Huckabee: Growin' on Me

Warning: It is too early to endorse any presidential candidate for the 2012 election.

Following the whole Fredhead phenomenon of ’08, which was so much fun but ultimately disappointing, it’s way too early to jump on any presidential candidate’s bandwagon. Right? Yes, way too early. For political junkies, presidential campaigns are the ultimate fix, and it is tempting to jump in prematurely. Having said that, Governor Mike Huckabee is starting to look better and better. And I am sorely tempted. Keep repeating the following: must not endorse, must not endorse…

While it’s only ’09, and we have three more long, Obama-filled, agonizing years until the 2012 elections, it doesn’t hurt anything to think ahead. Remember that the 2008 election started earlier than any presidential election in history (and Fred dilly dallied so long that he was too late), and 2012 will likely follow suit. We presently have several current and former GOP Governors who would fit the bill as our 2012 candidate.

Governor Tim Pawlenty is already, unofficially, running, having announced that he will not run for reelection as Governor of Minnesota; he obviously learned the lesson of the ’08 campaign that it’s never too early to start campaigning for president. You have to wonder how close he came to being McCain’s running mate…I’ll bet he came in second. And he lives very close to Iowa.

It’s hard to imagine that Governor Mitt Romney would not run, and he’s an impressive candidate; no doubt about it. Few candidates worked harder or smarter than he did in ’08. He seems like the quintessential perfect GOP candidate, doesn’t he? With our economy being the number one issue in the polls, his business background is very appealing.

And of course there’s Governor Sarah Palin, whose new book, Going Rogue, is a best seller on amazon.com, and who continues to travel the country making speeches and appearances. Her rock star status among the base puts her right up there at the top of the list as well.

Governor Bobby Jindal also comes to mind; bright, young, conservative, and appealing on many levels, his Indian ethnicity and the fact that he is the son of immigrants creates an intriguing candidacy, although he is on record as stating that he will not run in 2012.

Now let’s consider Governor Mike Huckabee. His new television show on FoxNews, Huckabee, is beating the competition in ratings, while showcasing his genial personality and his impressive intellect. Governor Huckabee enjoys discussing issues with folks of every political persuasion: He even invited Bill Mahr to appear on his program. And Bill Mahr accepted. That’s amazing. And that’s exactly what the GOP must demand in its 2012 presidential candidate. Mike Huckabee does not fear liberals. He mentors them. We also must elect a candidate who identifies with the average American: Down-home Arkansas-born Huckabee fits the bill to a tee. We require a candidate who is comfortable with our faith-based beliefs: Can’t do better than Huckabee, a Baptist minister. We crave a candidate who doesn’t get the “deer in the headlights” look when asked a tough question: Nothing fazes Huckabee. We want an experienced candidate who inspires confidence: Huckabee performed well in all of the ’08 debates. He’s a pretty cool guy. And he plays the guitar. Keep repeating: Must not endorse, must not endorse…

The 2008 roster of presidential candidates was extremely crowded, and with several excellent men from which to choose, primary votes were diluted. That could very well happen again. Every four years we have candidates who run to put a spotlight on a particular issue, such as Tom Tancredo and border control. But those candidates inevitably cannot win, and they end up hurting the conservative cause. (Question: Has any congressman ever won the presidency?) Many of my good friends supported candidates who were in single digits in the polls and couldn’t generate enough votes, or dollars, to campaign effectively. Let’s try to avoid that mistake this time around. Conservatives who are interested in actually winning must coalesce behind one solid, eminently qualified, undoubtedly electable candidate. Could that candidate be Mike Huckabee? That bandwagon is looking really attractive to this former Fredhead. But what will we call ourselves? Huckabee Wannabes? For now, we’ll just have to settle for joining the Huckabee fan club and Huckabee 2012 facebook groups. It’s going to be a long three years.

It's Time to "Win One for the Gipper!"

Americans are discouraged. Our economy continues to struggle; our troops are in danger; General Motors is now Government Motors; and Democrats are attempting to nationalize our healthcare. We all know what happens when the government gets involved in a problem. The last thing we want to hear is: "We're the government and we're here to help."

The best remedy for discouraged conservatives is to remember the optimism and vision of President Ronald Reagan. You can enjoy some of his quotations at this web site: Ronald Reagan quotations.

With the 2010 elections now only a year away, all is not lost. Americans are waking up. Any voter who did not go to the polls in '08 should now realize that the cost of apathy is too high. Republicans are poised to make large gains in 2010. President Obama's radical agenda must be stopped.

If President Reagan were alive today, there is no doubt what he would say. It is time to "Win one for the Gipper!"

Texas Conservatives Lack Discernment in Guv Race

How can any self-respecting Christian Conservative possibly support Governor Rick Perry for reelection in 2010? Governor Perry, famous for his "Adios, MoFo" remark on camera, has somehow managed to brand himself a “conservative” despite voluminous evidence to the contrary. The “trust but verify” YouTube clips regarding his flip-flops on the the border, on economic policy, and on his poor judgment are just a small sample of the overwhelming evidence that Governor Perry is no conservative.

Yet rank and file conservatives are lining up behind Perry’s reelection campaign. Why? The only explanation must be that conservatives who have bemoaned Perry’s record in recent years have decided that if they hitch their wagon to Perry they may be rewarded with some future political perks for their loyalty. It is either that or a complete lack of discernment on their part. Because there is so much evidence to refute any vestige of conservatism in Perry’s record that it is laughable.

Just one of Perry’s transgressions by any other elected Republican would result in widespread criticism. Yet Perry can promote Giuliani for President, sign the largest business tax increase in Texas history into law, increase the size of government, mandate vaccinations for children based on his financial relationship with Merck, flip-flop on the border, and in general behave like the worst kind of run-of-the-mill politician, with immunity.

If Perry is our nominee in November, conservatives may be in for a rude awakening, because his last general election showing of 39 % of the vote indicates that most Texans have much better discernment than Republican primary voters.

Obama isn't all that Cool, or Brilliant, Anymore

First, there were the “mom” jeans. When President Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star game in St. Louis, the internet experienced a surge in searches for the phrase “Obama wears mom jeans.” After Jessica Simpson's fashion faux pas, you would think he'd have known better.

Then there was the pitch itself. Let’s just say that this President can’t hold a candle to George W. Bush. Immediately following 9/11, President Bush threw a strike to Yankees' backup catcher Todd Greene, then walked off the field to chants of "USA, USA!" Obama's crowd was not quite as enthusiastic. The next most popular search was “Obama throws like a girl.”

Then, the Teleprompter of the United States, or TOTUS, crashed and burned during a speech on the economy. And we all know what a disaster it is when the POTUS doesn't have his TOTUS.

Finally, to top off a bad month, Obama accused Cambridge police officers of acting “stupidly.” This ill-advised comment exposed the President’s deep-seated personal bias, prompting some to wonder if the Reverend Wright had indeed influenced President Obama's worldview, just a little, after all. Even inviting Officer Crowley to the White House for a beer didn't help.

Oh, and Obamacare is on hold until October. Thank goodness.

While these incidents may seem superficial to some, they are just a few indications of a drop in popularity for the once seemingly untouchable President. Today’s Rasmussen poll has the President’s popularity at an all-time low of 48 percent. And his numbers are falling faster than Presidents Bush or Carter.

In Ben Stein’s latest article, We've Figured Him Out, Ben postulates that Americans are finally starting to realize that they voted for a “pig in a poke” in 2008. Stein calls Obama,
“…a super likeable super leftist, not a fan of this country, way, way too cozy with the terrorist leaders in the Middle East, way beyond naïveté, all the way into active destruction of our interests and our allies and our future.”

As Charles Krauthammer puts it in his piece Rhetoric Meets Reality, Americans just aren’t buying Obama’s claims. The President’s prime time health care press conference caused more confusion than clarification. So much for the master communicator. Unemployment continues to rise. So much for Obama’s claim that unemployment would stop climbing after passage of his stimulus.

Some are even beginning to question the widely held assumption that President Obama is a genius. A recent article in American Thinker dares to ask the question: Just how smart is Obama? Six months ago that question would have been met with incredulity by many. Now, Americans are starting to wonder if they’ve been duped.

One reporter was quoted as saying that this President needs a vacation. On Drudge today, a story appeared entitled, “Iowa woman sells her TVs in order to avoid seeing Obama.” The reporter evidently had it backwards: Americans are the ones who need the vacation – from this President and his dangerous agenda.

Royal Masset: "Lost" Legislative Session

Royal Masset, long-time Republican, gives his opinion on the "lost" legislative session and the lack of leadership in Texas...here's an excerpt. Full OpEd at link below.

Talk about substantive ideas of governing. Stop chanting the word “conservative” like a village idiot. The word has lost its meaning. Many of our primary debates have been little more shouting matches to see who is the most conservative. This may be great for winning the March Republican primary. But it may not win in November.

I’m not even sure what “conservative” means anymore. One of “conservative’s” meanings used to be more local control. But in the “lost Session” the so called conservative position was against local option for things like red light cameras and taxes for local transportation systems.

For the first time since the early 1990’s, the Democrats will field Class A candidates. John Sharp, Kirk Watson and Bill White are among the best candidates ever fielded for statewide office. They all have proven track records in governing. They are not second string “miracle team” media freaks. So far we Republicans are lucky they have focused on the US Senate special election and have designated a weak candidate, Tom Shieffer, to run for Governor.

While I love Rick Perry dearly, he would serve Texas Republicans best by not running for reelection. Conservatives used to favor term limits.


http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/16/royal-masset-on-the-lost-session/

From D Magazine: Perry Produces Deficit; Claims Surplus

And the hits keep coming...

http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2009/07/29/rick-perry-produces-deficit-claims-surplus/

Texas May Borrow $ 2 Billion to Cover Unemployment Insurance Shortfall

The numbers seem to be getting worse and worse...http://www.quorumreport.com/