Mike Huckabee For President

Is the nation ready for another Arkansas Governor turned President?  Can we handle Hillary running against a real Arkansan?

Mike Huckabee has the diet book, the ambition, and an interesting new health care plan (There should be more at the Arkansas Health and Human Services website, but good luck.)

The diet book was an excuse for a national tour, and resulted in a plug from Nick Kristof  (excerpted here).  Obviously, the diet book also ties in to the health insurance plan.

And perhaps most important - the unofficial blog is up and at 'em.

I'm not ready.

Comments

[MayBee]

Huckabee would be the best presidential last name EVER.

[Gary Maxwell]

If Kristof is not slamming the guy and is in fact shilling for him, my antennna goes up. Beware of greeks bearing gifts or something.

[TP]

How about "Beware of geeks bearing grifts".

[Sue]

Huckabee? For President? I wonder what Bush's nickname for him would be? Huck or Bee?

[topsecretk9]

The diet book gives me the creeps. Isn't it a bit too Dr.Phil-ish for a President?

[topsecretk9]

Also, this horrible of me, but I kind like his look pre-diet book. Appealing looks (not necessarily good looks) matter in a Pres. race. That is why I think Frist should just give it up, he's got super creepy hair.

[maryrose]

I heart Huckabee and agree President Huckabee has a distinct ring to it.

[Sue]

If hair is the criteria, have I got a governor fer ya'. My very own Governor Good Hair Perry. ::grin::

[maryrose]

I like Governor Perry. He seems like a regular guy.

[Gary Maxwell]

You can have him. Couldn't lead his dog to the food bowl. Empty suit with a 24 carat smile.

[Sue]

Aww...come on Gary. He does have good hair. ::grin::

I personally like my governor. No matter what Gary says. ::grin::

[topsecretk9]

My Gov's the Terminator. I once was held up at the parking entrance of the hotel he resides at by his detail blocking so Arnie could depart, only I didn't get what was happening because I was running late so I was annoyed. Anyhoo, a final bustle of activity and suddenly the car doors open and close. Because it was night and the parking garage lighting I got a full shot of the shiniest, most moisturized forehead I have ever seen in my whole life and perfectly coifed hair.

OH, it's the Governor I was honking my horn at! Oops.

[Gary Maxwell]

Hair and smile I will grant you. He only looks good because the three midgets he is running against are midgets. Scotts mom ( ugh ) Kinky Friedman ( of Texas Jewboys fame ) and last but not least Chris Bell who could not hold office in a Democrat leaning district. I really want None of the Above.

[topsecretk9]

I'm with you Sue. Total Hottie.

[maryrose]

ts
We would call what happened with you and AHNALD as a celebrity sighting! Have you seen any other stars?

[maryrose]

Gary:
Imus likes Kinky and always has him on his show. He reminds me of Jesse Ventura.

[Sue]

Gary,

So there ya' go. Ya' really don't have a choice. It's good hair or nothing. Come on. Do it for hair people everywhere. ::grin::

[MayBee]

I saw the Terminator when he was filming in Chicago. I was surprised that he wasn't all that tall. Who knew he'd be governor of California someday?
Now his picture is plastered all over my grocery store right here in downtown Tokyo. In the picture, he's shaking hands with the owners of the store, and he looks very tall indeed.

[Gary Maxwell]

None of the above is the thinking man's choice here.

[Sue]

Back to Tom's topic of choice. I know nothing about Huckabee other than he lost a lot of weight. Even living in the state next to him, not much news about him.

[Sue]

Yeah, well, I'm not a man. He is eye candy. ::grin::

[MayBee]

I know Huckabee was smart enough to not get himself involved in Whitewater. Jim Guy Tucker definitely had better hair, but found himself in prison while Huckabee became governor.

Sue- I'm guessing your gov is Perry? I can't think of other cute governors.

[topsecretk9]

I am more impresses that he's run his 3rd marathon already!

MaryR
More than I'd care to have. Actually a few have been very gracious and fun...but many are really just so rude and full of themselves.

My favorite was the crew from the Drew Carey show at the same hotel (someone I know very well works there and I did too) very fun and sociable.

Sue, I got a lucky at the same hotel. It was Christmas Eve and Steve Nash and the other really good guy on the Mavericks (can't think of his name)...well known not to give autographs...they were in the the lobby and I just interrupted them and I think they were so involved with what they were talking about they just both signed and just kept talking.

[Sue]

Dirk Nowinski? (I'm not sure if that is exactly how you spell it.)

[topsecretk9]

yes.

[Sue]

Maybee,

Yes. Rick Perry is my governor. And Gary's too, though he isn't crazy about his hair.

[Gary Maxwell]

Sue, I got a lucky at the same hotel.

Uh TS perhaps preview would have been your friend here!

[topsecretk9]

The Scuttlebutt on Arnie, is he waltzes around restaurants talking to people, but here is what I think is very cool, he starts eating food off of peoples plates while he's talking to them.

[Gary Maxwell]

His hair aint my problem Sue. He has shown no leadership at all in the State. We can do better. Maybe Dan Branch will run in the future. You ladies would like him ( is the term hottie?) and a sharp intellect too.

[topsecretk9]

Gary
Yes it would have. And to think I am a natural brunette to boot!

[Gary Maxwell]

OT but very funny. What was the name of the nut case who got the secret memos from Lucy Ramirez on Bush Tang service? His attonrey in that whole fiasco was one David Van Os. Running unopposed in the Democrat primary in Texas for Attorney General is none other than David Van Os. Incumbent Greg Abbott will of course cream him in the general election and we may get to hear some more from David on the fake but accurate memos. You cant make stuff this good up.

[topsecretk9]

Holy Crap...Drudge now, to be WAPO tomorrow (I think this thread is slightly being hijacked) but, there are soooo many comments to make about this...but..but...DATA MING VOTERs (apparently the Clinotns like this kinda thing for voters, not terrorists) and um Soros (there you go Campaign Finance reform) , this is a juicy one

HILLARY OP PLANS DATABASE TO RIVAL DNC; SOROS FINANCED
Tue Mar 07 2006 20:38:16 ET

A group of well-connected Democrats led by a former top aide to Bill and Hillary Clinton is raising millions of dollars to start a private firm -- that plans to compile huge amounts of data on Americans to identify Democratic voters.

The effort by Harold Ickes, a deputy chief of staff in the Clinton White House and an adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is prompting intense behind-the-scenes debate in Democratic circles, the WASHINGTON POST is planning to report on Wednesday.

Officials at the Democratic National Committee think that creating a modern database is their job, and say that a competing for-profit entity could divert energy and money that should instead be invested with the national party.

Ickes and others involved in the effort acknowledge that their activities are a vote of no confidence in the DNC under Chairman Howard Dean.

The venture is being backed by financier George Soros.

Developing...

link

[topsecretk9]

a vote of no confidence in the DNC under Chairman Howard Dean.

I guess this means war...meanwhile, what is the Dems new platform for Nov again?

[Gary Maxwell]

"Platform ? We dont need no stinking Platform!"

[Sue]

There is a blog, I think it is Hugh Hewitt, that has a tic, tic, tic on the pandemic bird flu potential. We need one here for the democrats platform.

Tic...tic...tic...

Dean told us last December it would be unveiled after the 1st of the year. I wonder which year he was referring to?

[Sue]

Tom Delay won his primary.

[topsecretk9]

Sue
Terribly OT, but apparently in on one of these CSPAN appearances by Walter Pincus (I think the March 31, 2005 one) he Walter refers to "Victoria" Plame (you know that is one of my weird fascinations), only the video isn't working for me

[Gary Maxwell]

Well unless you got different info than the Sec of State only 15% of the precincts have reported in DeLay primary. But he is way ahead and well liked in his district so this is no surprise. He will win and again in the Fall despite the fervent hopes of many no Texas Demos.

[Sue]

Top,

I swear there is something to this Victoria business.

Gary,

I must have. They are calling it for Delay.

[topsecretk9]

speaking of Delays and platforms

According to multiple accounts from those in the room, Reid said they had narrowed the list to six and proceeded to talk about them. Pelosi then offered her six -- not all the same as Reid's. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said later: "One of the other governors said 'What do you think?' and I said 'You know what I think? I don't think we have a message.' "

[topsecretk9]

Gary, Insta-HEH put this link with pretty up to date, but I am guessing you know this. I am watching the other race too ( Rodriguez (D)* · · Cuellar (D) · · ·) I'm kinda rootin the netrroters pick get it, because I think it will make Dems nuttier (and that is just mean of me)

[topsecretk9]

The netrooters are all over this Cuellar, accusing him of vote fraud (kinda like they do to republicans in general elections) anyways, do Democrats think everyone steals vote EXCEPT the one they are rooting for? Also, I don't think I've seen this kinda viscous accusations to members of the SAME part before, has anyone else?

And another thing, these viscous rumors always seem to be dire and happen the minute it looks like it's getting real close.

[larwyn]

What data banks will the Dems mine?

This could be a fun thread. Consider they will have the cooperation of the owners of Google, Microsoft, and Hustler magazine ----just off the top.

[Gary Maxwell]

I am betting that Cuellar pulls this out although its going to be close. Ciro is a San Antonio guy ( that Bexar Co). His votes are all in. He won pretty big there. But Cuellar is a south Texas guy. Webb is on the border and Zapata is close. He will get upwards of 80% of every vote from there. If he got the voters out to the polls, he wins. No republican running there so this is the election. Stay tuned.

Democrats accusing Democrats of vote fraud. Now that is a change isn't it.

[topsecretk9]

The link above has an update to the vote daly (tech mumbo jumbo)

But Dem accusing Dems of vote fraud is sure a change, I'll say.

[topsecretk9]

I am getting disgusted with my typos, I've been lazy. Sorry.

[KM]

It all depends. Does he got a purdy mouf?

[topsecretk9]

Gary

The Cuellar vs. the Netrooters sort of reminds me of the Filibuster situation. Either way it was a no win for the Dem party (leaders)- netrooters are either empowered or pissed off.

[Gary Maxwell]

Has Kos taken a formal position? I dont read the turd. But with his track record if he is on board with Ciro I would mark it a lock that Cuellar wins. He is oh for life. Not just in politics either.

[topsecretk9]

Has Kos taken a formal position?

Yeah, and raised quite a bit of money for him I believe. Firedoglady too.

[Gary Maxwell]

Ya gotta laugh. Webb early ballots have now been tabulated. Cuellar surges to the lead. Still dont have election day totals form Webb county so he is going to smash Ciro/Kos. Oh for life I am saying. The man is the kiss of death.

[Gary Maxwell]

I just went and check the counties and the precincts still to report. 86 precincts still to report. 6 of them in the San Antonio area that will likely go for Ciro. All the rest are in South Texas including 30 in Cuellar's hometown of Laredo ( Webb Co ). He is at 48% so he must get 50.1 to avoid a runoff. It looks like game set match to me unless the SoS site I am using has its county and precinct info wrong ( I am seriously wrong ).

Kos doing his Wily Coyote impression again.

[topsecretk9]

Okay I left and have just returned. Yipes.

[topsecretk9]

Gary

Read this lefty's analysis on the Cuellar election , I'm not going to comment. I want to see what you think first (for some reason the main post is a direct linking to kos, so scroll to the Thank You post)

[topsecretk9]

Gary

I will make one comment, Cuellar improved in all counties since '04(apparently) so um what kind of glue is this?

[Florence Schmieg]

I really like Mike Huckabee. Most people don't know much about him. I think more will begin to lean towards him the more exposure he gets.

[JM Hanes]

Isn't Huckabee the guy who staged a public renewal of his marriage vows at, like, the local coliseum, in a big born again type ceremony?

[Gary Maxwell]

Well thank you for that splash of cold water this morning TSniner. I loved the bottom comment from none other than the hamster wheeler. Its all the Republicans fault - because in an open primary they crossed over and voted for a Democrat. Its the Ohio special election all over again. They won by losing or something like that. I realay saw little logic in most of the comments from the disheartened lot.

Its funny how they were crowing they forced a run off in early posts but then even that escaped them. If they had read my post last evening they would have known what was up and could have gone to bed and slept it off. And why was their candidate a "long shot" when Ciro was an incumbent two years ago and lost by only a few hundred votes? If last time was a fluke he should have been able to get the "real" Democrats out this time by showing them what happens when they dont turn out.

The fact that it is an open primary in Texas is in fact, true. What they also fail to mention is that you can not sign a petition for an independent candidacy if you voted in the primary. And two independents are going to run for Governor and need lots of signatures in the next thirty days and are polling well ahead of Chris Bell, the sacrificial candidate for the Dems. Some Dems must be holding out so they can support an opponent to Perry. Did that hold down the vote for Cuellar? Who knows, but its al least as possible as Republicans voting for Democrats in a primary. Finding Republicans in Laredo and west San Antonio would require a flashlight, and a lot of work in my opinion.

[JM Hanes]

tops

Read the firedoglake item on Ciro vs Cuellar, and except for the usual "losing = winning" moment, I think Hamsher was pretty much dead right on how conservatives finally came to power and nearly right on how long it took them to get there.

[Sue]

Gary,

It sounds to me like a Paul Hackett moment. They won by losing, or something like that. Texas has always had open primaries. And the majority of local officials run on the democratic ballot. If you want to vote for x, y, or z for local sherrif, you have to vote in the democratic primary, even if in the national or statewide election you vote republican. That is the fault (if fault is to be placed) of the locals, who, IMO, are leftovers from the days when democrats ruled Texas. None in my town share the values of the Deaniacs, the Koskids, the Kerryites.

[Gary Maxwell]

Listen I did not go look but if you go to Webb County, I doubt that there is an elected County official who is a Republican. Every race is decided in the Democrat primary.

This was the lefties eating their own. Cuellar had his picture taken with GWB for gosh sakes. Hang him.

They seem to be trying to rally the troop now to go take on Casey in the Democrat primary in Pa. He is not acting blue enough for them.

These folks are going to be found in one of three places soon:

1)Sworn off politics all together and bitter about the experience.

2)Happily supporting a fringe third party candidate who really really gets their views

3)Dead or committed from the deep depression that just wont go away.

I do not see this personality type having the discipline and the internal fortitude to wander in the desert for 20 years developing their message and candidates.

[Sue]

Gary,

Exactly my point. There are no elected republicans in any position in my county. Not one. GWB carried it by an overwhelming majority. Ralph Hall switched to republican after re-districting. We vote democratic on the local level because we really have no choice. No one runs in the republican primaries. If we get a lone republican, they run unopposed and never win the election. Politics in Texas. ::grin::

[Gary Maxwell]

Sue

You must be in Rockwall county, which I think has the distinction of being the smallest county in Texas. I am surprised that Republicans have not broken thru there yet. Hang to er. Its coming like a tidal wave now that George Bush Freeway ( isn't that great as a metaphor) has opened up travel out to there.

[The Unbeliever]

Slightly off topic, but while reading the Ciro vs Cuellar post at firedoglake, I scrolled down and saw another post ranting about the Republican deal with the White House on the NSA program. And we come to this interesting little line:

Proving once again -- there is no such thing as a moderate Republican.

The emphasis is in the original, and now I wonder: are our friends on the left allowed to join Greenwald's fabled Authoritarian Cult? It seems to me that a rather non-conservative blogger has, by discounting the possibility of a "moderate", just divided the political spectrum into stark conservative and liberal camps. So anyone conservatives might label as a moderate, instead of a hardcore conservative, isn't actually a moderate and must therefore be a liberal?

I suppose it throws a snag into Greenwald's hypothesis because the stark "with us or against us" labelling came from the left instead of the right. Or maybe that's allowed now; I don't know, the whole AC theory got too convoluted for me to follow. Someone call the Cult HR Department, we need clarification on the hiring policies!

[cathyf]

I'm guessing your gov is Perry? I can't think of other cute governors.

How can you miss Illinois? Heck, I even voted for The Haircut. It was him, or the former prosecutor who tried to send somebody to the electric chair by keeping secret the indisputable proof he had that the guy was innocent. (In general I support the death penalty, but only for people who are guilty. I'm still somewhat shocked that there are people who think "law and order" means that guilt or innocence doesn't matter -- a notch on the belt is a notch on the belt.)

cathy :-)

[larwyn]

Last night when I read the comment re Drudge Alert on the Dems Data Mining,
my first thought was they would have the help of Google, Microsoft and Hustler Magazine. As soon as I posted I realized I had skipped typing in Amazon.
Reading the WaPo article today:

Data Mining Clinton Democrats

In addition to Soros's support, Ickes has the financial backing of some of the wealthy participants in a new fundraising group called the Democracy Alliance. He and Quinn, who will be chief executive of Data Warehouse, have hired technology specialists from internet retailer Amazon.com and a Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology computer project

......

The Republican database has allowed the party and its candidates to tailor messages to individual voters and households, using information about the kind of magazines they receive, whether they own guns, the churches they attend, their incomes, their charitable contributionsand their voting histories

This makes it possible to specifically address the issues of voters who, in the case of many GOP supporters, may oppose abortion, support gun rights or be angry about government use of eminent domain to take private property. A personalized pitch can be made during door-knocking, through direct mail and e-mail, and via phone banks.

My imagination runs wild with the possibilities, surely they will get input from "Rock the Vote" - probably carry CD's produced for each neighborhood or
home and as background for their telephone calling. So we have God Fearing Church goers living next to those with another lifestyle (shall we say). Hit track
one "We will Overcome" for the former and that Academy Award winning song "It's Hard Out Here Being a Pimp". Yeah that will work.

Wonder what they would play at Women's Shelters? Naaa they will skip those - Jails a more fertile field.

And with Amazon's help any registered Republican that purchased "The DaVinci Code" would be targeted with the "theocracy" b.s.

They needn't waste much time putting the purchasers of any Al Franken's books on the "Hit up for Contributions and Volunteers List".

Switch to the Libertarian spiel with the subscribers to "Hustler" and the
viewers of soft porn. Guess that will be same spiel to members of NAMBLA.

Sure you smart and more in touch commenters can take this to terrific heights/depths.

So this is what a certain someone. R/S/S .has been doing down in that secret lair all these years.

If I am being harsh in myestimation of that "Big Tent Party", I meant to be.

[larwyn]

Dems must go the individual route -
they are like Arafat et al - saying one thing in English and the opposite in Arabic.

The Dems don't want to say anything
outright in English except the lame: "Together, America can do better".

Then they can tailor their lies to each individual - playing both sides of each issue.

Wonder if they will don camo and orange hats while canvassing southern and western states - with a back sheep in the van.

[topsecretk9]

JM

I agree with

was pretty much dead right on how conservatives finally came to power and nearly right on how long it took them to get there.

However, I would argue that the conservative message resonated only because the progressive message didn't anymore and that is what they don't seem to get (as the Chomsky quote proves)

[maryrose]

I hear they are now dropping the "Together"
of America can do better because it is awkward and lacks synergy." America can do better with dems out of power.

[topsecretk9]

Update: Two more thoughts, spurred by an email Armando sent me -- if Cuellar had a Republican opponent in November, I would support Cuellar for the general. The time to fight for the soul of the party is in the primaries. Once the primaries are over, I'm happy to get behind whoever wins.

But for that same reason, it's important that primaries be closed. Independents and Republicans have no business meddling in internal party decisions (like they can in Texas). There's a worthy project for someone to take charge of -- which states have open primaries, and what is the process for closing them.

This is Kos at the end of his we won by loosing screed, but what is so telling about this? They were accusing this guy of vote fraud LAST NIGHT!

[Gary Maxwell]

He may be a crook but he is our crook dagnapit. Nevermind that we call him a bunch of rotten names hours ago.

[Sue]

Close the primaries. No one runs on the republican ticket much anyway. Come November, we cross over and vote republican. Nothing can be done about that.

[Sue]

By the time the nominees for president make it to Texas Tuesday, the parties have already decided. I was a contrarian. Even though Kerry was the only official democratic nominee still in the race, I voted for Al Sharpton. Why? Because our local newspaper breaks down the votes by precinct. I thought my lone vote for Sharpton would stand out. Wrong. A few others either really felt he would be a good president or were casting a protest vote, like me. ::grin::

[Gary Maxwell]

Sue

Its a good thing we vote in compelte secrecy. I would otherwise think mothers would be rushing their kids out of your path at the grocery store.

[Sue]

Gary,

LOL. If my vote had mattered, I wouldn't have cast it in disdain. I hate the fact that my vote in the primaries for a presidential candidate is merely going through the motions.

[topsecretk9]

Brainster has 2 very good posts up, here is one about the netroots effort (very funny) and Peter Daou's (latest)report on the "open letter to Chris Matthew's effort (because you know when someone says something un-liberal they must be a conservative)

All very good reading!

[topsecretk9]

BTW
What I thought was super hilarious about Daou's? He's such a good liberal, he assumes(or spins, you pick) that since the "OLTCM" site has had 300,000 some odd hits since it's start that mean it is a smashing success! Um, yeah ...did all those advertisers abandon chris Matthew's or do you think um some, most of those hits were people who couldn't help themselves from looking in on the train wreck?

[larwyn]

6 in 06! {6 issues}
and
60 in 06! {60 senators}

6 and 60 in 06! ???

We know many of their policies have resulted in outcomes that are dire and that they are committed to destroying the values in the
American culture.

But even though many of their behaviors are evil, I would never have gone so far to assign them the triple 6's.

Wonder how that slogan will look on those fans they pass out when campaigning in Black Churches?

[Gary Maxwell]

Here is a snip from the NY Daily News columnist on the Demos and their message problems:

The disarray is a sign of the chickens coming home to roost. For years, Democrats have been more of a collection of disparate interest groups than people united around a political philosophy. Attempts to identify core beliefs inevitably end up either offending some of the interest groups or being so wacky that swing voters run in the other direction. This inability of Dems to broaden their base explains why Republicans have won seven of the last 10 presidential elections.

Will Rogers saw the problem coming 70 years ago. He's still right, and we're all still laughing.

[topsecretk9]

Gary
I would say that is a pretty good analysis -- too many interests to please. What I find it interesting is the head in the sand aspect, or the belief that everyone really believes in what they do...it's just that Karl Rove has outwitted them. Well yeah but with your help, Karl's most effective strategy is using their own words and it works EVERY-TIME!

Here's a theory, if liberals stop talking maybe they'll win elections?

[topsecretk9]

They were accusing this guy of vote fraud LAST NIGHT!

I just had a thought, so if Cuellar ever runs against a republican...
Just pointing out what they said/did.

[MayBee]

I don't believe in forcing voters to register for one party or another. I'm a voter, a citizen, not a partisan. The candidates are the one that belong to parties, not voters. If a voter chooses to self-identify with one party, that's grand. To force an individual to choose a party in order to excercise their right to vote seems anti-Democratic, imho.

[Sue]

Maybee,

Even with open primaries, you are forced to choose which party matters the most to you. I can't vote in both. I have to choose if I want to vote the democratic ticket or the republican ticket. When fall rolls around, it is open election and I can vote for whichever party I choose or mix it up.

[MayBee]

I understand that, and I think that's fair, but I don't support primaries that are closed altogether to people not registered to a particular party.
Unless the party wants to pick up the tab for the election, the election should at least be open to all voters even though they have to eventually decide which party they are going to vote for.

[Sue]

I'm not familiar with that. Texas has never been closed. In states that have closed elections, you have to register a party affilliation to vote?

[MayBee]

To vote in a party primary, you have to be registered to that party. That's what I'm against. Unless the party is paying for running the whole election, I think every voter should have the opportunity to participate in that election.

[MayBee]

I'm writing very incoherently this morning. Maybe I always do and I am just finally aware of it. Don't tell me if that's true.

[Gary Maxwell]

OT but you will want to see this. Remember when I found Sheehan spokesperson, the famous Dip Wright?

Well Citizen Smash has a recent speech of hers up and its a doozy. Here is a taste:

former U.S. diplomat Ann Wright expresses sympathy for Bin Laden.

Why is Bin Laden and al Qaeda [sic] intent on doing harm to the people of America? Is there a reason why they are after us? And, if there are some reasons... should we consider, perhaps, evaluating whether or not they may have a point on a few things?

Got that Bin Laden has a point. Or as Senator Murray once said he does build lots of daycare centers!

[richard mcenroe]

"America can do better"

Not sure that's the slogan I'd want pasted over my candidate's picture...