Huckabee will not be the Republican nominee.
The biggest beneficiary of the Huckabee win in Iowa is not Huckabee, it’s Rudy. The biggest beneficiary of a McCain win in New Hampshire would be Rudy. Romney’s strategy was to win Iowa and New Hampshire. He has now lost Iowa. Rudy is waiting to pounce in the next tier of states. That has always been his strategy.
I am informed that Dick Morris and Newt Gingrich are helping Huckabee behind the scenes. Morris has been everywhere today promoting Huckabee.
Hannity looks nicer in person
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In all honesty I have to agree with this. Giuliani is one lucky S.O.B. In fact Morris was stating the same thing just a short 2 weeks ago; so today he is attempting to defeat his own argument.
These are still birds in the bush and I find it easier to predict based on rationale thought than on the stupidity of the American voter cultivated by the duplicitous MSM which acts like an accelerant. Nevertheless I would be amazed to see Huckabee sustain himself outside of rural Iowa where there is a dearth of evangelical votes. However McCain can always become a whacked out ricochet shot coming at you from behind. Outside of knowledgeable Conservative circles McCain is a legend with the public, the MSM and in his own mind. This opinion was derived from speaking to many people who simply don’t get it.
After listening to some of what Huckabee had to say on the Hannity show I can say he is one slick talker with an explanation for everything that he previously did that was not conservative. Very interesting explanations begging for more discovery.
I have heard this before and given the opportunity and enough time he could sell an Eskimo an air conditioner only to return the following year and sell him a larger unit because the unit he previously bought was too undersized to do the job.
Better watch this guy very closely. He does have answers.
task,
I agree with you.
there is something about Huckabee that I find uncomfortable.
I think he’s a phony.
I’m not saying I’m the best judge of someone, but I can’t seem to shake this feeling that he’s a phony.
I also didn’t like the fact that he said “He was sorry he wrote that letter” on wishing the guy the best or whatever it was that he let out of jail.
That didn’t sit well with me.
He was caught and he can’t talk his way out of letting the guy go now, otherwise I guess he would have been fine that he was let go and went on to kill
He also didn’t have to give In-State-Tuition. He may be required to educate children within his State but you do not give a National from another Country a rate less than an American from another State. He also could have signed on to deputize his State Troopers to work with ICE. He procrastinated on this matter and never signed on.
Morris helping Huck?
I’m a bit uncomforable with that. While I like hearing what DM has to say – at least for the last 10 years, I have always harbored a suspicion that he is a double agent in deep cover. Not many survive and thrive after the Clinton’s get done with them.
And Liz, I agree on your assessment of Huck. There is something about him that I don’t like. I heard the Hannity interview too. He didn’t sound sincere, and wanted to downplay his role. All I kept thinking was that the cheerleader was begging Huck to keep the rapist in jail moments before he wrote that letter. This is a core character flaw in my estimation, and one I can’t overlook. I can deal with the imperfect McLame, the socially moderate Rudy, the wiley Romney, and quiet Thompson. Huck leaves me cold.
Anna, I hadn’t considered Morris a double agent till I read your post. Possible, probable and likely upon further thought! It’s just too juicy that two slick talkers from the same little town could rise to national stage. Maybe they both crawled out of the same well in 12th Imamian-like fashion. (Just kidding!)
I listened to that interview with Hannity, too. task is right—the guy can move & shake. I’ll be honest—I personally like him a lot. He’d be a fabulous next door neighbor……but he’s like a charming poodle that’s trying to sneak into a position that’d be much better filled by a pit bull. The only answer I remember him giving that I could find really viable was that one of the tax bills he signed apparently had 80% voter approval. It’s STILL wrong, IMO…..but if 80% of the people there wanted it, then so be it.
So Newt is whoring for Huck behind the scenes too, eh?? Why am I not surprised?!
Anna and Liz, I think it is time for Rush Limbaugh to have Paul Shanklin do another rendition of “The Letter†by the Boxtops; only this time it should be for Huckabee and not Harry Reed.
ScottT, part of the tax increase was for road building, which is infrastructure, shared by all, so it is not exactly redistribution and may indeed have been necessary. That is why I stated that he has answers. The problem that I have is that he emerged after several Democratic Governors controlled the tax policies. How do you run, and then govern, as a Republican and raise more taxes than the previous Democrats? Hannity, or someone has to go back, and have him explain how this is the case.
I agree that he is likable; when you couple that with his record that is where the danger lies. If he is likable and right, then he could be great; likable and wrong and he could be deadly. We need to have a President that is as conservative as it gets. He admired Limbaugh. Did he really listen and learn? Whoever gets the nomination and hopefully wins the election from our side will be tested for the first time to do something he has never previously done. Nominate Supreme Justices. That has to be right because long after the President has left office and is remembered or forgotten these Justices will remain and still affect our lives.
Morris IS helping Huckabee- and while I generally can let Morris’s little suggestions for Huckabee “roll off my back”, one thing that Morris hits on again and again (something that I refuse to believe is actually true!) is that America is not ready to vote for a Mormon candidate!! (Morris always says that he is “sorry” to say that- but he DOES say it over and over again!). Morris never seems to be able to stop pushing an agenda which is of his own making even when he is not managing a campaign! I remember when he was selling the idea that if Condoleeza Rice did not enter the race for the Presidency, that we were doomed to have Shrillary for President!! Dick Morris is a very adept and entertaining pundit and political strategist, but I have learned to take what he says with a LARGE grain of salt!
Dub, is America ready to vote for a woman or black candidate either? I am not sure but maybe just not ones who are of the socialist, scumbag variety…
I heard Morris say he advised Huckabee.
Now, I can’t remember what show he was on, but when he said it it was in reference to the past, not this Presidential race.
Things obviously have changed and he’s on board with this Presidential race now too behind the scenes.
I guess the biggest mystery to me is Ed Rollins.
Campaign Manager to Ronald Reagan with Huckabee?????
I’m wondering what he actually sees in Huckabee that makes him think Reagan?????
As far as I’m concerned the only one I see as a “Reagan” is Thompson.
Has anyone noticed how much the media is playing up Huckabee????
I think they’re pulling for him to be the nominee because they know he’ll never win in the general election
When you have over 95% of the media admitting to being registered Dems you don’t want a Rudy or a McCain as the nominee.
Rudy or McCain will wipe the floor with any Democrat, and neither will be afraid of offending Hillary, the little woman. The media won’t get away with painting them the bad guys like they did to Rick Lazio in 2000.
Today, the sub for Larry Kudlow, darn can’t remember his name, he’s an atty. Lib who will vote first time for Republican IF Hillary (who he can’t stand) or Barrack Obama is the Dem nominee, citing Obamas inexperience and willing to speak to people like Iran head.
He says forget health care, education, etc., he wants to know WHO WILL KEEP ME ALIVE OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS citing terrorists who want to take us down.
Joining him was a Dem from NJ who served in State Leg as a Dem.
Lifelong Dem feels the exact same way as he does.
Mark Simone also said he can’t even imagine voting for ANYONE who doesn’t stress 9/11.
Very interesting how many others feel the same way?????
I agree with what both Liz and Anna are saying regarding their visceral dislike of Huckabee. I don’t know. Is it a woman’s intuition thing?
The more I listen to Huckabee, the less I like him, and the less I trust him. I despised him for the “innocent” anti-Mormon Jesus/Satan response that he gave that reporter, and as task said, he’s definitely very slick in his answers.
I hope Mark is right, and that he will not end up being the Republican candidate.
And Liz, I listened to Kudlow’s show today as well, and I think the host’s name was Jeff something. Didn’t someone mention that he had been doing the morning show with Curtis for a while, before Imus’ show began?
In any case, yes, it was interesting that he, as a Democrat, had no intention of voting for any of his party’s candidates, solely based on the issue of national security. He said that he was even skipping the Democrat primaries because he didn’t want to give anyone an edge. He has no faith in their ability to protect this country and his two little children. Very interesting.
And yes, one of the other guys was Steve Abudato. I’ve listened to him before, and he is a Democrat too, but is fairly reasonable on some issues. Not a nut job. And didn’t he say that he would vote for Giuliani if he ends up the Republican nominee? I think he did.
And Liz? You’re right about Ed Rollins. What’s up with him? Did you hear about what he said when he was discussing Huckabee’s decision not to run with that negative ad against Romney? (That “pulled” ad being just one more bit of proof as to what a disingenuous person Huckabee is)
In any case, Rollins said, “I admire the fact he’s (Huckabee) trying to change the environment. What I have to do is make sure that my anger with a guy like Romney, whose teeth I want to knock out, doesn’t get in the way of my thought process.”
Where does that kind of anger come from?
Jeff Lichtman was the defense attorney in the Gotti Jr. Fed case. This involved Curtis Slewa who often appears with him on WABC. He has been leaning towards the Republican side lately because of his Jewish ancestry and he realizes the Islamo threat in regards to Israel and America. He recognizes that we cannot afford to lose this war and he has been saying that for well over a year. I believe that he is currently advertising for a partner.
It is rather amazing how Dick Morris has the uncanny ability to be more often wrong than he is right despite his rather involved and thought out strategic political scenarios.
For the record:
Steve Abudato despises the N.J political machine hence he despises the State Democrats. What Steve Abudato is to NJ politics Tom Tancredo is to illegal immigration. He was raised as a Democrat.
Lots of Italians in the NY metropolitan area are similar to Jewish people in the same area in that they were born and raised as Democrats. Thank God this is changing. I am half-Italian and experience this from my family; my wife is Jewish and her family is no different. As long as they make enough money and feel no pain they accept the system. Too bad.
Thanks for filling in some of the backgroud, task. I usually listen to Glenn Beck in the morning, so I hadn’t been tuning in much to Curtis when he was on. Anyhow, I can’t always get 77WABC all that well where I live in PA.
I watched both debates tonight. I don’t agree with much of what Obama believes in politically, but I have to admit, next to Edwards and Hillary, he really is a very pleasant and likeable person. Not that those things qualify him to be the president, but I’m just saying. lol
I guess the Republican candidates all got together at some point and decided to gang up on Romney tonight. I don’t think any of them came off looking very good myself.
I couldn’t believe it. Even Charlie Gibson, who was supposed to be impartial for heaven’s sake, took a shot at him. Anyone else hear that?
Obama has a leadership persona because of his demeanor. That has about an 80% value from a Democrat perspective because beneath all their personalities there is nothing to offer. He is Clintonism, which is socialism, repackaged by a nice looking and partially articulate guy. I say partially because what he articulates is meaningless. I try to listen so as to stay aware but I simply cannot take it. The populism that he preaches is, once again, envy and jealousy. What a tired and old mantra. It often works because the population that is listening is without life’s experience. He, who accomplished nothing himself, preaches to those that also accomplished nothing. He comes to the nomination, as a victim offering an entitlement minded redistribution solution. The hard cold reality is that in order to do that you eventually must control wealth, both from the production aspect and the distribution side. You must steal it, empower yourself with it and dole it out as chum and bait to attract your supporters and voters. Government and not people must control the ingredients of success. One way or the other they deeply feel that is the purpose of government. What a nightmare. I really don’t think he himself understands what he is about. He is a duped and conscripted candidate acting as a shill for his party’s bosses. Certainly those that support him don’t understand and it is a shame that we have such an uninformed entitlement mentality among the under thirty population. An education process that is profoundly left oriented with a deep dislike for corporations and entrepreneurship inspires it. This is further flamed by the MSM. They really don’t like this Country and feel that any corporate and individual success is based upon making someone else a victim when that is exactly what the utopian government that they offer as a solution aspires to do and will do. This is how unions, that started as out to collectively help workers, demolished our automotive and steel making competitiveness in the World. Sounds good but you give up control when you lose your liberty and freedom. You really give up free choice for some security and you also give up flexibility. You may have a good short run but eventually someone else, with talent, motivation and freedom will competitively produce a better and cheaper product or service that will cause you to lose what you think you secured by the sacrifice of your own freedom. Free people working freely to make and provide better and more competitively priced goods and services is what makes a vibrant economy and Nation.
Obama and the anti-growth, redistribution left are the antithesis of the above. Especially significant is the fact that Obama has no record to look at that supports that he can deliver anything but promises. He is absent substantive history. Would anyone have a home built by a contractor without any previous experience in building homes? Would you have a major surgery performed by a recent graduate?
All of the candidates from the left have virtually no experience in running a government. None have had executive experience in even running a large business. And they come with the wrong concept of government. They desire to take away God given freedoms and rights because they want equal results without equal effort and risk. You can’t even get that in the same family where everyone has essentially the same background.
They are in campaign mode and figure that if they can paint a bad enough picture of the status quo we will take any alternative even if we have not seen an example of it. They are long on criticism and short on solutions.
Speaking of Republican candidates I have to say that McCain has an indefensible position on immigration. “A rose by any other name smells just as sweetâ€Â. “Amnesty by any other name stinks just as badâ€Â. He has an abominable record on immigration so for him to criticize Romney on the subject is remarkable. Independent of what people think of Romney, he was on the right side of immigration; so much so that Tom Tancredo threw his support for him. John McCain, as an Arizonian, should have sounded the crisis warning before anyone. Instead he let his own State go to pieces to the extent that you almost need the immigrant vote in order to win. It is a conflict of interest when it comes to the rest of America; we can’t afford to be sold out on a national level.
Task, I hope I didn’t give you the impression that there was any possibility whatsoever that I’d be voting for Obama. lol
In any case, that was a great rant, and I’m with you 100%. Without a doubt, as nice (albeit clueless) as Obama may be, everything that comes out of his mouth is consistent with redistribution of wealth. He’s just one more Democrat herding us towards socialism, and yes, the biased state of our government education system only serves to further that misguided goal.
Well, all we conservatives can do is to keep making our cogent arguments and fighting the good fight. I’m not feeling at all pessimistic about the ’08 election at this point.
Today, the media is giving points to Hillary on the debate last night.
I should have said “point”.
They actually thought when she said “That hurts my feelings” was a GOOD thing.
Maybe I’m nuts, but as a woman, that was a complete disaster.
She’s doing her “girlie, girl” routine again and attempting to win some sympathy because the boys are picking on her.
I think that whole “routine” will come back and bite her, which I’ll be thrilled to see.
She’s floundering because she is in shock that she is NOT wanted.
She’s weak, and especially weak because Bill is now constantly at her side which shows 2 things, at least to me, 1. That the change she wants can’t go over when she has relics from nearly 2 decades ago by her side., and 2. That she isn’t capable enough to “rally the troops” she needs Bill to bail her out.
The “smartest woman in America” isn’t coming off so smart, or wasn’t/isn’t smart enough to have hired the right people as advisors to her campaign.
Amen, my brethren! Right on! I am praying for Romney in New Hampshire- I pray that he beats that slimeball McLame!! It makes me sick to see how in the primaries the Drive-By Media build up Huckabee and McLame, all the time knowing that they will turn on them in the general election!! Why don’t the candidates THEMSELVES see that?! I suppose that they DO, but they have to take ANY help that they can get in the short term regardless of what that “help” is going to do to them in the long run!! And meanwhile, America is denied the leadership of high caliber people like Romney and Thompson because the Drive-By Media acts as an insidious “grassy knoll” assassin in the primaries!! Go Mitt!! Go Fred!!
No Liz, I never thought that you supported Obama. Someone on this site, besides myself, would have seen that and commented before I could or would.
The reason I rant is because I see the lefties as more and more vulnerable. I don’t think we can lose 2008. Despite this we aggregate around left of middle and just to the right of the left candidates. This is the time that we should stand behind the most conservative candidates that we have to offer, not the least. Why do we take our cue from the other side and let them set the tempo and the agenda? We do not have to make a deal. We do not have to compromise. The left may be weak on the war but we are weak when it comes to facing them. Is this an election between more or less socialism?
We don’t need McCain. He needs us. The man who makes deals with Feingold and Kennedy and tried to finish us off via immigration does not deserve our support. We have an opportunity that we might waste and that is a horrible shame.
It makes me sick!
I think that response goes to me, task, not Liz.
And I agree, it’s very frustrating that the GOP doesn’t embrace true conservativism the way it should. It would make life so much easier.
Re: McCain, besides McCain-Feingold and the Kennedy-McCain amnesty bill, don’t forget that McCain joined in with the gang of 14 and prevented us from having it out once and for all with the Dems over their filibustering of judges. That was really infuriating.
Trinity, I will never forget the gang of 14. Once again the worst part is McCain, as part of that effort; he still thinks that he was right and would do it all over again the same way! Another thing is that he may now want to put the horse (wall) in front of the cart (amnesty) in regards to immigration but his position is virtually unchanged. He learned nothing other than to be stealth like about his true feelings yet despite that he is still not very well disguised. We learned lot more about him than he learned about us. He limitations are simply overwhelming.
The only thing in McCains favor as far as I’m concerned is I truly believe he will be tough, and tougher than tough with our enemies.
I watched the entire Sat debate and caught the first hour of last nights debate (I wasn’t giving up Desperate Housewives, ROFL), and I came away with even more dislike of Huckabee. He is or at least to me seems like his “best bud” on immigration is John McCain, and I have a big problem with that.
I live in NY so I’m well aware of Rudy.
I liked Rudy pre 9-11 when it wasn’t cool to do so.
I liked his decision making and how once he announced he would do something or NOT do something he never waivered.
But….he was my first choice, but I’m kind of disappointed because how much can you REALLY want something and yet sit out the beginning of the “games”?
Thompson, I was also leaning towards. In fact, as I think I said I feel he’s probably the most like Reagan. He is very knowledgable on issues, nothing seems to stump him, but how much does he want the job?
I think he’s the kind of guy that “Speaks softly and carries a big stick” but the media is going to drag him out of the race. In fact yesterday during the day on Fox they were saying that a newspaper in SC was calling for him to “get out of the race”.
So, my 2 top guys don’t seem to have the enthusiasm
I’ve always like Mitt Romney too. His religion doesn’t threaten me at all. I look at the man.
As far as “waffling”? If you asked me 5 yrs ago about abortion I would have told you that “for me personally, I could never do it”, but for everyone else it is their right to abortion. Today, I have a different opinion. I’m pro-life.
I have nothing either against Huckabee I should have said about his religion either.
But the more I see of Huckabee the more I think of Bill Clinton
1. Both Hope Ark.
2. Both Gov of Ark
3. Both SMOOTH talkers
4. Both playing their instruments on national TV (that one is silly) but just another thing to remind me of Bill.
AND his answer on His tax increases. He was spinning all over the place on that one, and immigration, and the reason for allowing that guy out of prison.
The 3 candidates I’d like to see disappear and hope they’ll cancel each other out are Romney, Huckabee, and McCain. These 3 are just nasty, unpleasant, and unelectable. Romney’s buying his way to the nomination is just turning off a lot of people. I hope that Fred and Rudy will rise out of the ashes and start igniting some excitement and that will happen once we get away from New Hampshire. The Obamination movement is starting to get a little unsettling so republicans need to start planning smart strategies.
dcmale, um, you criticize Romney but say nothing about Ron Paul? Hmmmm…
Ru Paul does not even register, my friend. You can keep him!
Romney got the Tancredo endorsement Giuliani did not. For a guy that made immigration his life’s work the person he supports in lieu of himself cannot be ignored. Having lived in NY I can understand why.
I had to laugh at the lesson Thompson was giving Huckabee on Habeas Corpus. He should have been aware that if we give up our Cuban base you cannot bring suspected terrorists to American soil because of the Supreme Court ruling that gave them due process rights. Supreme Jerks that they are. Thompson has the Conservative philosophy down pat. You can see that he put the time into studying the Constitution and understands the law. I would bet that if Romney becomes the nominee Thompson would be his VP choice. He would become the next Cheney and would act no differently. That is unless he himself becomes the nominee and it is the other way around.
I can agree with you, dcmale, about Huckabee and McCain being nasty and unpleasant, but Romney??? You’ve got to be kidding. I think he’s a class act. And I believe he is absolutely electable as well.
Task, a Thompson/Romney or Romney/Thompson ticket would be just fine as far as I’m concerned.
I respectfully disagree. Romney is coming across as “buying” his way into the nomination. Too many negative attack ads making Huckabee and McCain look like saints. He’s his own worst enemy. You may want to make him out to be the poster boy for conservatives, but he’s too whitebread and plastic for the common voter. I even find him kind of creepy. Thompson is the only conservative imho.
That’s true, dcmale. Romney has indeed spent a lot of his own money in this campaign, and that is probably why the others resent him so much. But so what? It is his money, and it’s legal. He’s certainly not the first person to do it.
As far as the “many negative attack ads” you talk about, I personally don’t see anythng wrong with a candidate bringing up his opponents’ records when they were in office. That is not really negative, unless they are lies, which they weren’t.
Imo, the things that McCain and Huckabee have said about Romney sound more like personal shots at him, and at his Mormonism. You talk about “creepy”? Huckabee is starting to creep me out. That women in NH that said she wanted a president, not a preacher, has it right. Huckabee is wearing his religion on his sleeve.
No one needs McCain/Feingold protection more than McCain. His record is his resume and that is not the record I would like to run on. If Romney doesn’t point this out who will? Thankfully he is financially equipped to do so. Wait till the general election ads start to fly. If McCain cannot take the heat from Romney he will implode when he gets a dose of Clinton or Obama. Wait till the MSM turn on him. He can be easily enticed to display his Gremlin like nasty temper.
Alright, everybody stop it! The chances of a running mate being from the field of presidential candidates is very slim.
dclame
Romney isn’t the first and he won’t be the last to buy their way into an election.
JFK did, and Corzine bought his Senate seat also.
That’s just 2 that come to mind.
I heard the former campaign manager for billionaire NY Mayor Mike Bloomberg. He fell just short of saying Bloomberg will run as an Independent.
I hope he does run, he’ll take Dem votes away, but he is polling to see if he can win.
Poll??? why because he’s never been a loser in evertyhing he tries?
Why isn’t he getting in because he thinks he can make a difference, and why?
This guy is a “hop on the bandwagon” kind of guy if you ask me.
A lifelong Democrat, decided pre-9/11 that Rudys Republican led city was a success so what does he do? He switches parties to win, AND wins in part to Rudy’s success during and after 9/11.
He ruled under an R but governs under a D.
When it wasn’t “cool” any longer to be an R in NY, and because Hillary was presumed nominee and winner, poof he changed to an Independent.
He’s not in this because in his gut he feels he can make a difference.
He’s waiting to see if BOTH races keep going back and forth between winners of primaries and he’ll jump on board then.
He won’t take a leap because he’s arrogant, and wants a guaranteed win before he’ll commit
MLF Says:
January 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Alright, everybody stop it! The chances of a running mate being from the field of presidential candidates is very slim.
____________
Thank you, MLF…that annoys me, too, even though I myself think a Thompson/Hunter ticket would be ideal. The fact is, only twice since at least 1950 (and perhaps EVER) has a nominee chosen a primary rival as his prospective veep. Reagan did it, and Kerry did it, but it’s historically rare.