world for the first time this past year, the elimination of pre-existing conditions was the <i>one</i> thing I kind of liked about the new health plan. Huckabee's comments struck me as odd — and perhaps politically unwise — even though I saw his logic. Regardless, I was glad to see him comment.<br />
<br />
His statement is both clarifying and typical Huckabee — genuine, common sense, and refreshing. It reminded me again of why I so appreciate his approach to politics:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Contrary to published reports I believe that there is a way to cover people with pre-existing conditions. I have said that from a practical standpoint, it doesn't make sense to demand that every private health insurer be required to cover all people with pre-existing conditions. Forcing companies to take on uninsurable patients is no different than what we did in forcing banks to give mortgages to people who they knew couldn't pay them back, and look where that got us. However, what does make sense is to separate the uninsured from the uninsurable. There are people who are uninsurable through no fault of their own. <br />
<br />
In fact, I am very familiar with the challenges of getting insurance in the face of pre-existing conditions since my own wife had cancer when we were 20 years old and just married - she was uninsurable for the next 10 years. <br />
<br />
I truly believe those people should be covered and can be covered by individual states creating pools that provide coverage for people in high-risk categories. <br />
<br />
What I said at the Value Voters Summit was that in today's economy we must take a realistic look at demanding that private companies provide coverage that will put them out of business. I have said for many years that the key to providing affordable health care for individuals is working to get people into healthier lifestyles. For example, obesity among our children is a growing epidemic. Thirty and forty years ago children were not fat because they played outside, rode bicycles, and didn't eat much junk food or sit in front of the computer playing video games. For the first time in our history, children will have shorter life spans than their parents and grandparents - and that's sad. <br />
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Right now, our system is a treat-the-snake-bite system. The system doesn't cover a $40 pro-active health screening, but the system does cover a $400,000 quadruple bi-pass. It's upside down and nonsensical. Instead of covering the health screening that might have caught the heart problem, our system is designed to help you only after you're sick. <br />
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I oppose Obamacare because the Democrats have tried to make the American health care system the enemy. It isn't - poor health of the American people is the real enemy. What's truly necessary is a cultural transformation in the way we eat, exercise and use our leisure time. Given the state of the American economy and the growing size of our deficit, realistically we have to know that we can't possibly sustain the type of system that became law in March. </blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.huckpac.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=3222">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-6006111401192838882010-09-19T21:14:00.003-04:002010-09-22T09:54:41.728-04:00Politico: Huckabee, Palin Bid for Conservative BaseAndy Barr and Jessica Taylor of POLITICO have written <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42371.html">a long article</a> on Huckabee and Palin's competing bids for the conservative base of the Republican party:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Throughout the primary election season, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee have made different — and often rival — bets on candidates in a wide variety of races. It’s a happenstance that has some Republicans wondering if there is more to the rivalry than meets the eye, since the two former governors share a similar ideological space within the party.<br />
<br />
Both camps downplay the idea that there is a low-intensity conflict taking place and deny that any animosity exists. Publicly, the two rarely talk about each other.<br />
<br />
Still, it’s hard not to notice how frequently the two outside-the-establishment presidential prospects have lined up against each other this year.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
Bob Vander Plaats, who was endorsed by Huckabee in the Iowa governor’s race, told POLITICO that he was shocked when Palin endorsed former Gov. Terry Branstad, the eventual winner.<br />
<br />
“Our campaign, myself included, was more than a bit surprised that Sarah would endorse Branstad,” said Vander Plaats, a favorite among Iowa’s grass-roots conservatives. “If she prided herself in going rogue and endorsing the conservative candidate or tea party candidate, we just didn’t see Branstad fitting that mold at all.”<br />
<br />
“Was she doing that because Huckabee endorsed me? Did she do that because a poll showed Branstad winning in Iowa?” asked the still-puzzled former gubernatorial candidate. “She seems to be all over the board. I think Huckabee has shown a lot of consistency in his endorsements.”<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
“There are several occasions where Gov. Huckabee and Gov. Palin endorse different candidates and many where they endorse the same candidate — that’s just politics,” [HuckPAC director, Hogan] Gidley said. “Whether front-runner, underdog or somewhere in between, it makes no difference. HuckPAC supports conservative Republicans who are passionate advocates for human life, tax reform, a strong national defense, real border security, the family, less government and individual liberty.”<br />
<br />
Huckabee isn’t completely unaware of his overlapping constituency with Palin. When Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) selected Palin as his running mate, the former Arkansas governor publicly made a point of noting their similar profiles.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
Asked about Huckabee’s past comments regarding Palin, Gidley said that “the media often take Gov. Huckabee’s comments out of context, and there is no conflict with Gov. Palin.”<br />
<br />
“In fact, Gov. Huckabee has said repeatedly — even in interviews documented by POLITICO — he personally likes Gov. Palin and what her popularity brings to the Republican Party,” Gidley added. “Any perceived animosity or feud is a fabrication of the media.”</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42371.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-36923178838897938612010-09-19T21:03:00.001-04:002010-09-22T09:55:03.774-04:00After Huckabee Prod, Obama Goes to ChurchJust two days after <a href="http://www.gop12.com/2010/09/huck-how-obama-can-quiet-muslim-rumors.html">Huckabee suggested</a> that President Obama could quiet rumors about his faith by attending church — the First Family worships publicly for just the third time in almost two years. Ben Smith has <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0910/Obama_goes_to_church.html?showall">the story</a> and draws the connection here:<br />
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<blockquote>President Barack Obama, beset by substantial public doubts about his religion and right-wing suspicions that he is Muslim, took a few steps on Sunday to dispel those image problems: He and his family crossed Lafayette Park to St. John’s Episcopal Church, just the third time he has worshipped in public since he became president last year.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
At the Values Voter Summit on Saturday, Mike Huckabee was quoted as saying that Obama could quell rumors about his faith by “leading the example of attending worship” and mentioned that Obama once talked of finding a home church in Washington. <br />
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“I hope he’s still mapping that out,” Huckabee said.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0910/Obama_goes_to_church.html?showall">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-55134232140987789482010-09-18T14:55:00.006-04:002010-09-22T09:55:51.116-04:00Huckabee 2nd in Values Voter Straw PollVia a "special update" text from FRC Action. More to come...<br />
<br />
<blockquote>VVS 2010 Presidential Straw Poll RUNNER-UP is Gov. Mike Huckabee - Who will win? Stay tuned...</blockquote><br />
<b>Update 1:</b> If the winner is Romney, Palin, or Gingrich (or even Santorum), this could be cause for concern. If the winner is Pence or DeMint or someone else, not so much.<br />
<br />
<b>Update 2:</b> Mike Pence places first with 24 percent, followed by Huckabee (22 percent), Romney (13 percent), Gingrich (10 percent), and Palin (7 percent). Apart from a win, this is a best case scenario for Governor Huckabee.<br />
<br />
<b>Update 3:</b> Pence is a true conservative, but unlikely to run for President in 2012. Hopefully this boosts his chances as future governor of Indiana. For Huckabee, he continues to dominate Romney, Gingrich, and Palin among values voters.<br />
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<b>Update 4:</b> My final analysis is that Pence just gave a better speech than Huckabee this year. Mild disappointment for Huckabee. Major disappointment for Palin and Santorum — his biggest challengers for the social conservative vote.<br />
<br />
<b>Update 5:</b> Full results, with vote totals <a href="http://www.thecloakroomblog.com/2010/09/mike-pence-wins-values-voter-summit-straw-poll/">here</a>.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-88027582607712650252010-09-17T17:38:00.001-04:002010-09-22T09:57:42.102-04:00PPP: Huckabee Tops Obama, Entire GOP FieldPublic Policy Polling (D) has their latest <a href="http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/09/monthly-2012.html">monthly 2012 poll results</a> — and it is all great news for Huckabee. He is the <i>only</i> member of the GOP field to top Obama in a head-to-head matchup, the <i>only</i> Republican to beat Obama among independents, and the <i>only</i> Republican with positive favorability ratings. He also pulls nearly 1 out of 5 Democrat votes. Across the board, it is a dominating showing for the Governor:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Mike Huckabee is the only possible GOP contender polling ahead of Obama this month, at 47/44. Going from arguably most pleasant to most angry across the spectrum of leading Republicans you then have Obama ahead of Mitt Romney 46-43, Newt Gingrich 47-43, Sarah Palin 49-43, and Glenn Beck 48-39.<br />
<br />
Huckabee is the only candidate we polled this month to post positive favorability numbers, at 35/32. That's because he's relatively inoffensive to Democrats with only 44% having an unfavorable opinion of him. Mitt Romney's favorability numbers are only slightly negative at 33/35. The rest of the GOP folks are highly unpopular with Beck's favorability at 31/41, Palin's at 38/52, and Gingrich's at 30/50.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/09/monthly-2012.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-48723411828770387922010-09-16T11:09:00.001-04:002010-09-22T09:58:29.963-04:00POLITICO: Huckabee, Tea Party, and 2012As <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0910/A_Huckabee_party.html?showall">Ben Smith notes</a>, POLITICO has <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42258.html">a long article</a> this morning on the Tea Party and 2012 — "a Huckabee party." I can't disagree. Who are the anti-establishment candidates in 2012? Palin, Huckabee, and (possibly) Ron Paul. We haven't seen Palin actually run a campaign, but we know Huckabee can — on less money and powered by grassroots:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Putting the issue matrix aside, imagine a primary that looks more like the Iowa caucuses in 2008, where Mike Huckabee had little cash and less infrastructure but won in a romp because he was in sync with the grassroots and running against the establishment.<br />
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“There are moments I think, gee, I got into this two years too early,” Huckabee quipped in a POLITICO interview Wednesday.<br />
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As veteran Republicans like Sen. Robert Bennett in Utah and Rep. Mike Castle (the front-runner knocked off by O’Donnell) go down in flames, it may also signal an end to the venerable GOP tradition of presidential primogeniture. Grassroots conservatives right now want a candidate who will take on the status quo, not one who has waited his turn to carry the party’s banner in the fashion of Bob Dole or George H.W. Bush. This time out, Romney has figured to be the beneficiary of the it’s-his-turn instinct.<br />
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Issues such as TARP—the bipartisan program to bail out failing banks--could join abortion and other cultural issues as new litmus tests in the Tea Party era.<br />
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“Every person who voted for it is going to have explain if not apologize for their vote on it,” warned Huckabee, of the 2008 financial bailout. “It doesn’t wash to say, “Things would have been so much worse if we hadn’t done it.’”<br />
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Money will still be important in 2012, Huckabee said, but he added: “The wonderful thing out of the Tea Party movement is it causes money to matter less.”</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42258.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-7830381941948080842010-09-16T10:42:00.005-04:002010-09-22T10:00:58.533-04:00Huckabee to Endorse, Campaign for Rand PaulFrom today's edition of <a href="http://www.politico.com/morningscore/0910/morningscore170.html">POLITICO's Morning Score</a> — Huckabee to endorse and campaign for Rand Paul and Todd Lally in Kentucky later this month. <br />
<br />
This is surprising (at least, in the case of Paul), because Huckabee has always had well-reasoned reservations about libertarian ideology. It is unsurprising, because Huckabee knows he will need Tea Party support in 2012 — and because, since January, his former campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, has been <a href="http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2010/01/rand-paul-hires-former-huckabee.html">consulting the Paul campaign</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>2012 SNEAK PEEK - HUCKA-TEA</b> - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will travel to Kentucky this month to campaign for two of the 2010 cycle's original tea party insurgents: Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul and House candidate Todd Lally. He'll formally endorse both of them and hold separate events to boost their campaigns, likely on Sept. 25. It's almost a distant memory in a post-9/14 world, but it was in Kentucky back on May 18 that the tea party revolt first exploded this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.politico.com/morningscore/0910/morningscore170.html">Read the whole thing...</a></blockquote><br />
As Alexander Burns, the man behind Morning Score, points out — this is all about 2012.Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-20023802843530002382010-09-15T09:38:00.001-04:002010-09-22T10:00:43.733-04:00Huckabee Stumps for Brady in Marion, ILWSIL TV has <a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=11061&type=top">a great story</a> (with <a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=11061&type=top">a video</a>) on Huckabee's stop in Illinois to campaign for Bill Brady in his race for governor — including analysis of Huckabee, Illinois, and 2012:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>he Bill Brady campaign brought a well-known republican to Marion Tuesday to help with the race for Illinois governor. <br />
<br />
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee delivered Brady’s message like a pro Tuesday. He may have been delivering a message of his own as well.<br />
<br />
Huckabee knows something about campaigning and rallying the base. <br />
<br />
Despite raising relatively little money, Huckabee managed to win the Iowa Caucuses in the 2008 race for the Republican presidential nomination. That success propelled him to a series of primary wins in the South. <br />
<br />
Huckabee was the last candidate to concede the Republican presidential nomination to Senator John McCain.<br />
<br />
Since 2008, Huckabee’s voice has grown in the Republican Party. He currently has a talk show on Fox News.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
Brady told reporters he admired Huckabee’s record of fiscal conservatism, and promised to emulate it if he’s elected.<br />
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“[Huckabee ]knows how to rebuild an economy, how to lower the burden of taxes on families and businesses, [how] to grow private sector jobs and spend state resources [responsibly]," Brady said.<br />
<br />
Huckabee and Brady—who are also social conservatives-- find especially friendly crowds in southern Illinois, making Marion a good place for Huckabee to focus on national issues as well.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, covered Huckabee during the 2008 presidential primary.<br />
<br />
“Governor Huckabee's visit to Southern Illinois is politics at a couple of levels. First, he's helping the Republican candidate for governor. Second, he's helping himself run for president in 2012," Yepsen said.<br />
<br />
Huckabee said he doesn’t know if he’ll run for president again, but drumming up support for Brady now could be helpful in a couple of years.<br />
<br />
“In 2012, Illinois will have an early primary,” Yepsen said. <br />
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“Republican candidates will come out of the contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada and they’re going to be looking at Illinois, Barack Obama’s home state, and they’re going to want to do well.”<br />
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If Brady becomes governor, his endorsement would help.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=11061&type=top">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-41316798868694016412010-09-15T09:21:00.003-04:002010-09-22T10:08:19.206-04:00The Guardian Corrects Itself on HuckabeeOn Monday the UK's <i>The Guardian</i> ran <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/12/sarah-palin-iowa-republicans-2012">a feature on Sarah Palin and Iowa</a> in 2012 — including a short dismissal of Huckabee, the 2008 caucus winner:<br />
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<blockquote>A Des Moines Register poll in June gave Romney a 62% favourability rating among Republicans, Palin 58% and Gingrich 56%. Others trailed well behind. <i>Mike Huckabee, who won in 2008, has ruled himself out of the race.</i></blockquote><br />
After an outcry by Huckabee supporters (and observant members of the public), The Guardian corrected itself, running both <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/sep/15/corrections-clarifications">a correction</a> and amending the online article:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>A story from Iowa about visits to the midwest state by potential Republican presidential candidates said that Mike Huckabee – who ran for the party's presidential nomination in 2008 – had ruled himself out of contention for the 2012 race. What he has said is that he will not decide whether to seek the nomination until after the 2010 midterm elections.</blockquote><br />
And the amended article reads:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>A Des Moines Register poll in June gave Romney a 62% favourability rating among Republicans, Palin 58% and Gingrich 56%. Others trailed well behind. <i>Asked why the poll omitted Mike Huckabee, who won in 2008, the Register said that Huckabee had ruled himself out of the race. However, his stance seems to be that he will not make a decision or announcement about 2012 until the 2010 election is over.</i></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/12/sarah-palin-iowa-republicans-2012">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-40129736943977266542010-09-14T11:31:00.004-04:002010-09-22T10:10:12.348-04:00Huckabee at Michigan Chamber of Commerce DinnerHuckabee played hard for Michigan in 2008 — some said to the detriment of his chances in South Carolina. In retrospect, with his unique role in <a href="http://ivotehuckabee.blogspot.com/2010/09/huckabee-and-his-base-2008-and-2012.html">voicing concern for the blue-collar worker</a> in 2007-08, he probably deserved to do better than he did (3rd, with 16 percent). <br />
<br />
All of this makes it all the more interesting that he is speaking at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's annual Future Forum dinner tonight. Another hint at 2012?<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Fox News host and ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will talk about what he calls "common sense solutions" for Michigan and the nation during the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's annual Future Forum event.<br />
<br />
Huckabee will discuss issues from education to health care and manufacturing as the evening's keynote speaker at Tuesday afternoon's forum in East Lansing. It's at the Kellogg Center on the Michigan State University campus.<br />
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Huckabee ran in the 2008 GOP presidential primary before dropping out. He's considered a possible 2012 presidential candidate.<br />
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Fox News commentator Glenn Beck was the keynote speaker at last year's Future Forum</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=13148453">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-33853837460131759432010-09-13T09:55:00.000-04:002010-09-13T09:55:11.846-04:00American Thinker: Huckabee's "Tax Me More" FundUp this morning on American Thinker is <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/09/tax_me_more_a_modest_proposal.html">an article by Bruce Walker</a> praising Huckabee's ingenious "Tax Me More" fund in Arkansas — which has since been emulated in Virginia, Kansas, Oregon, and Alaska. Walker thinks we need a federal fund:<br />
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<blockquote>Huge numbers of these "rich" Americans are leftists, and yet these rich leftists try to reduce their tax burden as much as possible. If the best government policy towards wealth is to tax it heavily, then why don't leftists lead the way? Isn't this sort of leadership -- leadership by example -- the most effective?<br />
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Mike Huckabee, when he was Governor of Arkansas nine years ago, created the "Tax Me More Fund" which allowed those leftists in the state who felt that tax rates should be higher to send a check to this fund, which would be used to help the general revenue crisis that Arkansas was facing at the time. Huckabee did not have the support of the Arkansas Legislature. He did not even have the support of Republicans in the legislature. But he acted anyway.<br />
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....<br />
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These leftists passionately argue that soaking the rich is good public policy...and they are "the rich." So why don't these leftists put their money where their mouths are? Why doesn't President Obama challenge them to pay more for the cost of the federal government voluntarily? Obama might be able to establish a "Tax Me More Fund" by executive order, as Huckabee did, but would it not make more sense to seek a bipartisan consensus? Why not ask Congress to formalize the "Tax Me More" for the rich in the tax code? </blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/09/tax_me_more_a_modest_proposal.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-8706859276030504832010-09-10T09:55:00.001-04:002010-09-10T15:11:25.374-04:00Geraldo Rivera: I Would Vote for HuckabeeOver on the pop culture site PopEater, FOX News' resident (and self-proclaimed) "Obama Republican" Geraldo Rivera talks about his differences with — <a href="http://www.popeater.com/2010/09/07/geraldo-rivera-40-years-al-capone-vault/">and <i>support of</i></a> — Huckabee:<br />
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<blockquote><b>I'm sorry, but I still find it fascinating that you are at FOX. Do you get along with Mike Huckabee?</b><br />
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He's a great guy. Obviously I don't agree with him on a lot of issues -- abortion and immigration foremost -- but he's a wonderful guy. I would vote for him.<br />
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<b>How could you vote for him if you disagree on key issues?</b><br />
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Because sometimes honor is more important and he is a very honorable guy. I consider myself an Obama Republican. I'm liberal to moderate on most issues.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.popeater.com/2010/09/07/geraldo-rivera-40-years-al-capone-vault/">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916197693817798741.post-10433453144165584232010-09-09T12:04:00.000-04:002010-09-09T12:04:12.361-04:00Barbour: Huckabee a Formidable CandidateAfter fragments of Mississippi governor and RGA head Haley Barbour's comments about Huckabee came out earlier this week, The Fix has <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/-1-2-3-at.html">fuller remarks</a>. Barbour, another 2012 hopeful, has been described by many as the <i>de facto</i> leader of the GOP:<br />
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<blockquote>While Barbour was tight-lipped about his own White House prospects, he spoke at length about another possible contender, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R).<br />
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"Mike's got a following," Barbour said on Wednesday. "He was 10 years governor of Arkansas and was very much in the middle of things in 2008. He's got a popular TV show. If he chose to run again, I think he's got a starting place. But I think that's all anybody's got, is a starting place."<br />
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Barbour added that he expects the 2012 primary to be "a very, very wide-open nomination contest, but if Mike ran, I think he would be a formidable candidate."<br />
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Asked whether he thinks former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) may run, Barbour was less effusive. "I have no idea," he said.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/-1-2-3-at.html">Read the whole thing...</a>Alex Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15421228831800039629noreply@blogger.com0