Mike Huckabee President 2016

Huckabee Re-Opens Door?

2011-06-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Speaking today at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock, Gov. Huckabee seems to have decided to re-open the door to running for president ever-so-slightly.

BSR

Governor Huckabee, its not too late to change your mind.

2011-05-19T12:04:00.001-07:00

President Obama came out today with a surprise policy announcement that, if implemented, would likely result in the destruction of Israel.

Obama said that he believes Israel should "pull back to 1967 borders" and that a Palestinian state should be created.

Both moves would spell doom for Israel, a vital ally in the region, and potentially cause the deaths of millions of people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already rejected Obama's plan, saying the 1967 borders are "militarily indefensible."

Israel is surrounded by hostile Muslim countries sworn to its destruction.

Only a few months ago, during a trip to Israel, Gov. Huckabee rejected the notion of a creating a Palestinian state out of territory Israel occupies, calling it "un-workable, un-reachable, and un-realistic."

On the subject of borders, Huckabee also stood by Israel, saying the Jewish people have "indiginous rights" to the land they occupy that go back "not just 60 years or 80 years, but 3,500 years."

Governor Huckabee, its not too late to change your mind.

BSR

in reference to: Netanyahu Rejects Obama Call for Palestinian State Based on 1967 Borders - FoxNews.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Why Mitt Romney Can't Win

2011-05-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

Quite simply, Mitt Romney is a pandering, rudderless, political opportunist who has a long history of changing his views on core moral and ethical issues to suit the contituency he is trying to curry favor with at the moment.

Fortunately for America, Google is a-political. Check out the kind of things Google pulls under a simple search for "Mitt Romney." Nuff said.

Speaking Words of Wisdom...Huck-a-Bee...

2011-05-09T06:35:00.000-07:00

Huckabee's Ready-Made Campaign

2011-05-05T10:41:00.001-07:00

Here's a great article from Real Clear Politics that is a must-read for any Huckabee fan ... or foe for that matter.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: RealClearPolitics - Mike Huckabee's Ready-Made Campaign (view on Google Sidewiki)

Romney Chairman quits. Can't deal with "ever-changing persona."

2011-05-04T07:46:00.001-07:00

Mitt Romney's 2008 New Hampshire chairman, Bruce Keough, just declined an invitation to handle Romney's 2012 campaign saying he's "no longer sure what Romney stands for."

According to Keough, he could no longer handle Romney's "wishy-washy political identity and inability to stake out firm, consistent opinions."

Imagine how slimey do you have to be to be too slimey for a seasoned political operative.

BSR

in reference to: Ex-Romney Campaign Chair: I'm Done With Mitt | Mother Jones (view on Google Sidewiki)

BREAKING: More Huckabee Signals of Run for President

2011-05-03T16:05:00.001-07:00

According to Politico, Gov. Huckabee has announced he will speak at a Louisiana GOP event that will feature candidates for president.

"Huckabee has been sending increasing signals that he is leaning toward a run," Politico says.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee to join candidates at GOP event in June - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

No Huckabee, no debate. Romney bows out.

2011-05-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

Back in February, I blogged that I didn't thing anyone serious was going to participate in any early GOP presidential debates until they knew what Huckabee was going to do. About Romney,specifically, I said I didn't think he would risk sharing the stage early on with the likes of the Godfather's Pizza CEO and the guy who yells "the rent's too damn high" only to have Huckabee throw his hat in the ring later.

Well, Romney bowed out of the first debate today saying, "the field is too unsettled and he's not an announced candidate."

As I said before, any debate without Huckabee at this stage of the game will be considered illigitimate.

BSR

Huckabee Statement: "Welcome to hell, bin Laden."

2011-05-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

The following is the full text of Mike Huckabee's statement on the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces, taken from MikeHuckabee.com.

"It is unusual to celebrate a death, but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dead. The leader of Al Qaeda--- responsible for the deaths of 3000 innocent citizens on September 11, 2001, and whose maniacal hate is responsible for the deaths of thousands of US servicemen and women was killed by U.S. military. President Obama confirmed the announcement late last night. DNA tests confirmed his death and his body is in the possession of the
U.S.

It has taken a long time for this monster to be brought to justice. Welcome to hell, bin Laden. Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless is tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens."

WHISPERS: Huckabee/Barbour?

2011-05-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

A person I trust whispered to me today that a possible Huckabee/Barbour ticket may be in the works - if Mike Huckabee secures the GOP nomination. Huckabee, the only candidate capable of uniting the GOP, winning the nomination, and competing with Obama in the general election, would find his efforts greatly enhanced by the support of Haley Barbour, his "rolodex," and fundraising capability.

A few weeks ago, much news was made by rumored conversations between Huckabee and Barbour, and both men expressed praise for one another.

Barbour unexpectedly announced he would not seek the GOP nomination last week, clearling the way for Huckabee in the vital South.

Huckabee/Barbour? What do you think?

Onward and upward,

BSR

NRA Hearts Huckabee

2011-05-01T06:53:00.001-07:00

MIke Huckabee received the most enthusiastic response of any candidate or potential candidate at this weekend's National Rifle Association convention.

According to Politico, Huckabee said nothing about a potential 2012 run for president "but sounded more like someone seriously considering jumping into the race than [he has] in recent public appearances - covering a full plate of issues, from foreign policy to economic recovery."

One Huckabee supporter, as she left the arena that night was quoted saying, "There's no doubt he's running after that speech!"

Mike Huckabee has a long, uninterrupted history of defending gun rights. LaPierre, the CEO of the NRA, praised Huckabee as an avid hunter and a Governor who consistently signed laws to protect gun owners.

Social consertatives in the audience brought Huckabee some of the loudest cheers, according to Politico, and excited attendees who want desperately for him to run fpr president.

"Money is not everything in our life," said Jill Montgomery, a beauty salon owner from Pennsylvania. "People can do with a lot less money, but we can't do it without God and family."

Onward ad upward,

BSR

in reference to: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/54017_Page2.html (view on Google Sidewiki)

NEWS: GOP Operative: "Huck is in."

2011-04-29T09:23:00.001-07:00

John Ellis, writing for Business Insider, just published an article that has a tantalizing bit of info in it. The article notes rumors that ran rampant this week that Huckabee had decided not to run.

After writing about these rumors earlier this week, Ellis says he quickly heard from "a half dozen operatives and journalists who are well-wired into Republican party politics."

The "best-wired" among them, Ellis says, told him flatly "Huck is in."

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee: likely 2012 GOP presidential candidate (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Sheds Glimmer of Light on Intentions

2011-04-29T06:58:00.001-07:00

After a blogger erroneously reported in South Carolina that Mike Huckabee would not run for president, Huckabee's previous South Carolina campaign Chairman picked up the phone yesterday and called him for clarification.

Huckabee said: "...I'm asking folks to keep their powder dry because there may be something coming in the near future that may be worth keeping your powder dry for....I am weighing it (running) very heavily and I am considering it as seriously as I have ever been."

Huckabee ran for President in 2008 as a virtual unknown and shocked the nation by nearly taking the nomination - finishing second to John McCain.

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Huckabee ‘asking folks to keep their powder dry,’ adviser says – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki) Photo by Slate.

Huckabee run for GOP nomination looking more likely.

2011-04-28T19:26:00.001-07:00

Huckabee run looking more likely.

Mitt Romney Has a "Willie Horton" Problem

2011-04-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

It seems Governor Mitt Romney has a very disturbing "Willie Horton" problem he is trying to avoid talking about.

Daniel T. Tavares

In February 2006, complaining that the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) wasn’t forwarding enough applicants for his consideration, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said he wanted the JNC to focus solely on applicants’ educational and professional experience. “I reserve to myself the responsibility to evaluate judicial temperament and philosophy,” Romney wrote.

Under this structure, Gov. Romney appointed career prosecutor Kathe Tuttman to the bench. In the first half of 2007, Judge Tuttman heard the case of a convicted murderer named Daniel T. Tavares. Taveres, in prison for murdering his own mother by stabbing her 26 times, went before Judge Tuttman to request early release because, under Massachusetts law, he was eligible to do so after serving the “lower end” of his sentence.

Tuttman granted the request and ordered that a date be set for Tavares’ release. Three days before Taveres was to be released, on June 11, 2007, he was charged with assaulting two prison guards and ordered held on $100,000 bail by another Judge (Martha Brennan).

“I reserve to myself the responsibility to evaluate judicial temperament and philosophy."

--Governor Mitt Romney

But Romney-appointed Judge Tuttman overturned her colleague’s decision, cancelled Taveres’ $100,000 bail and ordered him released on his own recognizance. Furthermore, despite the viciousness of his crime, his history of violent behavior in prison, the order of her colleague Judge Brennan that he be held, and the pending legal action on him for assaulting two prison guards, Judge Tuttman stated from the bench that she did not believe Taveres to be a flight risk. This was on July 16, 2007.

She was wrong, with devastating consequences.

Seven days later, on July 23, Taveres jumped bail and fled across the country to Graham, Washington.

On November 17, 2007 – just 4 months after Judge Kathe Tuttman, for whom Gov. Romney reserved to himself the responsibility to evaluate before appointing, ordered the release of Daniel T. Tavares – the convicted murderer walked up to his neighbor’s house in Graham, Washington and shot newly-weds Brian and Beverly Mauck to death.

It gets worse.

In December, 2007 two members of the board that approved Gov. Romney’s appointment of Judge Tuttman to the bench called for her removal, claiming that Gov. Romney had recommended her to them without telling them of her involvement as a prosecutor in a botched case that freed a child rapist.

The case involved a child rapist named Daniel Parra, who walked free after prosecutors headed by Kathe Tuttman missed deadlines in their failed bid to have him committed as a sexually dangerous person in 2005.

Gov. Romney, who changed the state’s judicial nominating process saying “I reserve to myself the responsibility to evaluate judicial temperament and philosophy,” nominated Tuttman to the bench just six months later.

Former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who oversaw the judicial nominating council under Romney, called the botched child rapist case “very disturbing” and acknowledged that the connection to Tuttman was missed in the nomination process.

An incompetent prosecutor and unqualified judge, nominated by Romney, who “reserved to himself” responsibility for evaluating her, granted early release to a heavily tattooed white supremacist (Tavares) who had served just 16 years of a life sentence for butchering his mother. She did this while Tavares was charged with assaulting two prison guards, overriding the order of a colleague that he be held on $100,000 bail. She cancelled the $100,000 bail and ordered the release of Tavares on personal recognizance. Seven days later, Tavares jumped bail. Four months later, he murdered two newly-weds in cold blood.

Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for Gov. Romney issued a statement saying the judge’s decision to release Tavares was “an inexplicable lapse in judgment and was inexcusable.” Worcester (MA) District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Judge Tuttman erroneously released Tavares …“I’ve never seen $100,000 bail knocked down to (personal recognizance) before.”

Romney has so far failed to comment.

Source: http://biggovernment.com/dladams/2011/04/21/1988-redux-mitt-romneys-willie-horton/

South Carolina Gov. Beasley: "Barbour out helps Huckabee."

2011-04-27T06:18:00.001-07:00

Former Gov. David Beasley of South Carolina, a strong supporter of Huckabee's in that critical "first in the South" primary state, says that the decision by Gov. Haley Barbour (MS) to bow out of the 2012 race for the GOP noimination "primarily, overwhelmingly, helps Huckabee."

Huckabee, who has consitently lead in virturally every poll for months - including South Carolina - is still considering whether or not he will enter the race.

According to Politico, "chatter in South Carolina GOP circles was louder on Wednesday surrounding Huckabee...".

Things are setting up nicely for Huckabee. He leads very strongly in Iowa, the very first primary state - and which he won in 2008. The next state is New Hampshire - which is much more liberal, and not a state Huckabee would be exptected to win (essentially a "skip"). Next would be South Carolina - noted for being the "first-in-the-South" primary state and a leading indicator of how the delegate-rich Southern bloc of states is likely to go.

Winning Iowa and South Carolina (2 of the first 3) would position Huckabee very strongly going in the rest of the primary states and would likely propel him to the nomination.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Haley Barbour bail out boosts Mike Huckabee, ex-S.C. Gov. David Beasley says - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

BREAKING: Haley Barbour Will Not Seek GOP Nomination

2011-04-25T13:01:00.001-07:00

Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi just announced he will not seek the GOP nomination for president in 2012. This leaves Mike Huckabee as the only southern Republican Governor still considering a race for the White House.

This is significant because Barbour would have been competing with Huckabee for many of the same donors and constituencies.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Mississippi Gov. Barbour Says He Won't Run For President : The Two-Way : NPR (view on Google Sidewiki)

Mike Huckabee and Glen Beck

2011-04-25T07:29:00.001-07:00

The so-called "feud" between Mike Huckabee and Glen Beck is interesting. I am going to speculate about something here that has nothing to do with Mike Huckabee or his campaign.

This blog is a volunteer effort and always has been, so nothing that is published here should ever be construed as having coming from any official source.

That said, here is my speculation. I have relied upon a scientific principal known as "Occam's razor" for most of my adult life. Simply put, the Occam's razor can best be defined as "the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one."

So, what is the simplest explanation for Glen Beck's motivations in attacking Mike Huckabee?

Here are some facts:

1) Glen Beck has indicated he supports Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination, saying recently he believes Romney "could be the only guy who could win" against Obama.

2) Mitt Romney is a Mormon.

3) Glen Beck is a Mormon.

4) Mormonism is a very agressive proselytizing religion.

5) A Mormon president would be incredibly useful to the Mormon church's desire to proselytize globally.

6) Mike Huckabee is the front-runner - with polls showing he will beat Mitt Romney if he runs.

7) Mike Huckabee is incredibly popular among Christians - expecially Baptists.

8) The Southern Baptist Convention has identified Mormonism as a "cult."

9) If Mike Huckabe and Mitt Romney face off for the GOP nomination, it is likely the media will bring the major theological differences between Mormon and mainstream Christian faiths into the spotlight - even if neither candidate wants that.

10) Glen Beck has indicated that he hopes Mike Huckabee will "stay on the sidelines."

So, using Occam's razor, the most likley motivations behind Glenn Beck's attack on Mike Huckabee are a desire to promote Mormonism through the election of Mitt Romney; and the promotion of Mitt Romney by tearing down a stronger potential competitor who would (a) beat Mitt Romney, and (b) whose presence in the race would likely bring unwanted attention on Mormon theology in the process.

What do you think?

in reference to: Glenn Beck fires back in feud with Mike Huckabee - The Hill's Ballot Box (view on Google Sidewiki)

Ed Rollins: Huckabee "will go for it."

2011-04-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

Here's a good article detailing the current standing of the 2012 GOP campaign for president, according to MSN: "Huckabee effortless assumption of the pole position has his frustrated competitors asking, "What the Huck? Is going to run or not?"

Interestingly, when asked, Huckabee's 2008 campaign manager Ed Rollins said "Personally, it's my sense that he'll go for it this time."Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to:

""Governor Huckabee is considering a presidential race seriously," his 2008 campaign manager, Ed Rollins, told me. "He's receiving quite a bit of counsel and encouragement. He knows he has roughly a June 1 deadline to decide. Personally, it's my sense that he'll go for it this time.""
- Will Mike Huckabee Take the Presidential Plunge? | Story | BLTWY (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Still Leads Iowa. Trump Fading.

2011-04-20T09:34:00.001-07:00

After getting a quick blip of attention, Donald Trump is fading fast in Iowa. Iowans are well known for being politically astute and serious about who they throw their support to. Mike Huckabee is still far and away their favorite with 27%. Mitt Romney trails far behind in 2nd place with just 16% (despite the fact he has officially become a candidate while Huckabee still has not). Trump has faded to 14%

Public Policy Polling, who conducted the survey, is not surprised by Trump's fall. "As Trump's views on a wide range of issues become better known to GOP primary voters...we expect...his candidacy will become, in effect, moot."

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Iowa Poll: Huckabee leads, Trump fades (view on Google Sidewiki)

Politically Illustrated: Huckabee Dominates in Latest Polls

2011-04-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

Politically illustrated has a nice article (and a fun cartoon) about Gov. Huckabee's continued domination of all other candidates in all the polls. Rumors this week indicated that Huckabee may be leaning closer to pullingthe trigger on a presidential run.

We need you, Governor.

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee Dominates Republican Candidates in Latest Polls | Politically Illustrated (view on Google Sidewiki)

RUMOR: Huckabee testing support in South Carolina

2011-04-18T14:30:00.001-07:00

In another sign that Mike Huckabee may be inching closer to running for president, rumor has it (according to Real Clear Politics) that he has met privately with key supporters in South Carolina. My opinion is, if he runs, Huckabee is the clear favorite in Iowa. He'd likely take a pass on more liberal New Hampshire and focus on winning South Carolina. Winning both Iowa and South Carolina would put him on a very strong path to nomination - making him very hard to beat.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee building support in South Carolina? « Hot Air (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Again Calls For Tax Relief

2011-04-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

Mike Huckabee's last term as Arkansas' Governor finished its fiscal year in with a huge surplus --some estimates approaching as much as $700 million. A growing economy and historically high employment rates are just some of the many positive things Arkansans enjoyed under Huckabee's leadership, leading to the unprecedented surplus.

For months, Huckabee called upon Arkansas' Democratically-controlled legislature to do the right thing and return the surplus to the taxpayers. He also called for tax reforms to provide much deserved tax relief, such as elimination of the state's grocery tax or other measures.

Among the things Huckabee has said on the subject:

"When government has a surplus, it has more money than we have budgeted for, then it means that we have taken in more than we have to have. The money doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the taxpayers and it needs to be returned."

"To have $600 million beyond what the Legislature appropriated ... is really simply unjustifiable."

"I hope there will be a serious look, if not this year in a special session, then next year at finding ways to bring some meaningful tax reform."

National Review: 'Huckabee Understands Gun Rights. Romney ... Doesn't.'

2011-04-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

Dave Kopel of National Review has a very revealing article today in which he exposes yet another instance of pandering by Romney and, more importantly, Romney's complete lack of understanding of - and fragile record on - gun rights.

On the other hand, Kopel applauds Mike Huckabee's record and personal knowledge of the subject.

About Romney, Kopel says "... Romney has been portraying himself as a staunch Second Amendment advocate. But when he was interviewed by Glenn and Helen Reynolds, he displayed little understanding of the Second Amendment and had difficulty articulation anything more than platitudes and slogans."

Furthermore, Kopel reveals "there is little evidence of executive leadership by Romney on Second Amendment rights."

Kopel also reports Romney "...does not own a firearm, despite claiming to earlier this year.”

But with Huckabee, Kopel came away impressed, saying: "Huckabee gets it." Kopel continues by saying Huckabee "knows guns and understands the Second Amendment in a way that Romney...plainly does not."

To prove his point, Kopel quotes from Hugh Hewitt's recent inteview with Huckabee:

HH:…What about assault weapons, or what is called assault weapons in the law? Should Americans be allowed to have them?

MH: Absolutely. Americans ought to be allowed to have anything they want to have, as long as they’re law abiding, legal citizens. The 2nd Amendment was not there for hunting. I get so offended when Democrats talk about it as if you don’t need an assault weapon to hunt. Well truthfully, most Democrats wouldn’t know an assault weapon from a BB gun. I’m a hunter, I have been my whole life. But the 2nd Amendment is not just about hunting. It’s about protecting your family, your property, and it’s honestly about defending ourselves against a tyrannical government, should it ever go haywire on us.

HH: What about machine guns, Governor?

MH: I’ve got friends who own them. They have the legal process to own them. But once again, I’m not afraid of a law abiding citizen owning anything. I’m afraid of a criminal getting his hands on a gun. That’s where the crackdown needs to be. This country’s gone crazy. It’s cracking down on law abiding citizens, and turning their heads at people who break the law. That’s the polar opposite.

In closing, Kopel makes a bold (and absolutely correct) statement: "Republican realists who want to win in 2008 (or 2012) would do well to start looking for candidates whose records demonstrate that they understand and will reliably defend the right to arms."

For the complete National Review article, click HERE.

BSR

Mike Huckabee on Illegal Immigration: The Kids Matter

2011-04-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

By far the most frequent and hysterical accusation we're seeing is that Mike Huckabee is perceived to be "soft" on illegal immigration. To help set the record straight on Mike Huckabee's position, we offer the following excerpts from a February 2005 article published by the Arkansas News Bureau.

By David Robinson
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Huckabee got to speak directly Wednesday with Arkansans who [don't understand] his positions on immigration.

One caller to the "Ask the Governor" radio program on the Arkansas Radio Network accused Huckabee of ignoring the law when it comes to illegal immigrants.

"Did you not take an oath to uphold the laws of this land?" asked Chris, a caller from Little Rock.
"Absolutely," Huckabee replied.

"OK, then why would you turn a blind eye to illegal immigrants invading our country and coming in and basically breaking our laws?' the caller asked.

Huckabee said that he wasn't, and that he believes illegal aliens who try to vote or try to apply for welfare benefits should be arrested.

"If they're caught as illegal aliens, I don't have any problem with sending them back," Huckabee said.

But the governor did not back down on his positions in support of certain benefits for the children of illegal aliens, such as allowing prenatal care for pregnant immigrants and his proposal to offer scholarships to undocumented children who graduate from an Arkansas high school. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This was not clearly described in the article. Huckabee did not want to "offer scholarships to undocumented children." What he actually supported was allowing them to be eligible to apply for college scholarships if they qualified.)

He also criticized Senate Bill 206 by Sen. Jim Holt, R-Springdale, that would impose new restrictions on illegal immigrants in Arkansas. He said the bill could hurt the state's ability to recruit industries based in countries outside the U.S., such as Toyota or Nestle, a Swiss company.

"If we send a message that essentially if you don't look like us, talk like us and speak like us we don't want you, it has tremendous economic repercussions," Huckabee said.
Huckabee also sought to dispel certain perceptions about the benefits that illegal immigrants are getting in Arkansas.

Huckabee repeated to several callers that illegal immigrants do not receive welfare benefits or food stamps or free health care. They do get free public education for their children, but that's required under the Arkansas Constitution, Huckabee said.

"And frankly I think we would want to make sure that their kids were getting an education because an educated society is a society that can work and do a job and do a better job and make money," Huckabee said.
As for allowing immigrants to receive free prenatal care, Huckabee said that's part of his pro-life sentiment as well as that of Amendment 65 of the state constitution, which says that Arkansas considers life to begin at conception.

"I believe that because it's a human life, then by our law and by our constitution even that unborn child is an Arkansas citizen because he or she is going to be born in this state," Huckabee said. "The prenatal care for the entire pregnancy costs less than one-third of what one day in the neonatal unit at Children's Hospital would cost if the child has complications at birth."

BSR

UPDATE: Ryan James at RyanJames.tv also believes Mike Huckabee's stock is rising and remarks about this post here. Thanks, Ryan!

Abortion: I Know Where Huckabee Stands

2011-04-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

The GOP Must Never Nominate a Candidate Who Is Soft On Abortion.

I Know Where Mike Huckabee Stands.

Mike Huckabee Interview: Right Wing News

John Hawkins: Switching gears again, do you think we should overturn Roe v. Wade?

Mike Huckabee: It would please me because I think Roe v. Wade is based on a real stretch of Constitutional application -- that somehow there is a greater privacy issue in the abortion concern -- than there is a human life issue -- and that the federal government should be making that decision as opposed to states making that decision. So, I've never felt that it was a legitimate manner in which to address this and, first of all, it should be left to the states, the 10th Amendment, but secondly, to somehow believe that the taking of an innocent, unborn human life is about privacy and not about that unborn life is ludicrous.

Washington Post Interview, May 23, 2006

WaPo: Let's move on to one other social issue, which is abortion. I think earlier this year you said you would have signed the South Dakota bill. Is that right?

Huckabee: I would have signed it, because even though I think that it was a very strong bill, and probably wouldn't have passed in a lot of states without some exceptions of rape, incest, and physical life of the mother, I'm pro-life. You know, ... if I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of life. You know, that's just where I come from in my own heart and convictions.

As a governor I've signed virtually every kind of pro-life legislation that we can sign under existing federal law, none of which have been harsh or punitive, but I think they've been important to really point out a pro life culture in Arkansas. That's, for me, a good thing.

I think we have allowed the pendulum to swing so far the other way in terms of an anti-life mind-set and culture. It's an issue that ultimately I think needs to be changed more in the hearts of people than in the laws of people. But certainly, I'm not going to be reticent about supporting laws that would help us to preserve human life.

WaPo: And do you think it would be good for the country if Roe v. Wade were overturned by the Supreme Court?

Huckabee: Personally, I would, because Roe v. Wade was really ... a ruling that I've never felt was rational in that it took something called privacy and it applied it to a human life. And, you know, what I find is that the average American has no idea what Roe v. Wade really did. They really think what it did, it just said that you can have an abortion in the first trimester, which it doesn't say that it all. I mean, ... it virtually takes any restrictions away completely.

And the average American doesn't agree ... that abortion should be completely without restriction and on demand at any time under any circumstances. Most Americans believe that there should be certain limitations and guidelines.

And when I hear a lot of people say, "Oh, we shouldn't touch Roe v. Wade," and I ask them the follow-up question, "What do you think it did?" and I get the answer, it's amazing how many people do not fully understand. ... I think it would be more appropriate to at least force us to realize that the idea of unrestricted abortion, whether it's for birth control or for a true sense of medical emergency, would at least have some sense of sanity behind it.
I KNOW where Mike Huckabee stands.
What about ROMNEY?

Huckabee and Clemmons - The Real Story

2011-04-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

I saw the first re-hashed news article today that tries to tie Gov. Huckabee to the Seattle Police murder tragedy back in 2009 - a horrible crime committed by Maurice Clemmons, a man whom Huckabee had granted clemency to nearly a decade earlier. Political enemies of Huckabee's jumped on it, wrongly, and attempted to spin the tragedy as being completely Huckabee's fault.

Objective journalists, however, disagreed. Read the posts that appear below this one to get the real, unbiased strory about this tragedy. And bear in mind how sad and revolting anyone is who tries to use this tragedy that so devastated these policemen's families for political gain.

BSR

The Atlantic on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

From our archives:

Here's another writer from The Atlantic who has taken an objective look at the facts of this tragedy.

Ta-Neishi Coates writes: "Huckabee, apparently, reduced the sentence of a guy who was given 100 years in prison, for crimes he committed between the age of 16 and 18--none of which were murder or rape. I just find it impossible to criticize him for that decision ... people who have an issue with Huckabee would do better to look at the laundry list of f***-ups and loopholes which allowed Clemmons to remain free."

The truth will continue to come out.

BSR

Seattle Times on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

From our archives:

Danny Westneat, staff columnist at the Seattle Times, has taken the most honest look yet at what led to the tragedy in Washington State, saying:

"Maybe it's therapeutic to blame Arkansas, or Mike Huckabee, that four police officers here are dead. Maybe it helps a little to say it's somebody else's fault. But it's wrong."

Westneat studied all that went wrong in Washington State's own legal/judicial system, and concludes:

"...all this blaming of Arkansas is a form of denial. It lets our own justice system off the hook. Though it's every bit as culpable, if not more so, in how it let a man go free whom it knew to be both a career criminal and dangerous."

About Huckabee he says:

"...in retrospect, there's no doubt Huckabee's 2000 decision was a mistake. At the time, though, Huckabee had a strong point that Clemmons' more than 100-year sentence was off-the-charts excessive. People get way less than that for murder."

In closing, Westneat writes:

"...once we lay the officers to rest, we've got some fixing to do. In our bail rules. In how lightly we treat potential three-strikers. In the way we relate to other U.S. states...I don't see how we get started on any of this if we keep acting like somebody else is to blame."

The truth comes out.

BSR

Los Angeles Times on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

From our archives:

Another newspaper has taken the time to review the actual facts of the Washington State tragedy, and determines that Huckabee's role in reducing Celmmon's sentence in Arkansas almost 10 years ago was a reasonable use of clemency.

According to today's Los Angeles Times editorial:

"...in Clemmons' case, he seems to have had legitimate grounds for concern about whether justice was being served. Clemmons was 16 years old when he committed the string of robberies and burglaries that resulted in [a] sentence [that] was astonishingly harsh for such a young perpetrator. A ... judge supported Clemmons' application for clemency a decade later. Huckabee made [him] eligible for parole by cutting his sentence in half, but the decision to set him free was made by the parole board. It's unreasonable to expect Huckabee to have anticipated the events in Parkland nine years later."

The truth comes out.

BSR

Dallas Morning News on Huckabee and Clemmons

2011-04-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

From our archives:

Yet another major paper takes an honest, objective look at the Washington State tragedy and determines that Huckabee is not to blame.

Nicole Stockdale, editor of the Dallas Morning News, reviewed the facts and says today "When there's evidence that Huckabee made the wrong decision... I'll reconsider. But for now, I'm chalking this case up to a terrible tragedy for the slain officers and their families. The blood may be on Clemmons' hands, but it's not on Huckabee's."

The truth comes out.

BSR

Oregon Newspaper on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T07:54:00.001-07:00

From our archives:

The Oregon Daily Emerald editor has looked at the facts and says "the person who has received the most scrutiny in the case is also the least responsible: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee."

The truth comes out.

BSR

US News on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

From out archives:

And another objective journalist, this time from US News. After taking a look at the facts of this tragedy says the GOP electorate may beat up on Huckabee for the Clemmons clemency "...but in so doing, [they] will only be hurting themselves...it's hard to argue Huckabee did the wrong thing."

The truth comes out.

BSR

Seattle Weekly on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

Caleb Hannan, crime writer for the Seattle Weekly published this story this morning, saying it has now been a week since the Washington State police murder tragedy, "...time enough to take a look back and assess just how wrong were the initial impressions of who was responsible...".

At the beginning, Hannan says, it seemed simple enough to blame Mike Huckabee, "but now we know that knee-jerk reaction was ignorant and ill-informed. And also way, way wrong."

A laundry list of mistakes and failures led to this tragedy. "A long laundry list, to be sure," Hannan says. "And one that doesn't include Huckabee."

The truth comes out.

BSR

Washington Post on Mike Huckabee and Maurice Clemmons

2011-04-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

From our archives:

Michael Gerson of the Washington Post has written a wonderfully researched and well-thought out analysis of what happened in last week's Washington State police murder tragedy and, like many other objective journalists, has determined Mike Huckabee's clemency of Maurice Clemmons almost a decade ago was a reasonable use of clemency at the time, and that Huckabee is not to blame.

The entire article is very worth the read (thank you, Mr. Gerson), but here's an excerpt for you:

In Federalist 74, Alexander Hamilton writes: "Humanity and good policy conspire to dictate, that the benign prerogative of pardoning should be as little as possible fettered or embarrassed. The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel."

Hamilton contended that strict laws, while necessary, must occasionally be set aside for humanitarian reasons that the "rigor of the law" does not foresee -- a view embodied in the U.S. Constitution and most state constitutions. In Hamilton's time -- with a variety of petty crimes punishable by death -- mercy by the executive was an essential part of a working legal order. Our system -- with the growth of mandatory minimum sentences and three-strikes laws -- is not so different, except in severity. It has become easy for nonviolent drug offenders, or troubled teens, to stumble into long prison sentences that effectively end their lives.

This was precisely the case with Clemmons. At age 16, he committed a string of robberies and burglaries. He was sentenced to 108 years in prison without possibility of parole -- a disproportionate punishment by any measure. Eventually, a judge recommended that his sentence be modified. The state parole board agreed. The sentencing judge did not object. Huckabee commuted Clemmons's sentence from 108 years to 47 years, making him eligible for parole. It was the parole board that set Clemmons free, after he had served 11 years in prison.

This second chance offered to Clemmons was rejected. Soon he was back in prison on robbery charges. Because of prosecutorial incompetence -- a warrant served years too late -- Clemmons was free to move to Washington state. There he entered a descending spiral of crime and mental illness -- threatening police officers and sexually assaulting young relatives while claiming to be the Messiah -- that ended in murder. Authorities had chance after chance to put Clemmons away. Their failure caused suffering. But it is unfair to place the responsibility for that failure on an act of clemency a decade earlier.

The truth comes out.

BSR

Breaking Poll: Huckabee Leads Obama in Florida, Palin Loses

2011-04-11T06:58:00.001-07:00

It's official. The candidacy of Sarah Palin, if it ever really existed, is over. In a new Florida poll released today, Palin loses to Obama in a hypothetical general election match-up by a whopping 12 points. Huckabee, on the other hand, beats Obama by 5 points.

Worse for Palin, she places 6th in Floridians' list of candiates they want to see as their nominee, behind Trunp, Gingrich and newcomer Pawlenty.

The huge state of Florida, with its 27 electoral votes, is an absolute must-win forany GOP candidate to make it to the White House.

Floridians want Mike Huckabee to be the GOP nominee (23%), with Mitt Romney coming in a distant 2nd.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: TRENDING: Obama, Palin get bad news in Florida poll – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee to GOP: Cut Budget Deal, Live to Fight Another Day

2011-04-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

Governor Mike Huckabee is showing the kind of leadership that comes from the executive experience of being a governor. Unlike legislators, governors actually have to govern.

That means fighting for what you stand for, but not shooting yourself in the foot in the process. Letting the government shut down, Huckabee warned GOP leaders today, will significantly hurt Republicans' chances in next year's critical election.

The budget battle is hung up on a few key issues, one being the de-funding of Planned Parenthood.

"Nobody's more pro-life than me. Nobody." Huckabee ephasized, [But] the reality is the president and the Senate are never gonna go along with [de-funding Planned Parenthood]."

"So win the deal you can win and live to fight another day," Huckabee advised.

It's important the Republicans don't throw away their chance at the White House, the Senate, and the House next year "by arguing over what amounts to less than a penny," Huckabee said.

I agree completely. Better to get the deal we can get today and move on. If we can capture the Oval Office, the Senate and the House next year we can do FAR more to end the horror of abortion-as-birth control than we could ever get done in this budget battle.

Which would you rather have? A temporary government shut down now, or the chance to appoint true conservative Supreme Court justices later?

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Huckabee to GOP: Cut a deal - The Hill's Ballot Box (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee on The Daily Show - April 6, 2011

2011-04-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Google "Mike Huckabee"

2011-04-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Very satisfying for me, as an amateur blogger, to Google "Mike Huckabee" and find my blog listed number 2 --second only to MikeHuckabee.com. Woot!

Onward and upward,

BSR

Mike Huckabee and the Crushed Hard Drives - the Untold Story

2011-04-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's a titilating headline isn't it?

There is some buzz on the Internets today about an old story from Mike Huckabee's final days in the Governor's office in Arkansas. The story, covered by news media and vetted long ago, has been dredged up again by the liberal Mother Jones publication. Mother Jones attempted to make it sound as if ALL records from Huckabee's decade in the Governor's office are missing. They aren't. In fact, none of the Huckabee records are missing.

This whole "crushed hard drives" story revolves around Huckabee's personal, "working papers" which are covered by one set of laws in Arkansas. Another set of laws in Arkansas covers "official papers."

Here's what happened. As the administration prepared for the transition to the new Governor, Huckabee's personal "working papers" were copied and cleared from the old hard drives in the Governor's office computers, the dated hard drives were removed and upgraded with new ones, and Huckabee's papers were donated to his alma mater (and mine, coincidentally), Ouachita Baptist University. Then, as is commonly done with obsolete hard drives that may contain private information, they were destroyed.

At the same time, not mentioned by Mother Jones, the Huckabee administration's "official records" were archived with the Arkansas Secretary of State's office exactly as state law required.

I think Mother Jones knew this story was crap, because they apparently contacted the Arkansas Times (a fellow liberal publication) when preparing the story and were told no laws were broken. The Arkansas Times blog published this comment yesterday (April 4, 2011):

"As I told Mahanta (the Mother Jones writer)..., the problem is not only Huckabee, but Arkansas. As currently construed, we have the most permissive law for governors I've ever heard of. Their records cannot be inspected for any reason and they can take them all with them. ... too late for Huckabee, Clinton and all the rest, unfortunately."

U.S. News agreed today, saying "This isn't a new issue in Arkansas. Former President Bill Clinton's gubernatorial papers have been unavailable for years. An Arkansas law allows governors to take their papers with them when they leave. Huckabee donated his to Ouachita [Baptist University]...".

I also remember that a lawsuit filed in the matter of the crushed hard drives by a Huckabee enemy back when the story was fresh was dismissed. Huckabee confirmed this fact yesterday to U.S. News, saying "Even a frivolous lawsuit filed over this was dismissed with a thud because we carefully and meticulously followed state law and practices with the official records (which were properly filed with the Secretary of State or left for the incoming governor) and my personal papers and articles donated to the archives of my alma mater...".

And what of those donated records? U.S. News checked with Ouachita, "... but the college has yet to process them."

There you have it. The good news in this whole non-story is that it shows the liberals are very worried that Huckabee may be the GOP nominee.

Onward and upward,

BSR

New from Gallup: Huckabee in the strongest position

2011-04-05T14:32:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is. Gallup has confirmed what I've been saying since 2005. Mike Huckabee is the best candidate the GOP can field for president. In fact, Mike Huckabee is probably the only hope the GOP has of winning back the White House in 2012.

Kind of neat how things have changed. Four years ago, Mike Huckabee needed the GOP. Today the GOP needs Huckabee.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Gallup: Huckabee in strongest position ahead of 2012 - The Hill's Ballot Box (view on Google Sidewiki)

Everybody, Just Chill

2011-04-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, everybody. Just chill out for a minute. All kind of pundits - on both sides apparently - are whining and crying about Mike Huckabee not having made a decision yet about whether he will run for president. It seems, in fact, that some of these pundits are trying to goad Huckabee into announcing his intensions.

Headlines scream breathlessly, "HUCKABEE LOSES ANOTHER IOWA STAFFER!" Talking heads say he is "too comfortable in his new career to run."

I call B.S. on all of it.

First of all, I don't think Mike Huckabee won Iowa last time around because of those staffers. I think those staffers won Iowa because of Mike Huckabee.

Not to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think Huckabee has far outgrown the staff he had last time around. IF he runs, he'll have no trouble compiling a FORMIDABLE staff, and a POWERFUL campaign, and he WILL win Iowa. He WILL win South Carolina, and he WILL be very, very hard to beat for the GOP nomination.

Secondly, because Mike Huckabee is an Authentic, Christian Conservative, he will run for president because he feels CALLED to do so. NOT because we want him to (or don't want him to). And anyone who thinks that Mike Huckabee will ignore a calling to pursue his own personal comfort and wealth DOES NOT KNOW the Mike Huckabee I know.

So. Just. Chill.

Onward and upward,

BSR

U.S. News: GOP establishment ready to back Huckabee?

2011-04-04T13:07:00.001-07:00

Washington insider Paul Bedard just published this in U.S. News' Washington Whispers:

"Conservative political operatives, wowed by Mike Huckabee's top-of-the-heap position in several presidential polls, are urging him to ...get into the 2012 GOP primary race. What's more, they're ready to set up a campaign for him. All he has to do is ...come up with a 'killer economic plan' and ... turn [the campaign] over to the pros."

Let's see. Governor Huckabee said he would get into the race only if:

1) He felt he could win - CHECK
2) The support (money) was there - CHECK?

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/04/04/mike-huckabee-urged-to-run-in-2012-presidential-race (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Poll: Huckabee front-runner, Palin dropping

2011-04-04T12:04:00.001-07:00

Another new poll from Gallup shows that Mike Huckabee remains firmly at the top of GOP voters' preferences for president in 2012. In this national poll, Huckabee leads 2nd place Mitt Romney comfortably 19% - 15% while the bottom has dropped out of Palin's support. She is down another 4% since this time last month, to 12%.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Another poll shows Palin’s support dropping – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

UPDATE: Huckabee doesn't win South Carolina straw poll. He detonates it.

2011-04-04T06:23:00.001-07:00

Gov. Mike Huckabee didn't just "win" the South Carolina presidential straw poll over the weekend --he DETONATED it. Huckabee destroyed his next closest competitors (Gingrich and Bachmann) by double digits.

South Carolina is a critical early primary state that sets the tone for the way the South is likely going to go. No Republican has ever won the White House without first winning the South Carolina primary.

This is bad news for Mitt Romney's diminishing presidential aspirations. Embarrassingly, Romney didn't perform well enough in the poll to even get a mention by the writer - being lumped in merely as "the rest of the GOP field scored in single digits and Sarah Palin secured less than 5%."

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Mike Huckabee Wins South Carolina Straw Poll - Washington DC RNC | Examiner.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Poll: Huckabee and Obama "Neck-and-Neck"

2011-04-01T06:16:00.001-07:00

In a new poll released today, Mike Huckabee and President Obama are tied. 46% of voters nationwide say they would elect Huckabee, while 46% say they would vote to reelect President Obama.

Gov. Huckabee has said previously that he would enter the race only if he felt he could win.

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Poll: Huckabee and Obama neck-and-neck in hypothetical race – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki) Photo from Huffington Post.

Outside the Beltway: Huckabee "Suprisingly Dominant"

2011-03-31T07:57:00.001-07:00

According to Doug Mataconis, blogging at Outside the Beltway, "Mike Huckabee is in a position most politicians would die for."

For a candidate who doesn't do a while lot of actual campaigning, Huckabee occupies a "surprisingly dominant position."

Onward and upward!

in reference to: Your Current GOP 2012 Frontrunner: Mike Huckabee? (view on Google Sidewiki)

New poll: Huckabee tops Barbour in Barbour's home state.

2011-03-31T06:29:00.001-07:00

A new poll shows that in the general election, Mike Huckabee would fare much better against President Obama in the state of Mississippi than Haley Barbour would. Barbour, the Governor of Mississippi, leads Obama by just 10 points while Huckabee leads Obama by 14 points.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Poll: Mike Huckabee tops Haley Barbour in Mississippi - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

No Huckabee, Debate Rescheduled

2011-03-30T11:10:00.001-07:00

No other top tier candidates want to participate in a debate that won't be considered legitimate without front-runner Mike Huckabee. So, they moved it to September.

Delicious.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: GOP 2012 debate moved to September - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

As Huckabee Ponders, the GOP Waits

2011-03-29T07:02:00.001-07:00

The entire 2012 GOP election cycle is on hold waiting for Mike Huckabee to make a decision. Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and other potential top tier candidates don't want to make a formal move until they know what Huckabee is doing.

Absolutely delicious.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huck keeps the 2012 field guessing - The Hill's Ballot Box (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee "Very Much Considering" 2012 Run

2011-03-28T14:40:00.001-07:00

Governor Huckabee answered speculation by some pundits that he won't seek the GOP nomination this time around by saying he is "very much considering" another run. In fact, Huckabee said "I have not made the decision I would, but I most certainly have not made the decision that I would not."

Huckabee leads all the polls, and has been called the only GOP candidate with the electability to beat President Obama in the general election. Other prominent wannabees are desperate to know what he's going to do before they jump in -- but they're going to have to wait for a while.

This is Huckabee's election. Get used to it.

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee 'very much considering' a run - The Hill's Ballot Box (view on Google Sidewiki)

Another Day, Another Poll, Another Huckabee.

2011-03-25T06:15:00.001-07:00

The drumbeat of support for Mike Huckabee as the 2012 GOP nominee continues. Check it out:

in reference to: Huckabee Has Slight Edge, Palin Down, in GOP '12 Preferences (view on Google Sidewiki)

As Support Continues to Strengthen, Huckabee Heads to Iowa

2011-03-24T08:35:00.001-07:00

New polls by CNN and Gallup out this week show that Mike Huckabee not only continues to lead all other prospective candidates, but his support is strenghtening. According to The Examiner, who reported on the polls, "The CNN survey is part of a collection of polls which show Huckabee gaining support amongst Republicans."

Furthermore, says The Examiner, "What is further noteworthy about this poll is that Huckabee is the only one to register growing momentum for his candidacy."

Interestingly, as the numbers come out, Gov. Huckabee is headed to Iowa, the first primary state, to be keynote speaker at an event called the Iowa Renewal Project.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee Leads In New Poll - Washington DC RNC | Examiner.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

As the World Burns, Obama Focuses on Basketball Bracket

2011-03-16T06:42:00.001-07:00

John Poheoretz, a highly respected political journalist, published this piece today that asks an important question: Where is the president?

As the middle east, particulary Libya now, is boiling with unrest, president Obama has done nothing except keep the world confused as to what the U.S.'s position is.

Moammar Khadafy, the brutal Libyan dictator and enemy of the U.S. was so near being toppled by his own people a week ago that something as simple as a clear and strongly worded speech by Obama would likely have finished him. Today, Khadafy is appears likely to survive the uprising - and if he does, the arrest, torture, and murder of thousnds of Libyan rebels by the Khadafy regime will be on Obama's hands.

In Japan, a potential nuclear holocaust is unfolding before the world's eyes - and could even coat the U.S. west coast in radioactive fallout - but Obama has done little to help the Japanes get the situation under control, and has said nothing to help clarify that he and his administration understand the actual risks and what to do about it.

What IS Obama doing? Well, he went on ESPN to discuss his NCAA tournament bracket picks, and this weekend he and the family are taking another junket -- this time to Rio.

We need a president who actually does something.

We need Mike Huckabee.

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Barak Obama's lack of leadership--John Podhoretz - NYPOST.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Political Journalist: Huckabee Confirmed as Front-Runner

2011-03-15T14:36:00.001-07:00

Political journalist John Ellis says the new Gallup poll out today shows Mike Huckabee is officially THE front-runner for the GOP nomination for president in 2012.

Thats not to us. We've known it since 2008.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Gallup: Huckabee intensity (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Gallup poll: Huckabee by far the strongest in GOP

2011-03-15T07:43:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting new poll from Gallup that measures both name recognition and "intensity" of support among the potential GOP field for 2012. Mike Huckabee is by far in the best position with 87% name recognition and a "positive intensity score" of 25.

Sarah Palin, by contrast, has 96% name recognition but a positive intensity score of just 16. The hapless Mitt Romeny scores well below Huckabee in both areas with just 81% name recognition and a paltry intensity score of 15.

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Huckabee, Bachmann Have Most Intense Following in GOP Field (view on Google Sidewiki)

Iowa Paper: Huckabee Still Favorite, Organization Still Strong

2011-03-14T11:37:00.001-07:00

The Iowa Independent newspaper released its first "Republican Power Rankings" of the season today (March 14) and says that Mike Huckabee is - by far - the overwhelming favorite in Iowa. Contrary to what some pundits have said, the Iowa Independent says that Huckabee's winning statewide organization from 2007 was "never dismantled" and that he "has a strong residual organization in Iowa awaiting his run."

A whopping 80% of the Power Rankings participants believe Huckabee would win Iowa again if he runs.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: 2012 Republican Power Rankings for March 14: ‘Haven’t we met previously?’ | Iowa Independent (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Preaching to Big Crowds in Texas

2011-03-14T06:22:00.001-07:00

Mike Huckabee has now taken is wildly successful book tour to Texas, where recent early polling has in the lead for the GOP nomination (should he decide to run). While in Texas, Huckabee is being invited to preach to large crowds on Sundays, as this article points out.

These preaching engagements are not political, mind you, but its on everyone's minds. Huckabee drew a big laugh from the audience on Sunday when he said "I want to go on record to announce..." and, after drawing out an anticipation-filled pause, "...your pastor is a great pastor...".

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee brings trademark humor, not politics to Dallas church | Dallas-Fort Worth Communities - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Makes New York Times Best Seller List

2011-03-10T11:50:00.001-08:00

Here it is - the first glimpse into the reception of Mike Huckabee's new book, "A Simple Government." The New York Times just reported that Huckabee's book will debut at #2 on the paper's Best Seller list on March 20.

Huckabee has previously stated that he will base his decision on whether to run for president in 2012 largely on how his book it received by the public.

Onward and upward.

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee, Morris and Luntz Make the Best-seller List - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee book tour generating "rock star" crowds

2011-03-10T06:39:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee, who said he would base his decision about whether to run for president based largely on the reception his new book receives, is reportedly generating "rock star" crowds in South Carolina.

South Carolina, an extremely important "first in the South" primary state, loves Huckabee. In Asheville, more than 600 people crammed into a local Barnes & Noble to meet Huckabee and buy his book. People came by to get tickets at 7:30 AM the day before. Little old ladies camped out in lawn chairs hours ahead of his appearance.

So, Governor, what say you?

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee book signing in Asheville draws crowd | The Asheville Citizen-Times | citizen-times.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Support in Iowa Still Strong

2011-03-10T06:16:00.001-08:00

David Shedlock over at Caffeinated Thoughts takes a look at "conventional wisdom" espoused by some members if the chattering class that Mike Huckabee won't run for president in 2012 and comes to the same conclusion I have: Most of the people who are saying this are hoping and praying Huckabee won't run - because they want someone else.

Have a look, its a fun read:

in reference to: Politico Misreads Mike Huckabee Supporters in Iowa » Caffeinated Thoughts (view on Google Sidewiki)

Did You Know? Romneycare allows taxpayer subsidized elective abortions for $50.

2011-03-07T12:16:00.001-08:00

Mitt Romney says he's pro-life, but did you know that his signature legislation as Governor allows taxpayer subsidized elective abortions for just $50? That's right, under Romneycare, people can just show up at their local abortionist's office and terminate an innocent human life for less than the cost of a tank of gas with no questions asked.

Just thought you'd want to know.

BSR
in reference to: Romney once touted parts of ‘Romneycare’ as a national model – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

POLL: Obama Loses Entire Evangelical Community

2011-03-05T08:40:00.001-08:00

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who leads all contenders in early polling for the 2012 GOP primary season, has said he will only enter the race if he thinks he can beat President Obama in the general election.

This new poll can't hurt Huckabee's assessment of his chances. Obama, says the poll, has "lost the entire evangelical community." Huckabee, on the other hand, is viewed very favorably by this important bloc of the electorate.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Poll: Obama Loses Entire Evangelical Community - Barack Obama - Fox Nation (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee "Blowing Away Competition for 2012"

2011-03-03T14:32:00.001-08:00

That's a great headline (see link below). What a change from 2005, when I started blogging that Huckabee should be president even before he left the Arkansas Governor's office.

Back then, almost nobody knew who he was, and even fewer visited the blog. 6 years and over 1.3 million readers later, here we are.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/mike-huckabee-blowing-away-competition-for-2012/ (view on Google Sidewiki)

Oops! Fox to Gingrich: "Tell us whether you're running by May 1 or lose $1Million."

2011-03-02T12:55:00.001-08:00

Newt Gingrich has skated a little too close the the line in his flirtations with running for President in 2012, causing Fox News, where Gingrich is a contributor, to put him on notice that his contract will be cancelled unless he tells the network he will not run for Presidnet by May 1. Gingrich's contract is worth almost $1Million per year.

I've suspected that Gingrich was just using Presidential flirtations to keep his name in the news and sell books, as he's done in every pre-election cycle since he resigned his position as Speaker of the House in 1999 after becomming the only Speaker in history to be punished by Congress for an ethics violation.

The prospect of losing his $1Million Fox News gig might just put a damper on his flirtations -- UNLESS, that is, he's really serious about running.

We'll know by May, 1.

This article also helps explain why Mike Huckabee, also a Fox News contributor, has been a bit more careful than Gingrich when talking about a possible 2012 run.

BSR

in reference to: Fox News: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum taken off air by Fox News - latimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Dominates the South

2011-03-02T06:20:00.001-08:00

With Democrats having a lock on the massive amount of electoral votes in the Northeast and West Coast, the GOP path to winning the White House depends on sweeping most - if not all - the Southern states as a bloc. A new poll confirms there is an overwhelming favorite among voters in this absolutely critical region: Mike Huckabee.

In this new poll, Huckabee dominates the South coming in 9 percentage points ahead of Newt Gingrich, the 2nd place finisher.

Even more interestingly, Mitt Romney finishes 5th in the poll with a paltry 7 percent of Southerners saying they'd vote for him (just one point ahead of Ron Paul).

What this means, Romney fans, is that he will never -- cannot ever - hope to win the White House.

America wants Mike Huckabee. Governor, we need you.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Poll: The South is Huckabee's - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Ed Rollins: Huckabee could put campaign together "very quickly."

2011-03-01T13:53:00.001-08:00

Check out this new video, to see how Ed Rollins responds to CNN's John King when King says "most operatives don't think Huckabee is running." Rollins says he "speaks to Huckabee all the time," he's "seriously considering it," he's "taking to money people," and "he could put a campaign together very quickly."

Huckabee Meeting Privately With Moneymen

2011-03-01T07:07:00.001-08:00

Buried in this article about one of Mike Huckabee's recent book signings in Iowa is this response to a question he was asked about whether he plans to run for the GOP nomination for president in 2012:

Huckabee said he's evaluating potential financial committments, including those that weren't there for him four years ago. "I'm still carefully assessing are those genuine committments. And if so, how serious, how deep, and can I count on them?" he said.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to:

"years ago. “I’m still carefully assessing are those genuine commitments. And if so, how serious, how deep, and can I count on them?” he said."
- Huckabee talks book, politics at Davenport event (view on Google Sidewiki)

Washington Post: The Case for Mike Huckabee

2011-02-25T10:47:00.001-08:00

Good article by Chris Cillizza citing all the things that make up the case for Mike Huckabee, including his great communciation skills, high name recognition and likeability, strength in the early primary states, and authenticity (link below).

Tomorrow Cillizza will publish the case against Mike Huckabee, which I predict now will include retreaded issues that have been previously vetted by the same people who now put Huckabee at the top of the polls. Things like Grover Norquist, clemencies, and fundraising ability. Yawn!

in reference to: The Fix - The case for Mike Huckabee (view on Google Sidewiki)

Is 2012 Slow Start That Unusual? Not Really.

2011-02-25T09:56:00.001-08:00

Lots of pundits are wringing their hands and acting baffled by the "slow-start" to the GOP's 2012 presidential election cycle. "It's FEBRUARY and not one major GOP candidate has officially announced," they write, breathlessly.

But is this really all that unusual? No, it isn't. Bill Clinton didn't announce his candidacy for what became his first term as President until OCTOBER of 1991. And consider this errily familiar-sounding paragraph from the New York Times' article about Clinton's announcement:

"His declaration today follows a month when the Democratic field suddenly came to life, after a summer when one leading Democrat after another backed away from a challenge to Mr. Bush."

Everybody relax,

BSR

in reference to:

"His declaration today follows a month when the Democratic field suddenly came to life, after a summer when one leading Democrat after another backed away from a challenge to Mr. Bush."
- Arkansas' Clinton Enters The '92 Race for President - Biography - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Gallup: Huckabee Front-Runner

2011-02-23T14:51:00.001-08:00

A new national poll by Gallup shows that Mike Huckabee now leads all other contenders for the GOP nomination in 2012. Sarah Palin came in second, with Mitt Romney in third.

Five months ago, Huckabee came in 5th in this same poll, while Mitt Romney was first - more evidence that Mitt Romney's support is soft and weakening.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Gallup Poll: Mike Huckabee climbs to top of GOP 2012 field - On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2012 Election - USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Win a FREE Copy of Mike Huckabee's New Book: "A Simple Government"

2011-02-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

WIN A FREE COPY OF MIKE HUCKABEE' LATEST BOOK

A Simple Government

To enter, just CLICK "LIKE" in the Facebook box in our sidebar!

Next week, I'll be giving away a FREE copy of Mike Huckabee's new book in a random drawing among all the people who are following us on our Facebook page. All you have to do is click "Like" in the Facebook box in our side bar, or simply go here.

Good luck!

Onward and upward,

BSR

Review: A Simple Government, by Mike Huckabee

2011-02-23T09:41:00.001-08:00

Obama: "We don't need to instill fear in the rest of the world."

Huckabee: "Why not?"

in reference to: Book Review: Mike Huckabee’s Simple Government Released Tomorrow. » Caffeinated Thoughts (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee: "I Can Beat Obama."

2011-02-23T06:23:00.001-08:00

Governor Mike Huckabee said yesterday, in an interview about his new book, "A Simple Government," that he is definately thinking about running for president in 2012 and believes he is the challenger who can beat Obama.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee: I Can Beat Obama (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee: "Clinton Didn't Announce Until October, '91"

2011-02-21T07:28:00.001-08:00

For those of you who are worried that Mike Huckaee may be taking too long to make a decision about running for President in 2012, consider this:

On Good Morning America this morning, Huckabee told George Stephanopolis that he would make his decision sometime this summer and noted that Bill Clinton (as Stephanopolis well knows) did not announce his successfull '92 candidacy until OCTOBER of '91.

See VIDEO at link below.

Stephanopolis also noted on the show that Huckabee tops ABC News' most recent poll with 21%, followed by Palin with 19% and Romney slipping to third with just 17%.

Mike Huckabee is truly "wagging the dog" in the 2012 GOP cycle because none of them want to enter the race until he makes a decision.

BSR
in reference to: Mike Huckabee: Obama 'Tough to Beat' - ABC News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Iowa Likes Huckabee. Romney, Not So Much.

2011-02-18T13:52:00.001-08:00

A recent poll of Iowa GOP activists found that they like Mike Huckabee the best, saying he is "down-to-earth and likabl"e. Palin they find to be "inexperienced and opportunistic."

It was Romney, however, who got the harshest criticism. Iowa GOP activists find him "elitist, arrogant, and a flip-flopper."

Ouch.

Onward and Upward, Governor Huckabee!

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee Found Likeable in Iowa (view on Google Sidewiki)

Poll: Huckabee Leads Tennessee

2011-02-16T13:57:00.001-08:00

A new poll shows the incredible strength of Mike Huckabee as the front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2012. Adding to the LONG list of states in which Huckabee leads in the polls, the state of Tenessee favors Huckabee by a WHOPPING 14 point margin over his next nearest rival (Sarah Palin) at 31 to 17 percent.

Mitt Romney trails in third place with an embarrassing 11 percent.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Poll: Huckabee up in Tenn. - Juana Summers - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

RomneyCare Allows $50 Elective Abortions

2011-02-15T13:20:00.001-08:00

Did you know?

Mitt Romney now portrays himself as "100% pro-life, yet Romneycare, his signature legisation as Governor, allows elective abortions for just $50?

We haven't forgotten. Neither should you.

We need Mike Huckabee. Authentic. Christian. Conservative.

BSR

in reference to: http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/2007/12/romneys-final-abortion-outrage.html (view on Google Sidewiki)

Why 2012 Needs Huckabee

2011-02-15T13:09:00.001-08:00

No other potential candidate for the GOP nomination is as strong a defender of the right to life as Mike Huckabee. While other potential candidates (like Mitt Romney) are happy to avoid discussing social issues - and even advocate a new litmus test for candidates - Huckabee isn't going to let them dodge the issue.

MIke Huckabee just put abortion "front and center" in the GOP primary -- where it should be.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee Puts Abortion Front And Center In 2012 GOP Presidential Primary | TPMDC (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Slaps Romney?

2011-02-15T08:49:00.001-08:00

Speaking at a pro-life fundraiser in Tennesee, Mike Huckabee said "I've often said I would gladly lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life."

The statement could be seen as a slap at potential 2012 rival Mitt Romney, who has frequently flip-flopped on abortion in politically expedient ways. Romney once even bragged that, as Governor of Massachusettes, he had "promised to do nothing to change the abortion laws of my state, and I kept that promise."

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: Huckabee: Abortion issue trumps all – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee "Seriously Considering" White House Bid.

2011-02-15T06:38:00.001-08:00

Governor Mike Huckabee, in Knoxville, TN for a pro-life fundraiser, told the Knoxville News that he is "seriously looking at" running for president again in 2012 and one reason is so he can "elevate the issue of life."

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee speaks at anti-abortion fundraiser in Knoxville » Knoxville News Sentinel (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee to Speak at TN Pro-Life Fundraiser. How Come Romney Never Does?

2011-02-15T06:12:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee is speaking at another pro-life fundraiser this week. This time in Knoxville, TN.How come Mitt Romney never gets invited to speak at these?

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee speaks at anti-abortion fundraiser in Knoxville » Knoxville News Sentinel (view on Google Sidewiki)

2011-02-11T17:09:00.001-08:00

Governor, Israel needs you. This may be your destiny.

Huckabee Leads Latest National Poll

2011-02-11T14:20:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee remains the undisputed frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2012. Read and enjoy!

Onward and upward.

BSR

in reference to: Huckabee Leads Latest GOP Presidential Poll - Chris Good - Politics - The Atlantic (view on Google Sidewiki)

WSJ: "The Mystique of America's Superpower Status Has Been Shattered."

2011-02-11T07:23:00.001-08:00

The Wall Street Journal published this damning article today, pointing out that the Obma administration is seemingly unable to handle the situation in Egypt. Words peppered throughout the article include "flummoxed," "confusion," "stumbling,"
"baffled," "frustration," and "powerlessness."

The coup de grace, however, comes from a senior White House advisor who came out of a National Security Council meeting and said "The mystique of America's superpower status has been shattered."

America needs a LEADER who UNDERSTANDS the root of the Middle East's problems. America needs MIKE HUCKABEE.

BSR

in reference to: Crisis Puts White House in Disarray - WSJ.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Want Huckabee to Run? Show Him.

2011-02-09T07:47:00.001-08:00

The polls show most conservatives want Mike Huckabee to run for president, and that he is the ONLY candidate who can unite the GOP and win the general election.

We NEED Mike Huckabee to run. But Obama is going to have a BILLION dollar warchest. To run, Mike Huckabee has to know that he has the support of our hearts AND our dollars.

It doesn't have to be much...together, millions of us can fund his campaign $5 at a time.

Think about it. You can help Huckabee defeat Obama for the price of a weekly Starbucks trip.

Show Mike you want him to run and you'll help him WIN. Go here NOW and sign up to automatically contribute $5 per week - or even per month - until he announces his candidacy.

Thank you,

BSR
in reference to: Huck PAC (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Poll: Huckabee Strongest Among Tea Party Activists

2011-02-08T13:37:00.001-08:00

CNN just released this new national poll showing -- yet again -- that Mike Huckabee is the number one choice among republicans for the GOP nomination in 2012.

Digging deep into the numbers, I found this interesting little tidbit: among Tea Party activists - who had a tremendous impact on the GOP in the recent mid-term election - Huckabee is by far the favorite for the 2012 GOP nomination (see page 12).

Huckabee leads among Tea Party supporters with 25%, followed by Sarah Palin with just 19%.

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/02/07/rel2e.pdf (view on Google Sidewiki)

Great News: Wasserman-Schultz Criticizes Huckabee

2011-02-08T11:52:00.001-08:00

Considering U.S. Representative Debbit Wasserman-Schultz has earned a 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee, I consider it a badge of honor for Mike Huckabee to be criticized by her.

Thank you, Representative Wasserman-Schultz!

BSR
in reference to: Wasserman Schultz criticizes Huckabee over fundraiser for group that likens Planned Parenthood’s work to genocide | Florida Independent: News. Politics. Media (view on Google Sidewiki)

Good Morning, Mr. Frontrunner

2011-02-08T06:30:00.001-08:00

Pundits are sitting around scratching their heads, wondering why no GOP candidates have formally announced for the GOP nomination in 2012. I think I know the answer.

Everyone is waiting to see what Mike Huckababee is going to do. Its clear to everyone, based on the early polling, that Huckabee has "formidable strength" as the only GOP candidate who can unite the party and defeat Obama.

As the front-runner, Huckabee is setting the tone for the 2012 GOP nomination. I think none of the other candidates want to announce or confirm their attendance at early debates until Huckabee does.

Frankly, any early presidential debate that doesn't include Huckabee is going to be considered illigitimate.

Is Mitt Romney going to risk sharing the stage with Newt Gingrich, who is only selling books, Sarah Palin, whose only go-to tactic in a debate is to wink, Ron Paul, the Godfather's Pizza CEO, and the guy that yells "the rent's too damn high"?

No, he's not. In 2012, a debate isn't a debate until Huckabee says its a debate.

Good morning, Mr. Frontrunner.

BSR

in reference to: GOP frontrunners: 'It's all about who can get in last' - CNN.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Poll: Only Huckabee or Romney Can Beat Obama

2011-02-07T06:51:00.001-08:00

A new Rasmussen poll shows that only Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney can beat Obama in 2012. Any rational person knows that Romney -- the pro-abortion, anti-gun, pro-gay marriage, pro-government healthcare flip-flopper-- can't possibly win the GOP nomination.

So you do the math.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: GOP 12: Rasmussen: Romney, Huckabee strong against Obama (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Headed to Iowa

2011-02-04T20:33:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee has announced he will be participating in an Iowa "Presidential" event!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48880.html

Sent from my iPhone

Politico: Natioanl Poll Shows Huckabee's "Formidable Strength"

2011-02-04T06:19:00.001-08:00

Politico published this story yesterday about a new national CNN poll that shows Huckabee has "formidable strength" as the frontrunner.

"Two-thirds of Rebublicans...say would likely support Huckabee as their nominee in 2012."

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to:

"On the other hand, Mike Huckabee is showing formidable strength: Two-thirds of Republicans questioned say they would likely support Huckabee as their nominee in 2012."
- http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1210/Huckabees_strength.html?showall (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee Leads Nebraska

2011-02-04T06:12:00.001-08:00

The undeniable trend continues. A new poll shows that Mike Huckabee is the preferred GOP nominee in Nebraska, followed by Palin and Gingrich. Mitt Romey comes in fourth, embarrassingly sharing the bottom of the pack with Ron Paul.

Onward and upward,

BSR

in reference to: PPP Poll: Huckabee, Palin, Gingrich Lead Muddled 2012 GOP Field In Nebraska | TPMDC (view on Google Sidewiki)

Obama and Clinton: Inexperienced and Underpowered

2011-02-02T18:30:00.001-08:00

When President Obama offered his bitter rival Hillary Clinton the Secretary of State position, everyone knew it was for two reasons:

1) He didn't want her to run against him again in 2012

2) He didn't like her enough to make her his Vice President

Nowhere in that decision could it be argued that he felt that she was the best equipped person to be Secretary of State. Now the Illinois State Senator - turned one term US Senator - turned President's politically motivated decision has come home to roost in a terribly frightening way.

Quite frankly, neither President Obama nor Secretary of State Clinton quite seemed to know what to do when all hell broke loose in Egypt this week. Now, as CNN reports, for the first in history the US finds itself helpless to influence events in this vital region.

When asked how the US will pick up the pieces in the wake of the Egyptian revolt (which now threatens to spread elsewhere in the Middle East), a senior official simple said "We will call whoever is in charge."

That pretty much sums up the Obama administration's foreign policy muscle. America, the world's only superpower, is reduced to waiting to "call whoever is in charge" in arguably the most important and volitile region on Earth to US interests.

We need new leadership that understands the complete picture of Middle Eastern religious strife. We need Mike Huckabee.

BSR
in reference to:

"When asked how the U.S. will pick up the pieces in the region, one senior official simply said, "We will call whoever is in charge.""
- The Sweep: The risk of democracy in the Middle East - CNN.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

More Trouble for Romney?

2011-02-01T13:55:00.001-08:00

It turns out that Jon Huntsman, who recently resigned his position as Ambassasador to China and is widely rumored to be planning to run for the GOP nomination for president in 2012, is a Mormon.

Pundits are already speculating about the negative impact this could have on Romney by "splitting the Mormon vote" in places like Nevada, a state where Romney appears to be hoping to jump-start his candidacy (judging by indications Romney plans to skip Iowa and South Carolina).

What do you think?

BSR

in reference to: Mormons on Top | Slog | The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Poll: Huckbee Leads South Carolina

2011-02-01T13:38:00.001-08:00

Continuing the growing list of key primary states in which Mike Huckabee is the frontrunner, Public Policy Polling announced today that Huckabee leads South Carolina, followed by Romney a full 6 percentage points behind. Palin and Gingrich come in 3rd and 4th.

Interestingly, the authors report that if South Carolina's very popular Republican Senator Jim DeMint were to enter the race, he would be in a virtual tie with Huckabee (Huckabee would trail DiMint by 4 percentage points in a poll with a 4.1% margin of error).

UPDATE: Per CNN, DiMint not running: http://cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2011/01/27/tsr.demint.presidential.run.cnn

"These results are great news for Huckabee," the author says, "as they show that he can compete against a popular Senator in that candidate's own state. They also continue a trend ...that show[s] Huckabee drawing strong support from both conservatives and moderates to top his rivals."

Onward and upward,

BSR
in reference to:

"That results are great news for Huckabee, as they show that he can compete against a popular Senator in that candidate's own state. They also continue a trend in recent polls that show Huckabee drawing strong support form both conservatives and moderates to top his rivals."
- PPP Poll: Huckabee In Front For 2012 SC Primary--Unless DeMint Jumps In | TPMDC (view on Google Sidewiki)

Senior Obama Advisor: "Romney Gave Us Good Ideas on Health Care."

2011-01-31T06:52:00.001-08:00

Check it out folks. If you ever doubted that Romneycare in Massachusettes was the model for Obamacare, those doubts are now extinguished.

David Axelrod, Senior White House Advisor just said Romney "did some interesting things there on health care, you know. We got some good ideas from him."

Obamacare = Romneycare.

BSR

in reference to: Axe: GOP field 'unfathomable' to handicap - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Why Huckabee is Right About Threat of Egyptian Unrest

2011-01-31T06:42:00.001-08:00

Earlier today Mike Huckabee, who is currently in Israel, we reported that he believes the current state of unrest in Egypt has the potential to threaten peace the world over. Here's an article from the The Jerusalem Post that explains why he's right.

Mohammed El Baradei, the man who hopes to succeed Egyptian Mubarak, previously used his position as head of the IAEA to help Iran cover up its nuclear weapons program. His actions "won him the support of the Iranian regime."

El Baradei is also a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization sworn to the destruction of Israel.

If El Baradei takes over power in Egypt, the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel is doomed and the Israelis will once again be surrounded by Islamic fundamentalists who seek to eliminate them from the face of the Earth.

At the very least, Egypt will become an Islamist regime and a major base for Hamas, al-Qaida, and spread of global jihad. At worst, all out war in the Middle East - which can easily spill over to involve nations around the world - would become much, much more likely.

BSR

in reference to:

"Elbaradei’s support for the Iranian ayatollahs is matched by his support for the Muslim Brotherhood. This group, which forms the largest and best-organized opposition movement to the Mubarak regime, is the progenitor of Hamas and al-Qaida. It seeks Egypt’s transformation into an Islamic regime that will stand at the forefront of the global jihad."
- Column One: The pragmatic fantasy (view on Google Sidewiki)

Huckabee to Knesset: "Egypt situation could threaten world."

2011-01-31T05:16:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee happens to be travelling in the middle-east during the recent outbreak of unprecedented civil unrest in Egypt. Speaking to the Israeli Knesset, Huckabee said that the situation, if it continues to worsen and destabilizes the middle-east, could "threaten the world and all those who seek peace and security."

BSR

in reference to: Mike Huckabee: Egypt situation could threaten world - Israel News, Ynetnews (view on Google Sidewiki)

The "Phantom" Primary

2011-01-30T08:13:00.001-08:00

Here's a good Boston Globe article about the difference between the 2008 primaries and the upcoming 2012 primaries. Unlike last time, none of the major candidates (Huckabee, Romney, Palin) has announced their candidacies. There are many reasons for this, all covered adequately in the article, but I think I can add a bit more:

1) Mike Huckabee was not even on the national radar at this point in the 2008 election, and - with no money for a major advertising effort - he didnt become a factor in the election until the nationally televised debates that occurred AFTER the American people started paying attention (summer 2008). Yet look what he acheived. On the strength of his knowledge, record, personality, and performance in the debates Huckabee experienced the now-famous "Huckabee Surge" in the Fall of 2008 that led to a victory in the Iowa Caucus and a very narrow loss in South Carolina (by 1% point). Had he won South Carolina, many people think he might have gone on to win the nomination. I beleive that Huckabee learned from this experience that there is little need for him to slog his way around the country campaigning for months before the American people actually start paying attention. If he runs, he'll be a smarter, more experienced, and even BETTER candidate than before.

2) Mitt Romney learned the same lesson, I believe, although much more painfully. Unlike Huckabee, who learned what he could do with almost NO money, Romney learned how little it mattered to spend MILLIONS on advertising and sophisticated strategists (much of it his own money) before the American people are paying attention. He advertised ceaslessly for MONTHS in Iowa and elsewhere, only to get trounced.

Of course, part of that trouncing might also have had something to do with Romney being unable to sell his flip-flops on things like abortion, gun-control, gay marriage, and (now) government-run health care.

BSR
in reference to: Presidential hopefuls hold back in GOP’s silent winter - The Boston Globe (view on Google Sidewiki)