tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post3769812080339913254..comments2023-06-14T09:59:17.258-04:00Comments on A Thinking Man's Thoughts: Romney and Huckabee - Some thoughts on politicsFrank Sansonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827320724505906703noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-49804635559509780052008-02-07T23:28:00.000-05:002008-02-07T23:28:00.000-05:00Wow! I didn't know Romney read my blog! (jk)Don,...Wow! I didn't know Romney read my blog! (jk)<BR/><BR/>Don, <BR/><BR/>I am not sure about the VP choice. After the hits both McCain and Huckabee have taken from the talking heads, I am not sure that combining the two will go over very well. Of course, if Huckabee really does stay in and runs well (especially in the southern states) without burning bridges, he may be considered strong enough to help shore up the southern base and evangelical vote and leave McCain to try to pick up some of the "purple states."<BR/><BR/>(Of course, this is assuming that McCain is the nominee instead of Huckabee :) ).<BR/><BR/>Assuming it is McCain (probably safe assumption), it would seem that someone that is strongly conservative would be a help. (After all, when Republicans were concerned that Reagan was "too conservative" and get beaten like Goldwater, he chose the more moderate George Bush as his VP to help squelch the fears of the more country club Republicans.) <BR/><BR/>It would also be helpful to have someone young and/or from a significant swing state.<BR/><BR/>I have heard Governor Crist in Florida as a choice. <BR/><BR/>Other names that may be out there are Tom Coburn (OK), DeMint (SC), Pawlenty (MN).<BR/><BR/>I may have additional thoughts later.Frank Sansonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827320724505906703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-60027932885684543752008-02-07T16:20:00.000-05:002008-02-07T16:20:00.000-05:00Wow... so Romney is out...I am not sure it will be...Wow... so Romney is out...<BR/><BR/>I am not sure it will be Huckabee, though. McCain isn't fond of Christians, I seem to recall. He is appearing with George Allen at CPAC today, I heard. Maybe Allen? I think I could support that ticket. I would be much less enthusiastic about McCain/Huck<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>Don Johnson<BR/>Jer 33.3Don Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03332212749734904541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-29818237564856423532008-02-07T08:23:00.000-05:002008-02-07T08:23:00.000-05:00It's looking more and more like it's going to be a...It's looking more and more like it's going to be a McCain/Huckabee ticket.Andy Eftinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05231426728825731848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-16564071352298250622008-02-06T23:53:00.000-05:002008-02-06T23:53:00.000-05:00Hi Frank,I wouldn't class Huckabee as a liberal, b...Hi Frank,<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't class Huckabee as a liberal, but he does seem to me to be somewhat pragmatic. In a sense, he seems like GWB without the backbone. I think Bush has made serious blunders in cooperating with the Democrats especially in domestic policy. This is from pre-911 and his notions of 'compassionate conservatism'. [Not that we shouldn't be compassionate!]<BR/><BR/>Huckabee seems to think a lot the same way, but to be weak on foreign policy.<BR/><BR/>If he were to somehow get the presidency, I think he would be a disaster, which would doom the influence of the Christian right for they would largely be responsible for getting him there. So... I don't favour him. I hope he isn't McCain's VP.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>Don Johnson<BR/>Jer 33.3Don Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03332212749734904541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-45646278261967446532008-02-06T22:21:00.000-05:002008-02-06T22:21:00.000-05:00Don,I keep hearing the claim that Huckabee is (as ...Don,<BR/><BR/>I keep hearing the claim that Huckabee is (as Thompson put it) a "Pro-Life Liberal", but I have not seen any good evidence to that fact. If you could point me to something that establishes it, I would appreciate it (honestly). <BR/><BR/>I understand that he raised taxes some, but he also cut them. Some of the taxes he raised were mandated by the courts in his state and while he raised taxes, he was also awarded a "Friend of the Taxpayer" award because of the cuts he had made in spending. Reagan raised taxes as Governor of California, but few consider him not to be a conservative because of it. He came to the governship following Tucker and Clinton and had a number of issues that needed to be cleaned up - such as roads - and taxes were raised to cover those things, but in the end, he finished his last year with a surplus of $850 million - that hardly seems to be a tax and spend liberal (at least not the spend part), but maybe there is more to this story.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that people (not necessarily you) are willing to give Romney a pass on his socially liberal past (and he is still pro-homosexual priviledges), but cream Huckabee for some tax increases in a state that he left in significantly better financial condition. <BR/><BR/>I don't agree with the tuition for illegal immigrants, but I understand his reasoning. The Drummond case is not as "cut and dried" as some like to make it, but he admits that it was mistake (hey, hindsight is 20-20). <BR/><BR/>There are some other things I have concerns about, but I have not seen enough for him to accurately be described as a liberal and he is surely no more liberal in his governship that Romney was in his. Again, however, maybe I just have not seen the right materials on this. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I agree with you that there aren't any real good candidates this time around. I also think, however, that the way that the talking heads (all around) have painted things, not even Reagan would escape their scrutiny as a true conservative if he were running today.Frank Sansonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09827320724505906703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-67854790770221980452008-02-06T16:36:00.000-05:002008-02-06T16:36:00.000-05:00This Roland Martin editorial is good: Conservative...This Roland Martin editorial is good: <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/06/roland.martin/index.html" REL="nofollow">Conservatives' hatred of McCain makes no sense</A>Jim Peethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649414726939918803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17582952.post-15557557541459041962008-02-06T13:03:00.000-05:002008-02-06T13:03:00.000-05:00Hi FrankI think the Republican race is all but ove...Hi Frank<BR/><BR/>I think the Republican race is all but over. McCain will be the nominee barring some huge event no one can foresee.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I don't think Huckabee is a conservative and the talk show hosts are right that votes for him take votes away from Romney. Huckabee's record as governor is far from conservative, especially in fiscal policy.<BR/><BR/>The reason, however, many conservative voters are supporting him is because of his evangelical credentials and pro-life stance. They are ignoring many other factors, and seem to be driven primarily by social issues.<BR/><BR/>I recognize Romney's weaknesses. They are troubling, and perhaps they are the reason Romney has been unable to garner support.<BR/><BR/>As for McCain, he is an abrasive man who doesn't control his temper. "With an angry man thou shalt not go..." In my opinion, he is unfit for the presidency. His record is better than Hillama's, but his presidency could well do lasting damage to the conservative cause. I think if he is the nominee he will earn tepid support from conservatives, but there are huge risks in his victory.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I think there really aren't any real good candidates to support this time around.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>Don Johnson<BR/>Jer 33.3Don Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03332212749734904541noreply@blogger.com