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Rockin' Huckabee
Sunday January 6, 2008
Okay, I've had the chance to go potty, pick up the kid from work and take some Excedrine (Extra strength, of course), now here's my thoughts on tonite's debate:
First -- did they deliberately place those guys in such close proximity to make them uneasy? Surely FOX has enough money to rent a reasonable space. And sticking Mitt between Huck and Maverick was no coincedence, they were hoping for a gang-up. Weak. I expect better from FOX.
Next -- Who won? I don't think anyone did. No one stood out. Sadly, I would have liked the Gov. to come on stronger, but he was just average tonite. Anyone who thought Romney won, was already hoping/expecting him to. Nothing he said tonite was particularly memorable or vote changing. And frankly, I don't know where a silver spooner like Mitt comes off looking down his nose at a war hero like McCain. Reeks of elitism.
Also -- I think Chris Wallace is the best moderator in the business. He's tough, kind of this generation's Mike Wallace, no pun intended. But, as he admitted, he focused on the top three candidates leaving Fred? and Rudy off to the side. Should have engaged them more.
Finally -- I wonder about these focus groups by Frank Luntz. In tonite's group, they all said Huck was too religous. But where did that come from? Not the debate, as nothing was said about religeon. These people were predisposed to dislike the Gov. going in. They said they were undecided, but that does not mean unbiased. Nor are they completely informed, contrary to what Luntz said in his fawning after comments. The evidence of this is in the early comment by one group member who said that Huck was not sincere in his stance on pro-life! Are you kidding me? The Gov's the only guy in the race that has been 100% pro-life! And yet there they are, all nodding in agreement that Mitt is more believable in his stance on abortion. The guy who has flip-flopped. And these are the intelligent, savvy voters we're supposed to be in awe of? Please.
Anyway, I hope my second attempt at LiveBlogging was better than the first. Let me know. And let's see the Gov. come in third in New Hampshire. That would be perfect.
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8:00pm And the fun begins!
8:01pm Man is that stage crowded!
8:03pm Mitt jabs at Huck about taxes, actually mentions a plan about doing a zero tax rate.
8:05pm McCain sounds much calmer tonite. He sounds good about taxes, but . . .
8:08pm Huck outlining his tax cuts during time as Governor. "I made government work" Great line. Inherited. . .ooh, Mitt says Huck makes up facts. Mitt hammering Huck about net tax raises but ignores he did the same thing.
8:15pm Fred? wonking about Social Security. Fred?'s a bit grouchy with Chris. Mitt disagrees about reducing initial benefit of SS to modest income Americans.
8:20pm Going after Huck for being a populist. Forceful on this point. Give poor people a chance to become rich, not making rich people poor. Nice point. Mitt sticking up for big corporations, there's a surprise. Level of equity in the tax system.
8:25 Rudy going on about NY again. Good point about Republicans not explaining how the conservative agenda is good for the poor. "Rudy loves you more." Where did that come from?
8:27pm Fred? kind of likes Huck's FairTax, wants alternative. Two tier tax bracket - 10% and 25%. Why is that more reasonable than a consumption tax?
8:29pm McCain says he is an agent of change in response to Mitt saying he's been in Washington too long. Ow, Chris is pitting Mitt against Maverick. Mitt spinning on what he said this morning. Why isn't Chris calling him on this?
8:32pm Maverick back at Mitt with his record as leader in military and Congress.
8:34pm Fred? says change means telling the truth, slips in a slam at Huck. Rudy saying change can go either way -- good or bad, hits at Hill and Obama.
8:40pm Who's more experienced -- Congressman or Governor? Mitt says it's a governor. Brings up China for the umpteenth time, should be a drinking game. Maverick says maybe all these governors haven't done the best job. heh
8:46pm Same nonsense about Huck's weak foreign policy. Pattern of not knowing things? No slip of truth, no slip of character. Making lots of speeches means the occasional slip of speech.
8:50pm groan Rudy says he's the only one who had to deal with a terrorist attack -- another drinking game. Fred? says Mitt thinks expertise important everywhere except foreign policy. Fred? at Huck for "arrogant" comment and Guantanamo. Huck say Guantanamo is too hospitable. Fred? brings up legal problems of having prisoners on US soil.
8:56pm Sorry wrong number made me miss a bit. Maverick brings up his support from former generals and secs of state.
8:57pm Immigration, oh boy. McCain trying to clarify his position about amnesty. Loving and caring. Unfair to millions of people waiting for legal immigration. Ooh quote on screen from Mitt..."resonable and different from amnesty" Good one.
9:02pm Chris challenges Huck on his new immigration. Mitt, I'm talking to Chris. heh Ugh, Huck's kind of dodging this question about punishing children. Good point about how even Reagan messed up illegal immigration. Let's just fix the problem and quit throwing out buzz words.
9:09pm Fred? jabs at Huck, Rudy and Mitt about how they're late comers to immigration control. Missing the point that all these guys have adopted better programs. Why keep going on about past stances?
9:15pm Mitt's attack ads. Maverick won't take the bait -- positive campaign. Chris won't let it go. Huck won't respond to attack ads, why he won in Iowa -- positive president. Love the way Mitt smiles at Huck, he looks really insincere. Mitt says he went from virtual unknown to front runner. huh? His ads aren't attack ads, just pointing out differences between candidates. Chuck Norris standing outside. heh
9:22pm Too much baggage to lead for Rudy? All charges were cleared and explained. Pity it was on page 37 of NY Times. All candidates have made mistakes. Will anything in the Kerik case come out about links to organized crime?
9:25pm Maverick too old to run? Says he's got enough vigor. Would run for two terms. Waiting for this question for Fred?
9:26pm Closing question about how to energize Republicans and win the presidency:
Rudy best because of ability to handle big challenges, work with Dems.
Fred? says he's never lost an election, both of them. groan
Huck has lived life like most americans, consistancy of principles of republican party, practical experience in running government and solving problems.
Mitt says he's running because his kids told him to huh?
Maverick says we need leadership and he has the knowledge to lead.
9:33pmFrank Luntz again. Focus group says Romney won debate. Says Huck lost debate on first question. Say Fred? was the weakest candidate. Say Iowa is too religous. Huck is too religous. Who's the idiot that thought Huck wasn't sincere about being pro-life? Oh brother!
| | Posted by postaldog at 7:58 PM - | |
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Going to try and LiveBlog the debate tonite. Missed last night's too cold and sick to do it.
Hopefully I'll do a better job this time.
See ya @ 8:00pm | | Posted by postaldog at 6:40 PM - | |
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A message from Mike Huckabee:
There was a debate last night in New Hampshire. It was an important debate where the candidates were able to discuss some new issues such as energy independence. After each debate, the candidates head to the "spin room," where we answer questions from reporters and discuss who is up and who is down. Some campaigns are better at it than others. A couple of our rivals have whole teams of staffers ready to feed the media one attack or clarification after another.
I don't plan on doing that with you. Instead, I am thinking about a photo I noticed on the front page of our website as I was preparing for the debate and want to share with you its importance and what it means to me and what it means for our campaign.
It's a great campaign photo of me standing with a group of enthusiastic, young student supporters. The kind of young men and women I meet on the campaign trail everyday. They are thirsty for a healthy discussion of the issues. They don't care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better – just like you and me.
So today, instead of the “spin” that’s coming out of most of the other campaigns, I’m going to offer you a clear alternative. Something every campaign should be doing, something you should expect from every candidate and something I’ve tried hard to do since day one: An honest and open discussion of the issues.
As many of you know, I believe very strongly in the FairTax. Expert analyses have shown that the FairTax lowers the lifetime tax burden on all of us: single or married; working or retired; rich, poor or middle class.
The FairTax would instantly make American products 12 to 25% more competitive, because the cost of those goods will no longer be inflated by corporate taxes, costs of tax compliance, and Social Security matching payments. When we buy products now, those taxes are built into the cost, so all of us pay corporate taxes indirectly on top of the personal taxes we pay directly. Compliance costs are just make-work with no real added value, yet they consume as much as 3% of our gross domestic product annually. These costs are an especially heavy burden on small businesses, which generate most of our jobs.
To learn more about the FairTax visit our website.
You may also know that a few years ago, I made the decision to transform my personal health instead of accepting whatever fate my poor health was leading me to. Everyday, hundreds if not thousands of Americans face similar decisions. The health care system in this country is irrevocably broken, in part because it is only a "health care" system, not a "health" system. We don't need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funded through ever-higher taxes. We do need to get serious about preventive health care instead of chasing more and more dollars to treat chronic disease, which currently gobbles up 80% of our health care costs and yet is often avoidable. The result is that we'll be able to deliver better care where and when it's needed.
To learn more about my view of our health care system and our health crisis visit our website.
I urge you to read more about each of these issues on our campaign website and leave a comment, because I am eager to read what you think of my positions.
Now back to that photo. While it is a great photo it is unremarkable in the sense that it could have been taken anywhere. America is full of hopeful, optimistic people; and young or old, we are always looking forward. As I meet voters, it is clear to me that they are looking for a clear alternative to the division and partisanship. They want to discuss issues and work towards solving problems. Let me be clear--that is why I am running for President. So please in the days ahead, let your friends and family know we are campaigning for them, and if they live in New Hampshire, tell them to spread the word before the Tuesday primary.
With deep gratitude,
P.S. We are roughly $400,000 away from our Jan. 10 goal. Since Iowa, we have raised more than $500,000 over the last 60 hours. A tremendous result. Let us keep going. Help me close the gap with a contribution of $10, $25, $50, $100 or even $500 today.
| | Posted by postaldog at 5:24 PM - | |
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Thursday January 3, 2008
This just in:
FOX News predicts Huck will win the Iowa Caucus by a wide margin according to early vote counts.
Thanks to all Huck caucus voters.
Update:
Let the whining begin --
HotAir is reposting their cap of Aliens where pvt Hudson moans the immortal phrase: "Game over, man! Game over! sissies
PowerLine leads with a blog about how it's a good thing for Romney to lose Iowa. yeah, spend $80 million and lose! That's always a good plan!
more to come 
Michelle Malkin posts a multiple slam at Ed Rollins then posts a tug at your heartstrings bit about Duncan Hunter soldiering [her words] on despite polling at less than 1% -- subtle
SayAnythingBlog has one post that says that "Iowa isn't representative of the entire country" and another talking about how Huck winning Iowa means nothing -- it's only one state! Let's see -- Huck leads in the polls and wins Iowa, he's leading in So. Carolina, 2nd in Florida, 1st in a couple of national polls. . .yeah that all means nothing. don't quit your day job guy!
Speaking of which, the guy filling in for Rusty at Jawa Report said Huck would finish second, didn't have the organization to win, his numbers were inflated by the media, etc. [insert snappy retort from above]
More desperation at HotAir as Allah and the lemmings are giddy that Fred? is in third(?) place, barely in double digits! Nice powerful showing by your guy, Allah. pathetic | | Posted by postaldog at 9:00 PM - | |
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