Here’s a great article from WND

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Hillary vs. Huckabee

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Posted: January 20, 2008
8:45 p.m. Eastern

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Sitting at another full-throttle World Combat League event in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday night, I caught myself momentarily reflecting back upon the previous two days of campaigning with GOP frontrunner Mike Huckabee. As the contestants combated in the WCL ring, I thought to myself, “The fight of the century would be Hillary vs. Huckabee in the presidential ring.”Unless Barack Obama’s surge shatters everyone’s expectations, or he manages some strategic alignment with John Edwards as a dynamic duo, it seems Hillary will win the nomination. And the question that continues to loom on everyone’s mind will remain: Who can beat Hillary? Which GOP candidate has the background, experience and savvy to wage war against the Clinton machine?

I know unequivocally who that man is. It is Mike Huckabee. I’ll tell you why.

The problems with other GOP punches

I’ve trained fighters for nearly four decades now. I was a six-time world champion. I pretty much know what it takes to create a winner. And I believe there are similarities between making winners in the fighting ring and the presidential one – only the strong survive.

Right now the Clinton machine (which Huckabee calls “the sausage grinder”) is planning how to slice and dice each of the GOP candidates if they make the nomination.

Ron Paul would battle Hillary with substance, but I believe he would ultimately bow to her shrewdness. Her prowess would prey upon his constitutional cries. He simply lacks the finesse to handle her fortitude.

Fred Thompson is a good man with a fairly conservative record. However, I believe the Clinton-malevolent marketers would aim at his lack of personality or passion and score a direct hit with the public.

John McCain would put on a strong battle against Hillary, though I fear he would be crippled simply on account of the age factor (72 in August). If the presidency ages one at 3-1 year rate, one term could advance McCain into his 80s.

Rudy Giuliani, if he survives this strategy to jump start his campaign in Florida, would be sized up and found wanting as the “New York senator vs. the New York mayor” battle began. Trumping his 9/11 apprentice through trite compliments, Hillary will accuse him of being more Democrat than he is Republican and undervaluing middle America by ignoring the initial primary states.

Mitt Romney might be able to match Hillary’s advertisement monies, but the Clinton character assassins will shoot at the series of flip-flops in his platform. And who better to understand how to attack a waffler than one married to Bill Clinton!

Mano a mano from Hope

The person the Clinton sausage grinder fears most is Mike Huckabee. Why? Because …

1) He has the longest and largest executive experience running government among GOP candidates – three years a lieutenant governor and 11 years as governor of the State of Arkansas – more experience than even Bill took into office.

2) Hillary can’t belittle Huck’s origins because they are theirs too – Bill and Mike were both governors, both from Hope, Ark.

3) Mike has far more passion and personality than Hillary, and he is the only one who can persuasively outlast, outplay and outwit her in any debating ring or campaign arena.

4) Mike has a record she can’t punch. She can’t even swing at the false allegations against Mike on immigration, taxes or pardons, primarily because the Clinton legacy has a record of condoning illegals, raising taxes and releasing criminals!

Though I’m sure Bill is now regretting the compliment he offered Huckabee when Mike was nowhere near the top tier of candidates, let me remind the world. Bill said Mike was the “only dark horse that’s got any kind of chance … He’s the best speaker they’ve got.”

The fact is Mike is the best opponent to fight Hillary, because, most of all, as he has reminded us in many occasions, “I’ve already taken on the Clinton machine and beat it twice.”

The only resource Clinton has that could combat Mike is more money – and in this ring we all know the muscle in that fist. But we can prevent that, and must by financially joining Mike’s army before it’s too late.

So can a man who was raised in a poor background from Hope, Ark., become governor then president? As Mike says, “Our country has already proven that!” What I would say is: Give Hope another chance! This time they want to send in the real cavalry.

Keep Hope alive! Join my wife Gena and me in electing Mike Huckabee!

Link: http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59782

Mitt Claims Victory – as a Democrat! – Michael Medved

Mitt Romney won a big victory in Tuesday’s Michigan primary, thumping John McCain by the unexpectedly comfortable margin of 39% to 30%. In his victory statement, however, the former Massachusetts governor utterly undermined all those loyal supporters who insist that he’s a “true conservative,” Reagan’s rightful heir, and a solid, loyal Republican.

I’ve watched tape of Romney’s carefully crafted and exuberant speech three times now, and repeatedly reviewed the transcript.

One point comes across inescapably: nearly everything he said last night would have fit comfortably in a Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama victory speech (except for invoking the names of Reagan and, oddly, “George Herbert Walker Bush”). More than 90% of his remarks made Mitt sound like a Democrat – and a demagogic one at that.

Before all you Romniacs out there start shooting off your angry comments about that observation, please read the speech yourself. In fact, I will reproduce it below, in its unedited entirety, but with occasional comments from this observer.

First, I’ll acknowledge that Mitt did a good job of delivering these words, and that this little talk was blessedly brief— tighter and more focused than Huckabee’s victory speech in Iowa, or McCain’s in New Hampshire.

From the first, however, the Mittster sounded a note of arrogant showboating – the kind of ugly and inflated self-important that would help seal his defeat in a general election if he ever won the nomination.

Read the rest of article: http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/741d812a-c161-4623-893e-5072488703b1

BREAKING POLL – South Carolina: Huckabee 24% McCain 24%

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In speeches following Tuesday’s Michigan primary, GOP candidates John McCain and Mike Huckabee both predicted victory in Saturday’s South Carolina contest.  At the time, McCain was leading in the polls there by a 9% margin; but as of today, Rasmussen Reports announced that McCain’s lead has melted and the two frontrunners are tied with 24% support apiece. 

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Read report:   http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/south_carolina/election_2008_south_carolina_republican_primary

Huckabee heating up in SC

Welcome to Huckabee Country

Andrew Romano

TIGERVILLE, S.C.–They’re spread like breadcrumbs on the road from Lyman to North Greenville University.

Churches.

I counted at least 17 on the 18 mile drive; when I turned off the main road, Rt. 29, they passed by the windows of my white Chevy Impala at a rate of one or two per intersection. And nearly all of them were Baptist.

Which is just to say: this here is Mike Huckabee country.

The former Arkansas governor (and former Baptist minister) may trail John McCain by 2.5 percent in the latest South Carolina polling averages, but seeing the two leading Palmetto State contenders back-to-back on the same afternoon, it’s immediately clear that it’s McCain, not Huckabee, who’s fighting the uphill battle this week.

McCain’s goal: protect his right flank. Unlike in Michigan, New Hampshire or Iowa, the Arizona senator opened both of his appearances this morning by boasting of his “24-year record supporting the rights of the unborn”; when asked about his new lead-in, he told reporters it’s “because we know phone calls are being made that say I’m not, so I have to remind people.” (Asked if an opponent–namely the Huckabee-supporting group Common Sense–was making the calls, he laughed: “No, they’re coming from Mount Olympus.”) Attempting to blunt further questions on his pro-life credentials, McCain added that he would “nominate the closest thing to a clone of Justice Roberts I can find.” He railed against internet pornography and spoke frequently of “family values” and the “breakdown of the family”; he turned a question about drug use into an opportunity to talk tough on illegal immigration, dropping phrases like “go back where they came from” more often than “humane” and “compassionate,” his usual standbys. And McCain even revived an old ad slamming Hillary Clinton’s support for a Woodstock museum. Let the culture wars begin–again.

Don’t get me wrong. McCain’s shifting emphasis is all well and good–and probably necessary in a state where Confederate Flag loyalists are swarming each of his events. But it’s largely a defensive crouch, and it detracts from what even McCain says is his main strength–national security and veterans issues, which play well among South Carolina’s massive military community.

Huckabee, on the other hand, is all offense. Take today’s appearance at the Baptist North Greenville University–”Where Christ Makes the Difference.” At the end of Huckabee’s remarks, the dean of the school asked the candidate two “hard-hitting” questions. “Not to put you on the spot,” he said, “but are you a Christian? And can you tell us about your salvation experience?”

Shockingly, Huckabee was happy to oblige. “I came to Christ on my tenth birthday,” he said. “August the 24th, 1965. It was at the Vacation Bible School at the little church I attended in Hope, Arkansas. I have to tell you the whole story. I didn’t go to Vacation Bible School to be spiritual. I went because my sister said you get all the Kool-Aid you could drink and all the cookies you could eat. That sounded like a good deal to me, so I went that next day. I was a little disappointed because when I got there, they didn’t think I could drink more than one cup of Kool-Aid or eat more than two cookies. They were wrong about that. But they were right about that day telling me what it means to come to Christ… I remember praying their prayer and feeling overwhelmed with the sense that God loved me. In fact, so much so, when everybody went out to play baseball, some of my friends said, ‘Let’s go play, man.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t want to get dirty.’ Because I’d never felt so clean in my life.” Hallelujah.

Then, after scribbing some autographs and posing for pictures, Huckabee walked across the hall and at a little press conference signed a “No Amnesty Pledge”–a pledge that McCain had already refused to sign.

Game on.

This is the latest from Newsweek and can be viewed at: http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/01/16/welcome-to-huckabee-country.aspx

ON DEADLINE: Mitt Won, Authenticity Lost

By RON FOURNIER Associated Press Writer – Seattle Times – January 15, 2008.
Link to article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004127282_apondeadlinemichigan15.html

 

Mitt Romney’s victory in Michigan was a defeat for authenticity in politics.

The former Massachusetts governor pandered to voters, distorted his opponents’ record and continued to show why he’s the most malleable _ and least credible _ major presidential candidate.

And it worked.

The man who spoke hard truths to Michigan lost. Of all the reasons John McCain deserved a better result Tuesday night, his gamble on the economy stands out. The Arizona senator had the temerity to tell voters that a candidate who says traditional auto manufacturing jobs “are coming back is either naive or is not talking straight with the people of Michigan and America.”

Instead of pandering, McCain said political leaders must “embrace green technologies,” adding: “That’s the future. That’s what we want.”

Romney jumped all over McCain, playing to the fears of voters in a state with the nation’s highest unemployment rate. “I’ve heard people say that the auto jobs are gone and they’re never coming back,” Romney told his audiences. “Well, baloney, I’m going to fight for every single good job.”

Of course, he’d fight for every job. So would McCain, or any future president. But how?

Judging by the brief campaign in Michigan, one candidate would flail away at the problem with empty rhetoric while the other would ask Americans to come to grips with the harsh realities of global competition, a tech-based economy and the urgent need to retrain a generation of workers.

Those aren’t easy things for a politicians to say, but the truth is, the days are gone in Michigan and elsewhere when a high school graduate could land a factory job and count on a comfortable, stable middle-class life: a nice home, two cars, college tuition, health insurance and a pension.

Romney didn’t talk about any of that.

Instead, he told voters what he thought they wanted to hear.

“I’m not open to a bailout, but I am open to a workout,” Romney said of the auto industry, even as he vowed to spend $20 billion over five years for research on energy, fuels, automotive technology and material sciences. How many Michigan voters mistook that that for a multibillion-dollar bailout pledge?

Romney also said he wanted to modify a recently passed measure calling for U.S. vehicle fleets to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Well, baloney. Less than three years ago, Romney seemed to champion higher automobile standards. “Almost everything in America has gotten more efficient in the last decade, except the fuel economy of the vehicles we drive,” he said in September 2005.

As is often the case with Romney, he has changed his tone, if not his mind.

This is a man who campaigned for governor of Democratic stronghold Massachusetts as a supporter of abortion rights, gay rights and gun control _ only to switch sides on those and other issues in time for the GOP presidential race. The first thing he did as a presidential contender in January was sign the same no-tax pledge an aide dismissed as “government by gimmickry” during the 2002 campaign.

He was a political independent who voted for Democrat Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Massachusetts presidential primary; now he is a Reagan conservative. He was for embryonic stem cell research; now he favors restrictions on it.

Read the rest of the article at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004127282_apondeadlinemichigan15.html

A Rush to judgment

This is a great article by Chuck Norris examining the claims that Mike Huckabee is a liberal in GOP clothing.

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59670

A supporter from Michigan reports

Link: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1176

Randy Bishop is a truck driver by trade and a dedicated Mike Huckabee supporter. He sent in this report about his travels and events over the last few days getting the word out about Mike Huckabee.

Hey Everyone,

I don’t know how Gov. and Mrs. Huckabee keep up with their busy schedule! After driving down from Traverse City to the Birch Run event on Friday, getting signs, a banner, and other supplies, I drove back home and went to bed about 1:00 am.

I started out Saturday morning at 6:30 am, and got out to my pickup truck which was covered in a fresh lake effect snow. I headed up to the Northern Michigan Voter’s Fair & Straw Poll and setup a table right up front between the Romney and McCain tables. Great turnout and we answered alot of really good questions about Mike and his positions. The organizer gave us access to a laptop that had a high-speed connection to the web, that displayed it’s screen on a overhead projector which showed up on the stage’s huge big screen. So we ran YouTube videos of Mike all day long.

I left the Fair about 4:00 pm, and headed over to the Ronald Reagan Dinner/Charlevoix GOP fundraiser. I put out some yard signs out on the shoulder of the road, in the driveway and was able to park in the very first spot, which was a straight shot viewable from the small entrance driveway. So I put a yard sign on my rear bumper, which was right between my FairTax bumper stickers. The Huckabee sign greeted everyone as they arrived at the event (over 150 people including Duncan Hunter and all the other speakers)!

I was the first person there, besides the host, Charlevoix GOP Chairman – Wes Dillworth (Romney supporter) and his family. I chose to sit at the very first table on the right, next to the bar (even though I don’t drink).

People started trickling in about 5:15, and then walked in U.S. Congressman-Peter Hoekstra R-MI. Wes Dillworth was setting up behind the bar and Peter walked over to Wes to say hello. They shook hands, and Wes asked Peter, “so how are we doing in the tracking”? Congressman Hoekstra said…”McCain is drawing smaller crowds than us, but Huckabee is kicking our {backsides}”. Right then, Wes happened to look over and see me sitting behind my laptop, and leaned back and whispered something to Peter. Peter immediately looked over at me and nodded…I simply smiled at him and nodded back. This exchange really boosted my confidence to speak in front of the group on behalf of Gov. Huckabee.

The event finally started late at 7:00 pm… We started by having the local sheriff leading us through the Pledge of Allegiance, then a local pastor lead us through a prayer, and then we had a buffet style dinner.

Presidential Candidate/U.S. Congressman-California Duncan Hunter started it off, by giving a great speech. He brought his wife and his son, Duncan Jr. who just got back from Iraq and is running for office in California.

Next, Ex-Presidential Candidate/U.S. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, spoke and asked us to support John McCain for President.

Next, U.S. Congressman-Peter Hoekstra R-MI, spoke about Mitt Romney .

Oh, I forgot to mention…prior to the speeches starting, I had given the emcee my name to put on his lineup sheet. When I told him my name, he asked me what office I held? I said, “I don’t hold an office, I’m a Truck Driver and I’m supporting Mike Huckabee for President, and I’m sorry I don’t own a suit so I’m a little under dressed (Black & Silver pullover sweater and black dress slacks), so if you could please tell the audience that when you introduce me, I’d appreciate it.” He said OK.

“Next, we have Randy Bishop speaking on why he’s supporting Mike Huckabee for President. Randy is a Truck Driver, and he wanted to apologize for being “undressed” for this evening’s event because he doesn’t own a suit, so here’s Randy”. (I got more applause than Sam or Peter, they were very nice to me). I told Duncan Hunter, that Gov. Huckabee told me to say Hello….Duncan said, “Tell Mike I said Hi Back”…the audience applauded.

I started off by telling them a little about my trucking business. I told them that I drive an average of four (4) times around the world per year (100,000 miles), using 16,662 gallons of diesel fuel, which cost $53,357 in 2007. After corporate taxes, truck payments, repair bills, insurances, and a semi’s license plate ($1,850 per year) I end up with less than 30% to claim as my personal income, which I then have to pay personal taxes on… and end up with less than 22% of my gross income to actually live on and pay for my personal expenses. Needless to say, the entire room was shaking their heads in disgust and amazement.

I told them about Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minutemen Project, and how he interviewed all of the candidates for President. Jim told me personally in Traverse City this week, that the Democratic candidates, “don’t even think we have a problem with illegal immigration”, and out of all of the Republican candidates, that Mike Huckabee has a real solution to this problem and that’s why Jim Gilchrist endorsed Mike Huckabee for President. I told them to go to MikeHuckabee.com under Issues, and read his 9 point strategy listed as his Secure America Plan.

Also, I told them that Mike wants to close the IRS, shut it down and replace it with the “FairTax”. I explained that it’s a consumption tax and does not tax us on our productivity. I told them to go to MikeHuckabee.com and read more about it there. But more importantly, all these illegal workers would start paying into our tax system when they bought their necessities to live. Other people who get paid in cash, and even visitors to this country (like all of the Canadians who cross over from Windsor into Detroit, or Sarnia into Port Huron) and many others would start paying into our Federal Treasury. Many applauded right then.

I finished by saying simply, Mike Huckabee wants to seal the border, have all of us not be penalized for our labor and profits, and get the U.S. economy booming like we have never seen before in our lifetime!!! That’s just some of the reasons I’m supporting Mike Huckabee for President”! The room broke out in a huge, loud applause.

I stayed for the other politicians and listened to their speeches. When it was over, I had no less than 20-25 people come over and tell me that they were switching their vote, and would be voting for Mike Huckabee. A former judge, (I promised not to tell you his name) came up to me and said, “you were the most credible guy on that stage tonight, the rest of them were just politicians”! That made me feel good for Mike.

Gov. Huckabee, I tried to do my best for you. I hope I didn’t say anything to hurt your campaign or anything that you didn’t want me to bring up…but like I told you at the Birch Run Rally, “I’m just a Truck Driver, who wants you to be our next President”.

God Bless you and Janet! I think God has a hand in everything we all are doing in this campaign and hopefully we will deliver a win in Michigan for you this Tuesday.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you,

Randy

Huckabee in Michigan

Governor Huckabee is currently in Michigan campaigning towards the Primary tomorrow.

Joy Lin of CBS has been tracking the Governor and has two really great posts that can be found here and here.

A student made a great video for his English class on the “5 Top Reasons to Vote for Mike Huckabee“
Check it out here:

Link: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1174

It’s about WE

Mike Huckabee Launches Ad in Michigan

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. , Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Mike Huckabee Launches Ad in Michigan –

The Huckabee for President Campaign launched a new television ad in Michigan Wednesday, underscoring the former Arkansas governor’s commitment to Republican voters in the “Wolverine State.”
Fresh off of a major victory in the Iowa Caucuses and a strong showing in New Hampshire, the Huckabee campaign has its sights on the January 15 GOP Michigan Primary.

“We’re looking forward to competing in Michigan,” said Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman. “Americans want a president who understands their dreams and aspirations, as well as their daily challenges. They want a President from Main Street, not Wall Street. Governor Huckabee is that candidate.”

The new 30-second ad, called “Understanding,” highlights Huckabee’s Main Street message, his vision for America, and his understanding of the struggles of average American families.

The ad also references Huckabee’s pro-growth economic record as governor of Arkansas which includes fostering an increase of 121,686 Arkansans employed during his tenure. Under Governor Huckabee, Arkansas hit the lowest unemployment mark (4.1%) in state history and had the lowest average unemployment rate in the past 30 years.

“All across America, citizens are looking for a President who has a vision for ensuring America’s greatest days are yet to come. As President, I will fight to protect the American Dream, promote prosperity, and preserve our core values,” said Governor Mike Huckabee in the ad.

“As President, I will also bring the understanding of Main Street to the White House and bring about change for the better all across America just as I did in Arkansas,” he said. Script of “Understanding” — :30 TV

(view the Ad)