McCain-Huckabee '08

Huckabee's semi-deferral to the McCain position on waterboarding offers modest reinforcement for my growing sense that as far as electability goes, the two men would make up the strongest general-election ticket for the '08 GOP. (With McCain at the top, that is.) Their differences - political, temperamental, geographical - balance without obviously contradicting (whereas a a Giuliani-Huckabee ticket might collapse under its blatant contradictions), and as a result they'd have the potential to project a big-tent image without fundamentally overturning the order of the GOP coalition the way having either Rudy or Huckabee at the top of the ticket might. (I also think they'd get the best press coverage of any possible Republican pairing.)

Now obviously this doesn't seem likely to happen. But if American politics were like British politics, one could imagine them hashing out a Blair-Brown style deal, wherein they pool their supporters, McCain takes Ramesh's advice and pledges to serve one term, and Huckabee is promised Cheney-style influence as VP and becomes the presumptive heir to the Oval Office.

It isn't, and they won't - but it's an entertaining thought, at the very least.

Comments

When I realized that you were NOT JOKING, my stomach rolled over.

Maybe your article is good news, since it is so outrageous and substantiates my views on both candidates -- which is, “definitely not good for America”.

They do have one major thing in common -- support for the illegal aliens over the legal citizens.

I appreciate that you've grouped the two together .. it certainly brings more clarity as to why the two are offensive to mainstream America. Thank you.

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 11:03 AM

I am over the stomach rolling and reread you article. Thank you again, you were joking

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 11:05 AM

Yeah, really fabulous idea Ross. Can you imagine the immigration disaster those two could cook up together? Huckabee's a squish on crime and immigration------not big selling points for GOP primary voters.

Posted by ty | November 30, 2007 11:12 AM

Huckabee is for a closed border, punishment of illegal employers, no amnesty and the enforcing of immigration laws. He is just a good man who in compassion refuses to punish children who have no say in their parents' lawbreaking. This is what America stands for.

Posted by Greg | November 30, 2007 11:25 AM

McCain / Huckebee would never be elected. Huckebee is another radical right, anti freedom of the individual, evangelical (reformed to Catholic, but still he has the mind set), and McCain is pro war, anti rule of law, anti legal immigrant, pro illegals.

Not single independant or Dem will vote for this combination, or either of the two separately. They are way too far out of the mainstream. The only thing they have that would appeal to moderates and liberals and progressives is the anti torture stance.

Posted by Bettybb | November 30, 2007 11:45 AM

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” -Abraham Lincoln

Are those who somehow aren't yet aware of the Ron Paul movement or know only what the mainstream media have painted of it having that nagging feeling you get when the checkbook just won't balance? Something a little like that persistent agitation of hearing a familiar song and struggling to remember who the artist is?

Something is clearly amiss, or at the edge of memory, but you just can't quite put your finger on it.

There’s an underdog campaign that has set a GOP fundraising record – and all from small, individual contributors – which is also receiving the most contributions from military men and women of any presidential campaign while inspiring a true ‘rainbow coalition’ to join up with a commitment and passion undreamt in modern political history.

But something is wrong.

TV news keeps assuring us that it's just a fringe movement while they report with glee on a brothel owner's 'endorsement'. They go all out over some neo-nazi screwball paypaling $500 to the campaign website (who even knew who this guy was until the media broke it as a story?) all the while more or less ignoring the college campuses all over America abuzz with creative energy and ideas to further the movement.

In fact, attacking the supporters seems to be all they have – usually it’s a candidates record or checkered past that’s put under the microscope. That it’s the supporters getting the media black eye in many cases should tell you a great deal about Ron Paul’s impeccable record over ten terms in congress. In my research I’ve only been able to confirm one ‘flip-flop’ and this was on capital punishment which he no longer supports for the unfair manner in which it is meted out.

John Stewart quipped on the Daily Show, “You’re known as an honest man of integrity and principle….American voters don’t usually go for that.” And Bill Maher, not known for endorsing republicans, said recently that Ron Paul is “his new hero.”

From USC to Harvard to MIT to U of M and OSU, we see a spectacular display of patriotism and democracy vibrating with a cool intensity and determination. From the planes flying over Wolverine Stadium to the planes flying over St. Petersburg Florida to the rooftops of Manhattan and now to the airship - all 200 feet of her - something very unexpected and very big is going on in America.

And yet, inexplicably, our alphabet soup of media is curiously silent about the phenomenon when not openly mocking it.

Why?

We hear of Mitt's flip-flops, Giuliani's mistress’s cab fare, Huckabee's likeability and Hillary’s plausible deniability but these campaigns are a yawn for the most part when there's not fresh dirt – there is little to nothing new being offered us and we Americans clearly want change! They report with enthusiasm every spat and squabble like they're looking for a rousing chant of "Jerry, Jerry..." but on a real and genuine movement expanding exponentially we hear only that a fringe element of the internet has made some noise. "Don't look over there" they tell us, "it's just some cyberpunks, skinheads and prostitutes." They’ve even made the complaint that too many of us are voting in their polls!

Why?

And then I watch the CNN debate - Tancredo and Hunter are still there and stranger still, they're getting more face time than Ron Paul despite Ron Paul polling 4th in New Hampshire, and nearing double-digits in Nevada and Iowa. It gets worse when CNN spits up their selected question to Ron Paul and from the 5,000 or so video questions submitted it's an odd question about conspiracies. We find out immediately after the debate that the man given a microphone and perhaps more airtime than Ron Paul at the debate is co-chairman of a Hillary Clinton steering committee.

Why?

I suspect that many are beginning to realize - if only at the periphery - that there is some injustice going on and they are not getting the whole story and that, somehow, they’re being manipulated rather than informed.

I believe very strongly that there are those who feel we’ll all be better off if they do the thinking for us.

I have no doubt that anyone reading this will disagree.

And so I issue a call to those who still do their own thinking: Join us and let liberty, peace and prosperity be the adjectives of our age and our legacy to those who will follow us.

We cannot long continue plodding along more or less unchanging – tweaking a few subtleties here and there - as we continue to count the casualties on both sides in the middle-east while making new enemies faster than we kill the old ones, push near 10,000,000,000,000 in national debt while the dollar collapses, legislate away our freedoms for, ostensibly, security, and watch the last American manufacturing job disappear over the horizon.

Who will answer the call?

Some might simply feel too old for revolution and so take comfort in its media dismissal. I say you’re never too old for a worthy and admirable revolution! I call to those who cling to status quo government as the panacea to an uncertain world – you don’t need more government, you need more freedom! I call especially to those who identified themselves with a party at some point and stopped caring really where that party is heading - what that party has become. If you view everyone opposed to your views as either a lefty loon or a neo-con, I’m talking to you. Join us – it’s better over here!

I believe we’re at a precipice in US history and as a nation and a people we need to take a collective intellectual walkabout and ask the questions: What would Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin and Paine think of our republic in 2007? What would they say of our stewardship of The America Experiment? What is it we love most about America? What do we as Americans and even the rest of the world admire most about the idea of America?

And why are we not standing up for it?

Consider this: 70% of Americans are opposed to the war in Iraq and presidential and congressional approval ratings are at historic lows and yet media darlings - and so, it follows, front-runners - Giuliani, Romney and Hillary are for expanding our middle-east military blitz and are more or less status quo party insiders. It seems fair to say that the only changes we can expect from them are positions on issues in the run-up to the election. Romney goes as far as refusing to condemn torture carried out in the name of America!

“Domestic policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us.” -John F. Kennedy

There’s a disconnect here and it's a serious one. On an issue as profound and important as war, many people seem to prefer comforting lip service, partisanship, or worse, escalation, to a peaceful revolution and change.

How can this be?

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” -James Madison

If you’re for empire America and all the death, misery, isolationism and staggering resources that entails you’ll do fine with the candidates brought to you by CNN and Fox.

But, if you believe as our founding fathers – that playing favorites with nations and entangling alliances are the road to corruption and ruin, that “commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto” and that “that government is best who governs least” – there is only one candidate:

Ron Paul.

Google George Washington’s Farewell Address of 1779 for a far more prosaic expression of this warning against favoring nations at the expense of others than I could ever hope to compose.

Carl Sagan once said that the people of the world want peace and someday governments are going to have to get out of their way and let them have it.

Sounds like something Ron Paul would say.

Posted by Smith | November 30, 2007 11:47 AM

I reread your article after reading the post about it being a joke. I am not sure whether it is or not, and maybe that in itself says a lot about the state of our politics.

TO GREG: Hickebee was okay giving scholarships to ADULT illegals. Hey these are not 10 year old kids. They graduate from high school at 18. They have a choice to make, return home and obey the law (and come back on a Visa, and even apply for scholarship money that can to foreign students), or disobey the law like their parents. If they say, they have opted to criminals, and SHOULD NOT be given scholarships.

Rather like when McCain said we whould give amnesty to little old ladies who are 80 and have lived here 70 years. Total nonsense. There was an manesty in 1986, so it looks lik McCain cannot substract. So he is talking about amnesty for people arriving within the last 20 years or so.
He also forgot we were promised there would never again be another amnesty, borders would be sealed, and sanctions enforced against employers.

Posted by Bettybb | November 30, 2007 11:56 AM

Huckabee and McCain seemed chummy during their AARP "debate" in Siuox City, which had Huckabee joking at one point that "I’d be happy to have Senator McCain as my Vice President".

Frankly, I thought Huckabee and McCain both looked really solid in the recent debate, but I can't see McCain winning the nomination. Huckabee is the guy that could catch lightning in the bottle and McCain seems like the obvious choice if he were to pull off the improbable and get the nomination.

Both have been perceived as soft on immigration, but its such a tricky topic that every candidate can be criticized for being too tough or weak on enforcement. McCain at least tried to get something done, and the Huckabee's Fair Tax would be tough on immigrants while making them tax payers.

Huckabee/McCain has shades of Bush/Cheney. The goofy southern governor that recruits a grizzled political vet to shore up his foreign policy weakness. That made Bush/Cheney electable, but did not turn out as well as most would like.

Posted by Grant | November 30, 2007 12:01 PM

Huckabee's "compassion" encompasses a wide spectrum: Illegal immigrants, violent felons ("Dear Wayne Daymond.....") who knows what else? Wake up. Huckabee is Bush with another 20 IQ points. I don't mean that as a positive.

Posted by ty | November 30, 2007 12:02 PM

Sorry folks, it looks like my typings off today.

TO: Poster Smith. I will check out Ron Paul. But from what I know about him (there was a big article in the paper yesterday), he has some great stances, ie anti war, and then some nutty ideas from my point of view, like getting out of the UN. But I will look more closely. And thanks to getting the word out. Mainstream media is restricting access, and spinning like mad. Especially for amnesty/NAFTA. Big business is really looking to make windfall profits from a North American Union.

Posted by Bettybb | November 30, 2007 12:03 PM

As far as electability is concerned, I agree McCain ought to be the preferred choice -- *if* GOP primary voters were rational, that is. The Dems probably will have virtually all the advantages, save one: political experience in general and foreign policy experience in particular. Giuliani? Compared to McCain, he is all show and no substance when it comes to foreign policy. Hillary has some experience, but Edwards and Obama are neophytes.
---
While this sort of "experience" clearly is a mixed blessing (just look at Rumsfeld's & Cheney's recent "accomplishments"...), it's still a potential asset provided the ratio of good news contra bad news coming out of Iraq is just right. I.e. voters will have to be concerned enough to vote for the old bellicose codger, but not so concerned that they favor the opposition party since they think the neocon way of doing things won't work. And in the unlikely event that Iraq looks like a success story one year from now, I suspect voters will simply ignore the issue which also will suit the Dems just fine.

MARCU$

Posted by MARCU$ | November 30, 2007 12:19 PM

I would vote for a John McCain-Fred Thompson ticket.

See http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977190489

Governor Huckabee is a bright man but is vastly overrated. There is nothing in his career to suggest that he is up to the task of leading the Free World. If he didn't have good poll numbers in Iowa, he would be ignored. So let's ignore him.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, is a person of extraordinary talent and accomplishment. But if you've ever voted for him in Massachusetts, thinking he supported gay rights, thinking he was tolerant of opposing views on abortion, you'd have to be mortified with what he is saying now. Does he think nobody was listening to him? Should we believe what he is saying now?

If you're still thinking of voting for Rudy Giuliani, go talk to someone who lived in New York City when he was Mayor.

Posted by David Mirsky | November 30, 2007 12:40 PM

I have no problem with your seed-planting and entertaining thought/idea. Now, let's refine it.

I believe Huckabee as President with McCain as VP will make the biggest and most positive change in our country. Huckabee's a get-it-done, encouraging kind of guy that knows where he's going and hasn't been - and won't be - twisted by the DC politics.

Let's not kid ourselves... Every candidate running, on some level, supports the illegal alien community. WHY? Because it's illegal not to. It's Federally Illegal to kick ANY child out of school and, Federally Illegal not to provide some sort of healthcare for EVERYONE. ALL fifty State Governments - in one way or another - grant aid (and continue to do so) for these illegals. So, why is Huckabee the only one getting slashed for having created a positive solution for these illegal kids that HAD to be - by LAW - educated anyway? First, I think it's the only dirt the other candidates can manifest/find on a him. Two, because Huckabee sees a better future for the ENTIRE United States of America. Frankly, I see the other candidates short-sightedly grabbing onto temporal - quick-pay-off solutions that will cause a greater deterioration and division of our beloved country. We need a BIG change. One that will turn us around and preserve the future.

Oh, and by the way, I am an American living in Europe (14 years) and, socialising the system DOES NOT WORK - it just makes people lazier so please, don't even take me there.

Posted by P J | November 30, 2007 12:51 PM

Wow - the Huskster's advocates are only slightly less annoying than RuPaul's. And the RuPaulians rival the Kucinichistas.

Posted by Tiparillo | November 30, 2007 1:58 PM

Howard Scream, Al Bore, & Bob Dull...all lost because they were either to boring, condescending or arrogant..they didn't have something that Clinton(I hate to admit) and now Governor Mike Huckabee have in spades....Likeability...and that goes along way with the coveted independent voters. All of the attemts to make him look like a backwoods bible thumper or a liberal on spending or whatever is only going to backfire. Ordinary people see through this inquisition style politics. Once again the salt of the earth folks in the middle states, God-willing, will set the "wisdom" of the east coast intellectual elitists & left coast communists on their head!!! And they will still wonder how & why.

Huckabee and McCain are far and above the other candidates...only one problem...Huckabee is going to win without McCain.

Finally after all the verbal stumbles of the Bush presidency we have finally discovered someone who can communicate republican principles with wit & wisdom.

As far as Huckabee's conservative credentials the way he is running a campaign tells me about that. He is not buying votes like the rest.

Posted by Tim Kelley | November 30, 2007 2:28 PM

Several months, when Huckabee was in single digits, I realized that he was not only going to win the nomination, but win the election over either Clinton or Obama. As Huckabee continues his meteroic rise, not just in Iowa, but now in New Hampshire, Florida and South Carolina, it is amusing to see the pundits still trying to write him off. With the scandals breaking over Guiliani, his days are numbered. Whether people like it or not, the Republicans will not nominate a Mormom. To those who know, Mormonism is not just another branch of Christianity, it is a cult with extremely wierd ideas. It's time the press started looking into what Mormons really believe. Thompson is history and McCain is over the hill. That leaves just Huckabee to win the nomination. It's going to happen, no question about it. I'll leave the general election analysis for another time, but either Clinton or Obama will be extremely easy to beat for Huckabee. It will be a landslide.

Posted by Dan Walker | November 30, 2007 3:03 PM

All I can say is that the Republican field sucks. It's awful. I expect Huckabee to be tops in the field, but if he is the nomination, the Republican Party can die its death in 2008.

Huckabee completely abandons all fiscal restraint during his governorship of Arkansas. Based on what he wants to do for America, I can't see him discovering fiscal restraint in the white house.

Posted by TanGeng | November 30, 2007 3:28 PM

I frankly do not know who the best running mate for McCain would be, but I know McCain would be the best and most-electable candidate. Consider:

Rudy. he's too much like Clinton, a liberal who can't keep his pants zipped. But he's like the other Clinton, too. Not much difference between them. He'd make a good vice president for Hillary. He's one of the only people to benefit from 9/11. Otherwise no one would know who he was.

Romney: Money like a Kennedy, can't quite decide what he's for or against. Slick, pretty, and a politician. Well, he's lost the Muslim vote for sure. He should lose yours, too. Politics as usual. Yo don't REALLY want him for Prez, do you? Whatever for?

Huck: You want a minister for Prez? Even if you do, it won't happen.

Thompson: If he can shake the persistent sleepy image, he might be good. But his campaign is sleepy, too. Won't happen, though I do like him.

Ron Paul: Yes, he has the hippy vote. Can you imagine him as Commander-in-Chief? His only question would be, "Which WAY do I retreat?" He would be an utter disaster as either a nominee or, shudder, as Prez. That won't happen either. Get over it. You're staring at your navel if you think he has a snowball's chance.

McCain: There's our Commander-in-Chief, someone who can stare down the islamo-fascists and anti-democratic forces in the world. He's a straight shooter with more character than any of the other candidates combined. He's proven himself time and again. Get over your single-issue politics and get the best man for the job in there. If not, we will all suffer.

Posted by Michael | November 30, 2007 4:02 PM

It's truly amazing how little factual information is contained in blogs.

Posted by GBirgen | November 30, 2007 4:05 PM

Huckabee and McCain are the only 2 candidates to who I've given money in this cycle. I wouldn't say I'm crazy about either (all of the candidates currently running are flawed in some unfortunately important way) but I'd be happy enough with a McCain-Huckabee ticket to vote against any Dem ticket. Incidentally I was a Dean supporter in '03-04, my politics are pretty hard for a consultant to peg.

Posted by MassIndy | November 30, 2007 4:15 PM

Ordinary people see through this inquisition style politics. Once again the salt of the earth folks in the middle states, God-willing, will set the "wisdom" of the east coast intellectual elitists & left coast communists on their head!!! And they will still wonder how & why.

Whatever...As a life long Left Coaster, I can tell you we are far from "communist" and just as "salt of the earth" as anyone in the middle of the country. Stereotyping and ignorance do not help you advance your cause one iota.

Posted by Left Coaster Lifer | November 30, 2007 4:38 PM

Dan Walker:

If you are not a "Mormon" (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint), don't speak for them. They are Christians, they are not a cult.

I suggest you base you comments on facts, not fiction.

www.lds.org

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 5:12 PM

I am a “Mormon” (a member of The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and I believe in Jesus Christ. I am a Christian. Yet, there are people who say that because I do not believe as their demonination believes, hence – so many religions, so many denominations, than I cannot be a Christian, that I belong to a cult. Do you know how rude, arrogant and offensive this is?

Who decides if I am a Christian or not?

Do you decide if I am a Christian? Is that your role?

What is a Christian?

I have read and heard so many lies about my church that it is appauling that these people can say they follow the Savior.

The Savior I know encourages unity.

Jesus prayed, as quoted in John 17:
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Mormons=Christians?

"The Book of Mormon," Alma 34:
8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.
14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
• • •
37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ,;
38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

"The Book of Mormon," Ether 12:
41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen.

IT IS FAR BETTER TO FIND REASONS TO UNITE, RATHER THAN TO FIND REASONS TO DIVIDE

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 6:32 PM

They do have one major thing in common -- support for the illegal aliens over the legal citizens.

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 11:03 AM

IT IS FAR BETTER TO FIND REASONS TO UNITE, RATHER THAN TO FIND REASONS TO DIVIDE

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 6:32 PM

You mean you want unity instead of criticism of your group, and division against whichever out groups you are moved to identify.

Posted by the death of irony | November 30, 2007 7:29 PM

My daughter will be 18 in a few years. I hope no one will every hold her accountable for mistakes I have made in my life... especially when she was a baby.

Pro-life means pro-life. To spin a popular phrase "What part of INTRINSIC VALUE" don't you understand? For me... if we winked and nodded our way throughg 12 years of primary and secondary education... at my tax expense... like "no one knew" these kids "might" be illegal - I DEMAND a return on that investment. I DEMAND they give something back to my community to compensate for the pot heads and crack-whoa, I can't say that word... who are perfectly legal and will never strive to do anything but suck the life out of our welfare system (you know who you are!)

By the way - regardsless of their "illegal entry"... which warrants a what... a fine? Are you okay with the fact that THEIR tax dollars, sales tax, cig/alcholol tax, gasoline tax... the money their landlords make renting to them... the money Walm-Mart makes carrying corn tortillas... ALL contribute to the economy of Arkansas... where they lived, worked, and paid into the system? You're riduclously flawed and narrow minded to compare someone who used Aunt Sally's house to get in-state tuition (WAIT!!! That would NEVER happen... because we're ALL such LAW abiding citizens!)... you can't compare that lying cheater with someone who lived and paid into the school system... but didn't have the government's "OFFICIAL seal of approval"?

Speaking of... when the IRS accepts tax witholdings and SSA accepts them... and the numbers don't match... for the last 10 years... are you telling me the government didn't sanction their presence here? It's just another form of "don't as, son't tell". Only now... the more you "ask and tell" about immigration, the less people ask and tell about other more difficult topics... like 3rd round deployment to Hell.

Posted by Beth | November 30, 2007 7:44 PM

Clearly some of the posters here need their own blogs. If you can't say it in three paragraphs or less, why bother reading it?

Posted by Hansin Yabutay | November 30, 2007 7:46 PM

It's truly amazing how little factual information is contained in blogs.

That's my new e-mail signature!

Posted by Intentionally Left Blank | November 30, 2007 8:02 PM

"By the way - regardsless of their "illegal entry"... which warrants a what... a fine? Are you okay with the fact that THEIR tax dollars, sales tax, cig/alcholol tax, gasoline tax... the money their landlords make renting to them... the money Walm-Mart makes carrying corn tortillas... ALL contribute to the economy of Arkansas... where they lived, worked, and paid into the system?"

On second thought, scratch that. Republican or Democrat. Christian or Athiest. This country has lost it's abaility to exercise common sense - have HONEST discussion, and show any compassion at all.

There is a saying that I think applies to many of the multi-decade illegal residents: "People will never forgive you for crimes they are dying to commit themselves". Think about it. And meanwhile - I'll pray for each of you already composing your hateful retort that Fod shows you more compassion and forgiveness for your sins than you are willing to show His other children.

Posted by Beth | November 30, 2007 8:12 PM

death of irony:

I have no idea what you are talking about, nor do I seek your approval.

There are, inevitably, many things we have in common -- those are the things we should encourage. The opposite of unity is diversity.

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 8:22 PM

death of irony:

If you think supporting illegals is unity, then you are confused. We are law abiding citizens, therefore we need the legal process to be followed. I do not support illegal immigration, along with mainstream America.

You are choosing to combine two different topics and muddy the different concepts. Why do you do that?

Posted by Debrar | November 30, 2007 8:27 PM

It's truly amazing how little factual information is conveyed in blog comments.

Posted by Quietus | November 30, 2007 10:19 PM

I think that if we could only tap the full potential of Repiglican brains we could run an electric can opener for 12, maybe 15 minutes.

Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | December 1, 2007 12:20 AM

Remind me how exactly this thought is "entertaining"... I'm not sure I can imagine a worse ticket, or, in other words, one that better expresses the self-destruction of the conservative moment in the Bush era.

Huckabee is a pro-life socialist who's considered banning public smoking and offered crypto-support for affirmative action in the last debate. McCain's foreign policy would perpetuate and intensify Bush "let's bomb them into democracy" foreign-policy disaster.

Your main argument seems to be that they might win: McCain is the "maverick" and loved by the media. Huckabee is a non-fire-and-brimstone preacher who likes social programs, and thus is loved by the media.

Has conservatism become, in Douthat's mind, synonymous with "winning" or, worse, with being admired by Andrea Mitchell?

Posted by Richard Spencer | December 1, 2007 10:45 AM

The best part about Huckabee is his honesty, integrity and true conservative roots. He lays out his beliefs and stands on the issues and refuses to waver when speaking to different groups. He is the only true conservative in the field, both socially and fiscally, and is a person who can truly galvanize the Republican base. He is someone we conservatives have been missing for quite some time now.
https://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contribute.Home&r=321

Posted by Amanda | December 1, 2007 12:06 PM

Seing that I'm a social conservative trying to decide between McCain and Huckabee, I'd have to say I agree. McCain has integrity and credibility as a war leader, and if news from Iraq continues to improve, will look more and more statesmanlike. Huckabee is a strong social conservative with a silver tongue. Hillary's greatest weakness is probably her lack of integrity, which most voters are aware of. A Republican ticket that voters could trust would have an immense advantage--one Giuliani would likely throw away.

Posted by Joanna | December 1, 2007 12:25 PM

I like McCain and I could go for a McCain-Huckabee ticket - for the reasons you suggest. They would balance each other. I like Huckabee better as an all-around Conservative and he's "not angry about it".

I'll never be happy about Giuliani (Big Crime watchdog who can't see crime in his own office) and I don't trust Romney (Mr. Opportunist).

Huckabee is for closed, secure borders. And he has compassion for people, no matter where they are from, who are "up against it". He doesn't favor illegals over citizens - that's pure hyberbole. He doesn't want to punish the children of lawbreakers for their parents' crimes.

Posted by Nancy | December 1, 2007 6:55 PM

It is bizarre that you are talking about McCain Huckabee -- when the more likely situation is Huckabee McCain.

As Americans hear more of Huckabee, he *WILL* catch on. He is a fundamentally decent individual that does not have to take a poll to figure out what his positions are.

He is now starting to raise some real money, and the more people hear of him, the more they like him.

He'll make a fine president.

Posted by David | December 1, 2007 7:11 PM

David writes: "As Americans hear more of Huckabee, he *WILL* catch on. He is a fundamentally decent individual that does not have to take a poll to figure out what his positions are."

Yeah, a "fundamentally decent individual" who supports torture, a pointless war of aggression, the death penalty and warrantless wiretapping of American citizens.

In other words, just another son of a bitch.

Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | December 2, 2007 12:44 AM

I don't see why there isn't more press about why liberals would rather face ANYONE but Dr. Ron Paul. Much as we'd like politics to be positive, it is in fact ruled almost entirely by negatives. For instance, what's the biggest negative the Republican Party is facing in 2008? Iraq - a staggering 70% of people favor IMMEDIATE withdrawl from Iraq. Who is the only candidate that doesn't have that negative? Dr. Paul, who advocates using those trillions of dollars to secure our border (perhaps against Saudis who were 20 of the 24 terrorists in 9/11) and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure which is far more worrying than the loss of Social Security. Hm, full employment, withdrawl from Iraq and a huge boost to our economy from rebuilding our infrastructure - what Democrat wants to run against that. Hence the behavior of known liberal biased network CNN, who wants us to nominate either Guiliani or Romney - both of whose negatives are so high the copy practically writes itself!

Posted by Louis Nardozi | December 2, 2007 3:31 AM

As someone with a strong libertarian tendency, I recognize that Dr. Paul has some good, well thought out positions. But he also has some wacky ones, and would be road-kill in the general election.

McCain/Huckabee is probably the Republicans' only viable way to the White House. And even the Three Stooges should know that both of them oppose torture. I don't think many voters subscribe to the view that Iraq is "a pointless war of aggression" either. A botched but inevitable one, more likely.

Posted by Robert Powell | December 2, 2007 5:05 AM

John McCain is a warmongering neocon. He is pathetic in his defense of the Vietnam war and uses his status as POW to shove his fearmongering ideas down the throats of the American public. McCain and his ilk are history. America has had enough and is ready for the coming of RON PAUL and the REVOLUTION!

Posted by alley | December 2, 2007 3:23 PM

Robert Powell writes: "McCain/Huckabee is probably the Republicans' only viable way to the White House. And even the Three Stooges should know that both of them oppose torture. I don't think many voters subscribe to the view that Iraq is "a pointless war of aggression" either. A botched but inevitable one, more likely."

There was nothing "inevitable" about it, chuckles. It was purely a war of choice, and thus a war of aggression. I'm sure not many Republican voters feel that way, but fortunately there are fewer of those to go around these days.

McCain does say he opposes torture, but since he caved to Dumbya and Dickless on the issue when it really mattered I'll stand by my statement.

Posted by MoeLarryAndJesus | December 4, 2007 6:59 PM

I know no one has commented on this article in a while - but now that things look a little different - perhaps a Huckabee-McCain ticket would be more realistic and benficial to Republicans!

Posted by Nick | December 14, 2007 1:47 PM