Huckabee Derangement Syndrome

We’ve not been shy in dealing with the faults of Governor Mike Huckabee, but it’s all been going a little too far in recent days, particularly with the tone of the attack.

Erick Erickson at Red State sums up the problem:

But the sheer snideness of most of the attacks on Huckabee makes me want to defend the guy. While the attacks are on valid issues, at heart, the attacks appear to be because he is a former preacher from the South — a country bumpkin and a Jesus Freak.

The New York-Washington Corridor of Conservative Intelligentsia^TM loves the base when it does as it is told, but let’s not actually let the Jesus Freaks run things directly. You know, we’re all suppose to listen to James Dobson, but God forbid one of his ideological kin actually takes charge.

The problem is exactly right. I’ve been critical of Huckabee’s clemencies and his gifts. I think there’s legitimate hay to be made in a reasonable way. Instead, what we’ve been treated to is harsh, personal, bitter attacks. Yes, on the whole he raised taxes in Arkansas and that’s a valid point. But to turn him into the biggest disaster in Republican history is (to be polite) a stretch.

Huckabee, at worst, is George W. Bush times two. When George W. Bush ran for President in 2000, he criticized Congress for “balancing the budget on the backs of the poor.” We do have options other than a sequel to George W. Bush, but the case for those options must be made. Rarely do I run into a blog post extolling the virtues of Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney. I’m far more likely to run into a blog post ripping down Huckabee in hopes that it will benefit Fred or Mitt Romney.

These type of rabid negative attacks won’t work, particularly when they’re incredibly personal and at their root, look down on a vast number of party members.

I also find utter and complete annoyance with those folks who are declaring that if Huckabee is the nominee, they’ll vote Democrat, particularly if they’ve been pushing Rudy all year knowing it would tick off Social Conservatives and railing against those who would refuse to support him and saying, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” Given that, “Hillary must not be elected” has been the rallying cry, it seems kinda late to say, “But as long as we don’t have a Baptist Preacher in office…”

Also, remember that some talk of not backing the nominee is often the result of the tensions of a hyper-negative campaign.

Paul Attacking Huckabee

In one of the more bizarre events of the campaign, Ron Paul has spent some of the millions that have been raised by his supporters to bring two Arkansas State legislators in to criticize Governor Huckabee. While this adds something to the people of Iowa, it’s not immediately clear how a Huckabee collapse would help Paul in Iowa. They seem to be competing for basically different sets of voters.

Huckabee’s Foreign Policy

Mike Huckabee’s foreign policy has taken a huge potshot today from the blogosphere. But having perused the whole thing, I feel more assured than before. Huckabee’s policy is coherent, consistent, and well-thought out. While, I do not agree with all of his criticisms of the President, his stances are reasonable enough. He understands the threat of terrorism and is clear that Iran won’t be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. He’s also clear that he’ll do what he can to avoid a conflict. I find that re-assuring and I think a lot of folks who aren’t looking for a repeat of the cost we had to pay for going into Iraq in blood and treasure will find it comforting as well.

The piece is also politically necessary. You cannot run a campaign defending every Bush foreign policy decision and win in the general election. For all those for whom winning the general election is the most important thing imaginable, being somewhat critical of the President’s foreign policy is a must.

Of course, some conspiratorial folks might find this as a reason for Ron Paul to send the two Arkansas State legislators down to Iowa. However, the article didn’t appear until Saturday and Paul had paid the way for the two legislators on Friday. Given the publisher of the magazine, I doubt Paul knew about the magazine as I think he has very few friends at the Council of Foreign Relations.

Back Handing The Next Generation

Rich Lowry praises Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee as “the next generation” in American politics, but his compliment on Huckabee was shall we say a tad backhanded:

Even if Obama and Huckabee don’t win their nomination fights, they represent a changing of the guard in African-American (from Sharpton/Jackson-style leadership) and evangelical politics (from Falwell/Roberston-style leadership). They will be leaders for years to come and will be less hard-edged and vested in the disputes of the past than their predecessors. They will have cross-over appeal (Obama, among whites; Huckabee, among the media—unless he actually wins the nomination). And they are both are winsome guys. You don’t have to be a fan of their presidential candidacies—I emphatically am not—to acknowledge that this changing of the guard is a most welcome development.

Judging by his record in Arkansas and some of his stances on the issues, I think in the end he’d have more crossovers among moderates and Independents than Lowry would care to admit.

Do Over

Jonathan Martin reports that Iowa Republicans would like to redo the disastrous Des Moines debate:

DES MOINES — Dissatisfied with the debate here Wednesday that drew widespread scorn, Iowa Republicans will discuss on Friday the possibility of holding another forum before the January 3rd caucuses.The debate this week, sponsored by the Des Moines Register and Iowa Public Television, was to have been the final gathering of the GOP contenders, but one well-placed Iowa Republican said tonight that they were interested in getting the candidates back together“We’d prefer if the Register debate did not leave a bad taste,” said this source, who requested anonymity. “Iowa deserves a little better than that.”The most likely possibility would be the week after Christmas, when many of the contenders are expected back in the state to make a final push before the voting.

Of course, it’s doubtful you could get John McCain back into the state given his focus on New Hampshire, but is a worthy idea. Whether it’ll happen, I don’t know. We’ve had 11 debates already on the Republicans. I don’t know what 12 would do, particularly if the major TV sponsor would be C-Span.

Every Which Way They Can

While many Conservative blogs criticize Paul supporters universally, I’m a little bit more circumspect. Yes, there are some downright crazy Paul supporters, but many are not only sane, but doing everything they can to advocate for their candidate. You’ve heard about the money bombs and the Blimp.

But there’s the ever-so-personal hand written letters (Hat Tip: Daily Paul.) that are more likely to be read in a period of political junk mail, plus others have proposed holding block parties and using CB Radios. The reason Paul supporters have been able to achieve what they have is outside the box thinking. And whether you agree with them or not, it’s great that type of thinking in a Presidential campaign.

Look Mom, No Handshows

Fred Thompson should not be counted out. He got 2400 donations in 24 hours in response to his decision to refuse to do hand shows at the last debate. As I’ve said, he’s shown the fight most people have been looking for. We’ll have an idea of whether it was enough on January 3rd.

Dreamin’

A couple posts at the volunteer Blogs for Thompson have a couple posts that amount to wishful thinking. One post wants Hunter and Tancredo to get out and endorse Fred. While, they may have a point, I think Tancredo will be in it until Iowa and Hunter in it until New Hampshire. If I were to take a guess, I could see Tancredo endorsing Thompson, but with Huckabee’s new border plan as well as statements that Duncan Hunter would be a good Secretary of Defense, I think Hunter would endorse Huckabee.

Then they go into some speculation as to how Thompson might win the big prize. It’s played up as strategy, but really amounts to little more than predictions. The second most bizarre is that Thompson surges to 29% in Iowa to finish 1 point behind Romney with Huckabee 10% back. Not likely at this point. Getting into the 20% range would be a victory for Fred period. However, the most amazing prediction is that the winner of the Idaho Democratic Caucus will be Fred Thompson.

Speculation, Smeculation, Predictions, Smedictions, Show me hard work and effort, not pies in the sky.

Other interesting 2008 stuff:

Club for Growth slams Mike Huckabee on School Choice and on his endorsements from the New Hampshire NEA.

Also, Willisms does a great job fact checking factcheck.org.

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