Why Do Republicans Fear Huckabee?
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Huckabee, RepublicansBecause he’s not a true fiscal conservative? Because he talks about the Christian God too much? Because he’s not too versed in the ways of foreign policy?
And yet they liked and still like Bush?
They’re panicking because a) Huckabee is a wild card who could lose massively in the general election; b) Huckabee doesn’t owe any of them anything; and c) Huckabee’s rise shows how badly, perhaps irretrievably, the fusionist settlement (uniting social and economic conservatives) has broken down, leaving the GOP in a shambles.It’s funny, but when it looked like Rudy Giuliani, a social liberal, was going to be the nominee, we didn’t see many, if any, establishment Republican opinion leaders freaking out over what kind of danger to the future of the party and the nation he represented, even though as Ross points out, Giuliani hasn’t exactly been deep on policy (I had to research Giuliani for our Dallas Morning News editorial board debate on which candidate to endorse, and I was genuinely startled by how vague he was on many things). I think it’s fair to say that it was assumed that Giuliani would be a sound representative of the Republican Party, and that the social and religious conservatives would do like they always do and get in line. Pat Robertson sure did.
Rod goes on to mention the Bush paradox as well, and I think that’s significant. Because what Huckabee is Bush pretended to be: a compassionate conservative. And yet back in the day Bush was talking a lot like Huckabee, although he definitely didn’t talk about saving the environment. That’s an attempt by Huckabee to make the crunchy conservatives don’t leave the party.
I suppose some people don’t like him because of things like this…
Shrewd political move? Yes. Genuine holiday greeting? Yes. A reason for right wingers to vote Democratic? Ehhh…
I think it all boils down to foreign policy and potentially nominating somebody who they feel looks like a rube. Apparently, Romney looks more presidential.
I’ll be following this story more closely in the coming week or so, so if you have any stories from right wing bloggers where they talk about their intense dislike of Huckabee, please share them in the comments section.
This entry was posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2007 and is filed under 2008 Election, Huckabee, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Perhaps the difference is simply this: after 8 years, Republicans (and the nation) have a much better idea what they would be getting if they elect someone essentially like Bush. (Some) Republicans might like it personally. But unless they are among those totally divorced from reality, they know that it won’t sell come November.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Perhaps not.
I like Bush and think he has done a great job in spite of all the problems he has inherited from the previous 8 years of the Clinton’s administration.
Even when I disagree with Bush on the stance of immigration, he has shown to be a great commander in Chief. One of a kind. If Europe or islamic countries dislike us it’s not because of him. He has been used as a scapegoat. On close scrutiny the people that spearheaded such a strong dislike for Bush were the French, the Germans and the Russians, aided by liberal media.
Both France and Germany under new dealership have made a 180 degree turn.
No 20th century president, imo, has accomplished as much as President Bush and acted as dignified while faced with daily personal attacks and distortion of the facts by the media and politicians both at home and abroad.
I am concerned about a U.S. president that would sell us to the U.N. and other idiots under the guise of “diplomacy.”
December 20th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
oops…
it should read “leadership” not dealership. :)
December 20th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
As a left leaning Australian, I would like to assure all US readers that the comment above “If Europe or islamic countries dislike us it’s not because of him” is ENTIRELY wrong.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
The only things I could possibly say about Elisabetta’s post would probably be construed as a personal attack. Levels of ignorance that great are appalling.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Except he isn’t really the things that most people hate about Bush. He isn’t a neocon for foreign policy, I can’t see him favoring tax cuts for the rich, he actually would compromise with Dems and be willing to work with them.
And that is your problem because that’s what the Right likes about Bush.
December 21st, 2007 at 7:54 am
Elizabeth, you poor delusional thing. Let me just run a number by you…..$10 trillion in debt! Think about that. Try to get that huge number into your tiny little brain. Please, please, I’m begging you, STOP VOTING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DESTROY THIS GREAT COUNTRY BY BANKRUPTING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 21st, 2007 at 9:31 am
Huckabee is independent, pragmatic and ethical. That scares the corporate /military industrial complex that has been steadily consolidating power in our country. I think the weakness of Huckabee is not his faith (though he does slip into “preacher mode” sometimes) or his “balanced” fiscal philosophy but rather his tendency to “endulge” in the goodies of office. Otherwise I think a “minister” that seems to actually care about people might be just the ticket for a country still licking its wounds from 9/11. Bush did the “revenge” part but now we need to start forgiving ourselves and others if we hope to move back into the light of a hopeful future. Kind of existential…I know but I think the background “distressed mood” of the country based upon broader things than “border security” and other symptoms of what I am talking about here.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:09 am
Jim, I am touched at the great restrain you displayed…
America is still a country where we can still agree to disagree.
BTW, about those “great levels of ignorance”… feelings are mutual.
Bob, let me get this straight. You wrote that Bush’s willingness to compromise with dems is what the Right likes about him. Yet, you see that as a problem?
Most people, including here whine and complain he is a lone ranger. Which is it?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:17 am
John, “as a LEFT leaning….” gives away the reason behind your position.
I bet, if we talk to some RIGHT leaning Aussies they wouldn’t concur with you.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:09 am
Sorry for the confusion. I should have put “unlike Bush, Huckabee would compromise with Dems and be willing to work with them.”
December 21st, 2007 at 11:30 am
That’s OK. Now, it makes sense.
Conservatives believe in compromises and trying to come to a place of unity, but not at the expenses of what we consider most dear to us. Unlike liberals that would sell their soul just to be liked and have the approval of the world.
President Bush favors tax-cuts for the middle-class. Otoh, the liberals mantra has propagated such a lie people continue to repeat ad nauseam.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
David, what is it with people like you and Jim et al that cannot disagree without demeaning others? I get it, it’s easier than having a logical discussion.
FYI, liberals have done an excellent job bankrupting this country, so stop laying the blame at the altar of the Bush haters.
Moreover, before shooting your mouth off, with wrong assumptions, ask.
I didn’t vote the last election. However, had I been able to, Bush would have gotten my vote!
Incidentally, you misspelled my name. Need glasses?
December 21st, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Elisabetta,
Bush and his boot-licking Republican thugs have destroyed this country at home and damaged it’s reputation abroad. And you are still supporting him? I guess the eight years under Bush has damaged your brain cells considerably. Which is sad because stem-cell research could have helped you if the Republicans hadn’t got their panties in a twist over it.
Only a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress can set things right again.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:57 am
If Huckabee somehow manages to get the GOP nomination, you’ll see a massive defection of fiscal cons to the Libertarian Party.
And in that scenario Hillary Clinton easily wins.
Ironically, the Libertarian Party could be the best friend Hillary Clinton has for ‘08, as Cynthia McKinney is the best friend for Republicans.
December 22nd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
As a matter of fact I do need glasses, thanks for asking. I’m not even remotely a liberal, too bad brainwashed people like you, that put the republican party ahead of the good of America, are so shallow that you think anyone who dares to disagree with the moron you freely admit to blindly worshipping must be a hated “liberal”. Guess what sweety, conservatives don’t run up 7 trillion in debt, play world police, spy on citizens, add 800 billion to medicare, etc., etc. There is no way to have a civil discussion with someone as completely brainwashed and down-right stupid as you, sorry. Don’t ever, ever call yourself a conservative, learn what we conservatives stand for. You and your idiot hero W are not conservatives, you are facists. Good day.
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Patti blurted out insults “the eight years under Bush has damaged your brain cells considerably” mixed with propaganda.
Hey Patti, you forget that adult stem cells work just fine. I suppose, in your “intelligent” mind, it’s ok to kills life just to harvest some cells that can be obtained via other means (i.e. ombelical cord blood). BTW, don’t gets your hopes too high about a democrat as CIC, in the near future.
David blatted - “There is no way to have a civil discussion with someone as completely brainwashed and down-right stupid as you…You and your idiot hero W are not conservatives, you are facists.”
Come again? I laughed my head off reading the above. One more in a sequence of insults by you and couple other people. Is that what you call civil? Along with those glasses, get a mirror, please.
Additionally, here you go again, making things up. I didn’t call you a liberal, I simply suggested you stop acting like a Bush hater, which expands beyond liberals.
For a guy who has been spurting off invectives left and right from his soap box, refresh yourself with this blog statement, cause you ain’t living up to it.
Here: Tired of the rhetoric, bomb-throwing and partisan hackery? Here we offer a respectful, honest forum for people who want to have a conversation about politics, the world and beyond.
Your comments can be characterized as irrational, oozing condescension and down-right obnoxious. Therefore, a reasonable exchange is out of the question.
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 pm
To return to the original question, Republicans had better fear Mike Huckabee for the same reasons they had better fear Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. They are all weak on border security and enforcement of our immigration laws, and they are beholden to too many corporations that have as their primary interest nothing more than an onerous income tax code that continues corporate welfare. Our income taxes and property taxes should all be constitutionally prohibited by new amendments because they are such disincentives to earning, saving, investing, and property ownership, in other words, to the American Dream. Our government at every level should be made dependent upon the health of the American economy so that those in office would be a little more loath to interfere in and mess it up, lest their revenue suffer. Sales and use taxes would accomplish the goal nicely.
In addition, Rudy, and probably Mitt, would abrogate Americans’ Second Amendment rights, and neither would be unlikely to nominate strict constructionist, originalist justices to the United States Supreme Court. After all, that would run the politically unacceptable risk that the High Court might endorse this Nation’s insistence in its founding document on natural law principles, i.e. the “inalienable rights to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.” To make such a “revolutionary” finding, the justices would have to rule that abortion and assisted suicide are indeed homicide in one degree or another, and therefore violative of one’s “inalienable right to life.” My, how far we have come, that even our most cherished words in the Declaration of Independence are of such little import to so many today.
Indeed, the best that we Republicans can hope for is that none of these four candidates arrives at the convention with enough votes to get the nomination in the first few ballots, so that the party can then dump all of them and turn its attention to a dark horse who does not have the big money backing, but who does have the principles, the consistent record, and the squeaky clean background to survive the onslaught of the Democrats and their support from the liberal media. It’s a tall order, but I really believe the GOP will follow this or a similar scenario, or it will lose the White House and fail to regain a majority in either house of Congress in 2008.
December 24th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Elisabetta, pardon me for the jabs, bankrupting and doing everything in your power to destroy America kind of gets my fur up. Perhaps you’d care to actually address the issues I brough up instead of just whinning about me being too mean to you while you destroy this great country?
Hmmmm???
December 26th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
David, you get clownish with any ulterior post.
Making a point about your insensate comments and hypocrisy is not akin to whining. Just as demeaning people cannot be compared to discussing. Albeit, that is your m.o. Isn’t it?
In fact, your anger makes you unable to listen. As an added touch, you fall back on hyperbolic assertions, such as, “bankrupting and doing everything in your power to destroy America…”
Pardon me. Is that a jab too?
Here’s a lesson (without charge).
Ray - just above you - expressed his views on a few candidates and their beliefs, and he did it without attacking anyone. What a novelty! When ideas and opinions are presented in such a manner people are inclined to read and reflect in order to comment intelligently.
Sorry, the same cannot be said of your outbursts or whatever you like to call them. Try again.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Too bad…I went to post a reply to Ray’s points and lost it! :(
December 27th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Elisabetta, still didn’t address the issue. Way to go! So if you don’t support bankrupting America, why not address the fact that the moron you blindly worship has run up 10 trillion in debt? You have nothing but pure BS so you whine like a baby about how true patriots are pissed that you and your ilk are destroying our country. The founding fathers are spinning in there graves because of gulible sheep like you. Go away please, you disgust me.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:22 am
David, you are no patriot, but a true Moron! You’ve said nothing worth addressing, outside of engaging in personal attacks and ranting away because someone disagrees with you.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Ray, I concur that the 3 other top candidates leave a lot to be desired when it comes to immigration. The mayor of NY and the governor of MA both have allowed sanctuaries for illegals to trump our security, showing also a high disregard for the law.
Romney has, imo, another strike against him: the mandated health insurance, which is as popular here as refrigerators would be to the Eskimos.
Giuliani’s pro-abortion stances are no secret, and I am not too convinced he’d do what he says about appointing constructionist judges. Romney, would possibly stick with that, but I don’t believe that Roe vs. Wade would be done away with anytime soon.
One solution would be to keep federal monies away from P.P.
What it’s unclear to me is where you are coming from on abortion and assisted suicide, considering that the Constitution “does not grant” anyone the right to terminate a pregnancy or help someone commit suicide.
As much as I am not ecstatic about any of the top 4, I don’t think your ‘dark horse’ to be the better choice.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Elisabetta thank you for finally admitting that you do fully support bankrupting America and how dare I disagree with that! Smart girl you are thinking that the enormous debt you love so is not an issue..
December 27th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
There are no conservatives in the top tier republican race save maybe McCain and Paul.
The rest call themselves conservative based on social agenda’s (aka nukin’ ay-rabs fer Jesus).
This country needs a fiscal conservative, but it looks like we’ll either get a Democrat or a Democrat in Religious Nutjob’s clothing.
And Bush? A failure of epic proportions. His legacy? Bankrupting a superpower and tanking the greenback… what a dumb ass. I am ashamed that I voted for him.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Wrong! I did none of the sort. David you are more daft than previously displayed.
Is English your second language?
Let me put it in simpler words.
1. I d i s a g r e e with your F A L S E p r e m i s e that President Bush b a n k r u p t e d the U.S. So no brownies for you.
2. Our disparity of opinion was never the problem. Your rudeness, yes.
Got it now?
December 29th, 2007 at 5:54 am
“1. I d i s a g r e e with your F A L S E p r e m i s e that President Bush b a n k r u p t e d the U.S. So no brownies for you. ”
What? $10 trillion in debt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t understand English? Define bankrupt for me if that’s not it. It’s not a matter of disagreement, The blithering moron you blindly worship because you don’t feel like paying your share to run this country has run up a debt that we can never pay off. THAT’S BANKRUPT RATHER YOU AGREE OR NOT!!!!!!!! It saddens me that America is filled with braindead morons that will gladly destroy her just so they don’t have to pay taxes. You truly are a disgusting example! Please tell me, oh wise and un-rude one, HOW WILL WE EVER PAY THAT BACK???? You deserve nothin but the most rude treatment possible for destoying this great country.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:00 am
You don’t get to agreee or disagree with bankrupt so I’d have to say you are the one that doesn’t understand English. It simply means a debt that we can never pay back. If you think that there is anyway we could ever pay off the debts your moron hero W has run up. let’s hear your plan. BTW, it will mean paying taxes and no doubt you will never go for that. You truly are a blight on this great country!
December 30th, 2007 at 8:48 am
More of the blah, blah ranting. Your foolishness gets bigger with each post.
I know exactly the meaning of bankrupt. Where we are worlds apart is who gets blamed for that.
D. flies off the handle: “THAT’S BANKRUPT RATHER YOU AGREE OR NOT!!!!!!!!”
First of all, is “whether NOT rather” Are you sure English….HAHAHA?
Secondly, fascist, I don’t need your consent to disagree. You claim not to be a liberal, but your behavior shows otherwise.
Exhibits A, B and C
Shouting people down, demagoguing, and casting aspersions.
FYI, I pay probably more taxes than you can fathom or yourself pay in. Had you penned I am not willing for that burden (taxes) to be imposed limitless, I would have credited you with half a point. Alas, you struck out again.
I suspect you, like the free-spending liberals - “un-liberal one” - would willingly give more of your paycheck to the government. So spare me the empty rhetoric!
Otoh, I’d consider cutting or eliminating money-wasting programs that liberals keep expanding despite obvious lack of success. National security is not one of them.
I still contend you are categorically a moron; no matter how much you get outraged. Take a chill pill.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:54 am
BTW, “I suspect you, like the free-spending liberals - “un-liberal one” - would willingly give more of your paycheck to the government. ” is in sardonic vein. Just so you don’t get confused.