Mike Huckabee: Lightweight

Think Progress asked Mike Huckabee to cite an example of how gay marriage is negatively impacting Iowa. Huckabee couldn't cite a specific example. He just went into talking points mode.

“Iowans voted differently than the judges ruled, so you’ve got a conflict between the people and the judges,” he told ThinkProgress. “Ultimately, most states have made clear their position on it. The battle hasn’t been with the people. The battle has been with a handful of people in black robes.”

What is interesting is Republicans are no longer trying to make bogus science arguments. Conservatives used to trot out fake anti-gay experts like George "Rent Boy" Rekers. Now they dodge the prior bogus science on how homosexuality is a lifestyle choice. Ben Carson's comments on men deciding to become homosexual entering prison was so laughable that it was mocked by Glenn Beck.

Republicans have lost the public argument on gay marriage. Part of the reason is the GOP has politicians as dumb as Huckabee. How could Huckabee not see the question of the impact of gay marriage? Lightweight.

Gov. Mike Huckabee

Megyn Kelly usually doesn't get rattled. She accidentally dropped the F bomb when introducing Mike Huckabee.

"Joining me now, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who’s the host of Fuckabee — Huckabee!” she quickly added, and then launched into the conversation as if she didn’t accidentally say “fuck.” But she did, and the world caught it, and now it shall never leave the internet. Not the end of the world, but still…swears.

It's funny. I was just wondering the other day when someone was going to screw-up Huckabee's name on-air. Looks like I have my answer.

Mike Huckabee 'Knows Less Than Nothing'

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Lawrence O'Donnell takes Mike Huckabee to task for spouting nonsense about President Barack Obama growing up in Kenya. Huckabee said the "one thing" he did know about Obama is growing up in Kenya. O'Donnell said that if that is the one thing Huckabee knows then the former governor knows less than nothing. O'Donnell wonders if that lack of knowledge extends to policy issues. The answer is yes. In 2007, Huckabee was not aware of the National Intelligence Estimate finding on Iran's weapons of mass destruction program. Huckabee had no idea what the NIE was.

Kuhn: I don’t know to what extent you have been briefed or been able to take a look at the NIE report that came out yesterday ...

Huckabee: I’m sorry?

Kuhn: The NIE report, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. Have you been briefed or been able to take a look at it —

Huckabee: No.

Kuhn: Have you heard of the finding?

Huckabee: No.

Kuhn then summarized the NIE finding that Iran had stopped work on a clandestine nuclear program four years ago and asked if it “adjusts your view on Iran in any sense."

Huckabee is aware of Obama birther conspiracy theories. However, Huckabee had no idea about the NIE. Less than nothing, indeed.

Compassionate Conservatism: Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee shows his compassionate conservative side coming out against health care coverage for people with preexisting conditions.

"It sounds so good, and it's such a warm message to say we're not gonna deny anyone from a preexisting condition," Huckabee explained at a Values Voters Summit today. "Look, I think that sounds terrific, but I want to ask you something from a common sense perspective. Suppose we applied that principle [to] our property insurance. And you can call your insurance agent and say, 'I'd like to buy property insurance for my house.' He'd say, 'Tell me about your house." 'Well sir, it burned born yesterday, but I like to insure it today.' And he'll say 'I'm sorry, but we can't insure it after it's already burned.' Well, no preexisting conditions."

Is Huckabee aware of some wave of people whose homes burned down whom are trying to add to their debt by paying property insurance for a home they no longer have. I remember having to fight my All State agaent for three months to stop sending me the PIP insurance bill to a car I sold. If someone is going to burn their house down wouldn't they want to insure it before it burned down? Huckabee's bizarre scenario makes no sense.

Huckabee doesn't even seem to understand the health care bill. The mandate to buy private health insurance was party designed to prevent people from buying coverage after they have a preexisting condition. Huckabee's "no preexisting conditions" stance isn't fiscally consevative. This would force more patients to go on Medicaid or have emergency room visits. Hospitals and local, state and the federal government would eat up the cost.

Huckabee's most infamous health care proposal was to quarantine people with the AIDS virus.

"It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS. It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents."

It is difficult to understand how Huckabee can call himself a Christian and be so heartless towards the sick and needy. Isolating people who are HIV positive would be the legal equivalent of jailing people without due process. The USSR jailed people who had alcohol addiction. Imprisoning people because of their illnesses doesn't square with Huckabee's self-professed love of the Constitution. Huckabee is like many other Christian conservatives who pay lip service to compassion and the rule of law. What Huckabee was really saying is the profits of the health insurance industry are more important than giving health care to the nation's most sick people. The only God Huckabee is worshipping at the Values Voter Summit is money.

Obama Crushing Potential Republican Hopefuls

The latest Public Policy Polling reveals President Barack Obama crushes the most promising 2012 Republican challengers. Former Gov. Jeb Bush polls a point below Sarah Palin. Polls have a margin of error and Palin's unfavorability is higher than Bush's. Polling at Palin's level is still embarrassing. Bush has his work cut out for him, if he plans to run.

General Election Matchups:
Obama 53 - Palin 38
Obama 50 - J. Bush 37
Obama 48 - Huckabee 41
Obama 48 - Romney 39

Favorability Ratings:
Palin 37 / 55
Huckabee 38 / 36
J. Bush 22 / 45
Romney 33 / 38

The tea bagger movement is not big enough to make a serious dent into Obama's political strength. Tea baggers are angry but they do not have the discipline to register new Republican voters and articulate policy ideas to a mainstream audience. The movement is small and is beginning to alienate mainstream voters.

Marco Rubio has hitched his political prospects on the tea baggers and conservative bloggers. Unsurprisingly, his fundraising has sucked. Erick Erickson of RedState.com told The Hill he has not been able to raise money for Rubio and Chuck DeVore, Michael Williams and Pat Toomey.

No sense in being coy about it. We’re not meeting our goal. In fact, the fundraising for these four sucks.

I know cash is tight, but unless conservatives are willing to step up to the plate, we’re not going to get these guys elected and, frankly, the establishment of the Republican Party will keep ignoring us.

Let’s be honest. One of the reasons the left is so head over heels in love with the online left is because of the moonbat ability to turn on the cash. Even Ron Paul’s followers do better than conservatives.

Yes, yes, we can go to the polls in droves, etc., but cash is king in politics. And if we want to be taken seriously, we need to step up to the plate. I know that hacks some of you off. Every time I write stuff like this I get dozens of angry emails from people suffering due to Barack Obama’s economy. I get it. But you need to get it too — you want to change the Republican Party and have a seat at the table, you’ve got to launch a coup against the establishment. And the best way to do that at the present time is support these candidates who are running against the establishment.

Right now, we’ve got 15 days left and we’re no where close to meeting the $250,000.00 goal. If you can’t give, consider at least putting up the widget on your own site or asking other sites to host the widget too.

It is not the method of fundraising. It is the candidates and their message.

Poll Results On Charlie Crist's Presidential Prospects

A CNN poll found that Charlie Crist is at he bottom of names mentioned for potential Republican presidential in 2012. The factors may extend to national name recognition. Sarah Palin tops the list at 45 percent. Palin's star power was bigger than John McCain's during the campaign. The Republican Party will lose if Palin becomes the nominee.

The candidate that could cause Barack Obama problems is Mike Huckabee. The Huck has a bestselling book and is good on the stump. The GOP is high on Bobby Jindal. However, Jindal faces the same problem as Crist; most people haven't heard of him. Bloggers and pundits don't count as the "the people." Howard Dean would have been the 2004 nominee if internet buzz and magazine covers were the deciding factor. Although, the political landscape could change in Jindal's and Crist's favor.

Ryan Goellner wrote how Obama's commitment to competence over political ideology appeals to voters. Obama backed his words by retaining Robert Gates. Jindal's commitment to "covenant marriages, outlawing abortions--no exceptions--creationism, and banning stem-cell research from the public sector" will not convince voters of his bipartisanship.

What is most notable is Gingrich's weak support. Gingrich has national name recognition and years in the political arena. People know Gingrich and they associate him the 1995 shutdown of the federal government.

Giuliani: ran worst campaign of a frontrunner in recent memory. Enough said.

Somewhat Likely Support From GOP Voters.

Mitt Romney can raise money and looks the part. He failed to connect with Republican voters. I'm far from convinced he could beat Obama in a general election. Obama is lights years ahead of Romney as a fundraiser and speaker. Romney is better suited as a CEO.

Sarah Palin - 45 percent

Rudy Giuliani - 34 percent

Mitt Romney - 33 percent

Mike Huckabee - 31 percent

Newt Gingrich - 25 percent

Bobby Jindal - 25 percent

Charlie Crist - 25 percent

Sunday, and the winner is: Martini Revolution

So, did anyone see that video of Palin being interviewed in front of some moron slaughtering Turkeys?  It's pretty damned awful.  What was she thinking?  Oh, I know, ... she wasn't.

Acephalous' students, channel, Shatner.   

Ya know, I got every pick Obama made for his cabinet correct.  And now I am right about this:  Infrastructure 

This year for the holiday gift giving extravaganza - there won't be one.  My brother lost his job last month.  My other brother just bought a cool house he can't afford.  My neice just bought a 5,000 SF house and found out she was pregnant - unexpectedly.  My nephew quit his job at IBM to go to law school at University of Houston and they are living off his wife's teaching salary.  My other niece just started a new job in sales and is on commissioned pay.  So, about the only one with money right now is me and my parents.  So, we usually do a gift exchange each year, but that is out.  So, we are going to give our selected person a favor, something we will do for them, a craft or artwork we do ourself, a poem - basically whatever invests the giver into that person being gifted.  Problem is I already bought my usual cool group gifts, which I do every year.  They are getting the carbon offsets anyway.  I bought the parents a group gift which is so cool I want one for myself.  All I really want is their company and some chocolate martinis.  Oh,yeah, the little ones still get gifts.

This is hilarious, (and a testimony of too many kids & parents today which is decidedly sad):  (bear with me here, and watch the whole thing)

Bush reflects?  I didn't know he was capable of such a thing.  I'm pretty sure I don;t believe it. 

This greed and administration absolutely are to blame for this mess we are in.  Absolutely to blame.

Obama himself has become a merchandisers heaven.  I know, I've bought my fifth Obama t-shirt from Rolling Stone, no less. (The one with red foil.)  I'm even getting one from Obama's campaign based on their last pre-election donation drive.  

Cool.  The Columbus Crew wins the 2008 MLS Cup. 

Go listen to this video of Shearwater (an Austin band I like).  It is beautiful.  I particularly like the third song.  

Check out Austin Cline's Mike Huckabee: The Smiling Happy Face of Theocratic Fascism over at Jesus' General.

Martini Revolution is a must read.  You won't believe it!  Hinderaker hard on for semi-literate Bush unabated

Straight White Guy Eric is a serial Christopher Lee fan as well as the movie, The Hounds of the Baskervilles  

What a great way to end Sunday.  I think I'll go have some dessert and see if I can find it on the tube.

Quote of the Day

"Republicans will make a fundamental if not fatal mistake if they seek to win the election by demonizing Barack Obama... When people are really hurting — and they are right now — they're not looking at a person's race."

Mike Huckabee

Republicans are going to continue to demonize Obama. John McCain's message of less jobs, more war and change is bad is less than enticing.

What the James Dobson Endorsement Means

Mike Huckabee is not going to become the Republican nominee. If by some strange accurance, he were to receive the nomination, the public would reject his bizarre views. Huckabee wanted to quarantine people that are HIV positive. Wayne Dumond raped a distant cousin of Bill Clinton. Baptist minister Jay Cole and New York Post columnist Steve Dunleavy believed that convicted rapist Dumond was innocent. Their logic was Bill Clinton was responsible for falsely imprisoning Dumond. Dunleavy said exactly that in his his column "Clinton's Biggest Crime - Left Innocent Man In Jail For 14 Years."

"Dumond, now 52, was given conditional parole yesterday in Arkansas after having being sentenced to 50 years in jail for the rape of Clinton's cousin," Dunleavy wrote. "That rape never happened."

Dumond was released. He raped and murdered Carol Sue Shields and Sara Andrasek. Dumond was early-received from a life sentence. Rapists don't get early released, unless serious strings are pulled.

Huckabee is not a believer in the separation of church and state. He has associated with Christian reconstructionist Janet Folger. A woman whom was outraged that Clinton White House Press Secretary Michael McCurry denounced Trent Lott for comparing homosexuality to alcoholism and kleptomania.

Another Huckabee Christion Reconstructionist ally is Star Parker. The progressive blogosphere has had great fun making a mockery of Parker's reality-challenged writing. Parker compared the tax system to a plantation.

"Under the dictate of Uncle Sam, the risks of life become engineering problems and the goal of government is to eliminate those problems. The federal solution to poverty is the redistribution of wealth via disproportionate taxes on the wealthy. The plan is ingenious really: identify the need for atonement, demonize the people with the most money, tax them unfairly, and if anyone complains, say they are racist or heartless or both." P. 73

"Uncle Sam has developed a sophisticated poverty plantation, operated by a federal government, overseen by bureaucrats, protected by media elites, and financed by the taxpayers. The only difference between this plantation and the slave plantation of the antebellum South is perception."

Parker fails to recall that Jesus preached that the rich should give their money to the poor.

Huckabee will never get elected to the White House. Which makes James Dobson's endorsement all the more hysterical. Previously, Dobson gave Huckabee the cold should. Dobson is endorsing Huckabee in protest of John McCain's inevitable nomination. Dobson will have no sway with the Republican Party if he sabotages McCain's candidacy.

The Republican Party have made dangerous alliances with radicals such as Dobson, Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Jack Abramoff, Sun Myung Moon and Norman Podhoretz. Repubican politicians make it a point never to be photographed with these people. The country and party are moving to the Left. The GOP is being held for ransom by extremists. It couldn't happen to more more deserving group of people.

Update: Texas Governor Rick Perry asked Mike Huckabee to drop out. The Huckster declined.

Super Tuesday Results

The Associated Press has called Alabama, Arkansas and West Virginia for Mike Huckabee. John McCain won Connecticutt, Delaware, Illinois and New Jersey. The question is will Mitt Romney flip or flop out of the race.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennesessee. Barack Obama carried Georgia and Illinois.

Hat tip to Vox Populi. She is looking forward to the Hillary/McCain debates. It should be interesting which candidate will be the first to commit to keeping troops in Iraq for more than one millennium.

Huckabee Wins West Virgina

Mike Huckabee wins 18 of West Virginia's 27 delegates. John McCain told his his delegates lobby for the Huckster. Mitt Romney is crying foul.

“Unfortunately, this is what Senator McCain’s inside Washington ways look like: he cut a backroom deal with the tax-and-spend candidate he thought could best stop Governor Romney’s campaign of conservative change.”

Huckabee shot a good diss back at Romney.

"I thought he was saying yesterday no whining. So is it no whining or whining? He can't even keep a straight answer on the whining or no whining question. So here's a guy that's taken the no whining position now the whining position," said Huckabee.

The Republican candidates have been ganging up at Romney, in the debates. Romney comes across as such a pompous blowhard. Deals with delegates happen in presidential elections. The fact that Romney got gamed is hysterical. Romney is just mad he can't buy delegates like straw polls.

Mike Huckabee News

The wingnut organization Common Sense Issues is running a pro-Mike Huckabee push poll in South Carolina. (Check out the racist anti-Cuban video on their web site.)

Fred Thompson addressed the push poll in front of an audience.

“I'm obviously familiar with the push poll concept. Same folks did that in Iowa, and you know, it seems to be coming from one direction, but I won't call any names, but Gov. Huckabee says he doesn't know anything about it. So....”

Huckabee is busy equating gay sex to bestiality. The Huckster wants to party likes it's 2004.

QUESTIONER: Is it your goal to bring the Constitution into strict conformity with the Bible? Some people would consider that a kind of dangerous undertaking, particularly given the variety of biblical interpretations.

HUCKABEE: Well, I don't think that's a radical view to say we're going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we're going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal. Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again. I think the radical position is to make a change in what's been historic.

Huckabee can get away with homophobic comments because Democrats are fearful of addressing gay marriage. Democrats make the bizarre statement that they are for civil unions, but not gay marriage. During the 2004 campaign, John Edwards exploded on the press when he couldn't articulate why he favored the former. The difference for Democrats is the wording. Gay couples should have the same rights as married couples. Gay and lesbian unions must never be called marriage. The reason is...

Huckabee will run on homophobia until a Democrat calls him out. Ron Paul has become silent after his racist and homophobic newsletters became a campaign issue. Are Democrats afraid Chuck Norris is going to open a can of whoop ass if they point out their views? Show some spine, people.

Quote of the Day

""I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view."

Mike Huckabee, in Michigan

Say goodbye to the separation of church and state.

Huckabee and the Southern Baptist Church

Via Lindsay Beyerstein: Mike Huckabee defended his religious belief that women should submit to their husbands.

"I'm not the least bit ashamed of my faith or the doctrines of it," Huckabee said. "I don't try to impose that as a governor, and I wouldn't impose it as a president. But I certainly am going to practice it unashamedly.... "

He went on to explain that the Bible also commands husbands to submit to their wives and that marriage requires each spouse to give 100 percent to the other.

Lindsay is creeped out by the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC's recent history has been so weird. I would be more surprised if they didn't have a doctrine that wasn't offensive to women.

Former SBC President Henry J. Lyons on 56 count, including fraud, extortion and tax evasion. Lyon's finances were questioned after his wife found out about the $700,000 home co-owned by the mistress. The wife burnt the house down.

The SBC has engaged in relentless attacks against the gay community.

1987: Their convention condemned homosexual behavior as a "manifestation of a depraved nature and a perversion of divine standards." They viewed homosexual behavior as being linked to a general "moral decline" in America.
1991: Their convention passed a resolution saying that homosexual behavior is "outside the will of God." and that "it is the responsibility and privilege of the church to minister to homosexuals".
1992: One of the traditional, identifying characteristics of Baptist churches had always been the freedom of the individual congregation in matters of doctrine and morality. This had been the defining factor among Baptists for centuries, worldwide. Congregational freedom had existed in the SBC ever since the founding of the denomination. This came to a crashing halt in 1992. First, the North Carolina State Baptist Convention "disfellowshipped" (expelled) two of its congregations. They acted against the recommendations of their own executive committee. Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill NC had approved the ordination of a known homosexual. Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh NC had blessed the relationship of two committed gay men. The disfellowship decisions were later ratified by the SBC, who warned that other churches would be expelled if they demonstrated "unfriendly cooperation". The SBC amended their constitution to bar from membership any congregation that would "affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior." This convention was the one at which the then

Americans United sent the IRS a complaint that SBC member Wiley S. Drake, who responded by praying for the deaths of AU members. Huckabee went to great effort to distance himself from Wiley. I Can't say I blame him.

There is also the SBC's attacks against Catholics. The list goes on and on.

Mike Huckabee Concession Speech

8:56: Clift Hearst introduces Mike Huckabee.

8:57: The 2001 theme starts playing. I kid you not. This is so gloriously cheesy.

8:58: Elvis's C.C. Rider is playing. These Republicans sure love the King.

8:59: Crowd chants, "We like Mike!"

9:00: Huckabee has the crowd laughing with a few jokes. The man can work a crowd.

9:01: Huckabee thanks his New Hampshire co-chairs. Huckabee mentions it is Elvis's birthday.

9:02: Huchabee says he can take America up and not down. Always good to work in a reference to gravity.

9:04: Huckabee talks about New Hampshire hospitality. "We're part of you and you're part of us."

9:05 Huckabee says he is gonna secure the nominee. He promises to pronounce "chowder" the New Hampshire way.

Huckabee is hitting South Carolina, Michigan and Florida in the next 3 days.

9:06 Cue Elvis.

Dumbass of the Day Award: David Rivera

Good God! Florida House Rep. David Rivera doesn't understand that if he is going to stump for Mike Huckabee in New Hampshire, he should not scare the shit out of locals.

''I came all the way from Florida to give you this orange and ask you to please consider Gov. Huckabee when you vote Tuesday,'' Rivera said to several startled drivers, as he darted across three lanes of traffic on North Main Street until he was admonished to stay out of traffic by a police officer.

There is nothing that gets out the vote like some crazy man running towards you with oranges in his hands. Charging at cars on ice-covered roads is not a smart idea. No wonder Marco Rubio chose him as his lieutenant.

Iowa Caucus

To continue the back and forth that goes on between Pushing Rope and Creative Loafing, I break down the importantance of the Iowa caucas. Wayne Garcia is suffering caucas and Florida Gators burn-out.

Seriously, several of these candiadates are fucked if they don’t finish in second place. Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Duncan Hunter are dead men walking. Alan Keyes isn’t on the ballot and we probably won’t see him again. (You should run his campaign, Wayne.) Obama and Edwards will end up as the first and second caucas choices. Huckabee and Romney for the Republicans. Iowan just don’t feel Fred Thompson’s sex appeal and straight male Washington pundits.

Thompson and Giuliani are good as gone. The former was banking on South Carolina and Florida and the latter Florida, then carry their (laugh) momentum into Super Tuesday. Their campaigns are train wrecks. Shaggate killed Giuliani and Thompson is the laziest and dumbest presidential candidate of my lifetime. Athur Branch refuses to campaign when a Tennessee game is on. (Side note: how about them Gators!)

McCain might pull off New Hampshire.Huckabee are Romeny wins changes New Hampshire. John Kerry was polling in fourth in New Hampshire and Iowa saved him. The Swift Boated One won NH.

Iowa does matter. Say it with feeling, Wayne.

Clinton, Obama and Edwards will be battling each other after Super Tuesday. Edwards money will get thin, but he is in better shape than the Republicans. Ron Paul can run to the very end. He had the best GOP fundraising quarter and runs a bare-bones campaign.

Side note: Biden and Kucinich are telling their caucas voters to go with Obama as their second choice.

Huckabee Leads In Florida

The latest Rasmussen poll shows Mike Huckabee leading Republican contenders in Florida. It is not surprising, I said before that Rudy Giuliani is on a downward spiral. Factor in Giuliani's Florida scandal with Seisint and we aren't not looking at a candidate that screams frontrunner.

Huckabee 27%

Romney 23%

Giuliani 19%

Thompson 9%

McCain 6%,

Paul 4%

The Reason Carol Sue Shields Won't Be Home For Christmas...

...is because Mike Huckabee pardoned convicted rapist Wayne Dumond.

Huckabee Stands By AIDS Quarantine Statements

Chris Wallace takes Mike Huckabee to task for saying that AIDS can be contracted through casual contact. Huckabee refuses to recant to previous comments that AIDs carriers should be quarantined.

It's really bad when Fox News can't stomach Huckabee's b.s.