Steve Waldman says that if Sarah Palin is planning a 2012 run for the GOP presidential nomination, only Mike Huckabee can stop her from locking up the religious conservative base.
That sounds about right to me. Strangely enough, the fact that people who are non-religious like Mike Huckabee (vs. Palin, who gives them fits), may actually hurt him with religious conservatives in the GOP. I am reminded of the twin evangelists who used to preach in front of the LSU Student Union -- anyone who was at LSU in the mid-to-late 1980s will remember those guys -- who seemed to measure their own success by how much everybody else despised them. It was bizarre. I was no serious Christian back then, but I couldn't for the life of me understand what those boys hoped to achieve. It was as if they were inspired by the contempt of the crowd.
Similarly with Palin, it's as if any criticism of her is not only dismissed as based entirely on elite prejudice, but is also seen as validating her legitimacy. It's bizarre. Of course there really are elites who are driven berserk by Palin, and who do have an inexplicable obsession with tearing this woman down. Nevertheless, she's not suited for the presidency, and I am a religious conservative who cannot see voting for her, despite initially being impressed by her (and infuriated by those who stopped at nothing to tear her down). Making the right enemies is politically useful, but it's not a qualification for the presidency. Even so, unless Bobby Jindal or Mike Huckabee choose to run in 2012 -- and I think it would be foolish for Jindal to do so at this point -- it's hard to see who's going to carry the social and religious conservative banner.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Huckabee's the only candidate whose popularity has been growing since the 2008 primaries. He's the total package - he's witty & articulate plus he has a well established executive track record of getting things done with an extremely partisan legislature. He is a social, fiscal & national defense conservative - he is a Reagan Republican. This is exactly what our country needs right now.
(And the GOP needs to recognize that you can't add to your numbers by subtracting - they need Reagan's coalition)
Those who accuse Huckabee of fiscal liberalism need to exercise a little due diligence (& independent thought). Spending money on infra-structure & responsibly improving education & healthcare is fiscal prudence. Which is why he walked into the AR governorship with a huge deficit -- and left office with a substantial $844 million surplus.
People need to stop equating fiscal conservatism with the refusal to spend money and recognize it more appropriately as only using our tax dollars prudently...
I welcome a Palin/Huckabee fight to the finish and may the best man win! Seriously, either one is conservative enough and I'd generally be rooting for Huckabee. But what we don't have to worry about is that the vote will be split allowing Romney to move in. That is not going to happen. He is not trusted by any on the right except the talk show hosts. Otherwise, look for him to turn even further to the left to separate himself from Pal/Huck. He can't compete so he will stake out claims to the left of both (where his heart is!).
But this time the center-right Republicans (as Mitt-loving Hugh Hewitt calls himself) will mostly be looking for a winner, not McCain II. I also believe that each of them could do the party good if they can avoid the sharp-tongue we know both of them are capable of (they are as fallen as the rest of us, I am afraid). Palin will have to avoid the temptation to court the talk-show hosts by calling Huckabee a lib, and Huckabee ought to avoid attacking her personally altogether
"people who are non-religious like Mike Huckabee"
To use your newest expression - vom! I'm not religious and I think anyone who compares consenting adult gay relationships to pedophilia/child-molestation or bestiality is an asshat (to use another of your 'famous' sayings), not to mention a not-very-nice human being.
And Charlie Crist is a well-known (not-so)closet(ed) case -likes the bois, so he's a goner in religionland.
@Your Name,
Context is key & given the fact that the polygamists & polyamorists are already moving on the heels of the same-sex crowd - and that the authors of the recent "hate crimes" bill refused to explicitly exclude pederasty & pedophilia from its protection - I would say that Huckabee & Santorum & all those who were warning of this very thing were being prophetic rather than bigoted.
It is possible to have no problem with homosexuals per se & still not want to have the foundational structures of society overturned. It is even possible to 'hate the sin & love the sinner'. Disagreeing with someone's lifestyle & personal choices does not make one a bigot.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.