Want to read more about Huck? Check out this column from Jonah Goldberg in yesterday’s LATimes. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s mostly about Huck.

Money shot:

What’s troubling about The Man From Hope 2.0 is what he represents. Huckabee represents compassionate conservatism on steroids. A devout social conservative on issues such as abortion, school prayer, homosexuality and evolution, Huckabee is a populist on economics, a fad-follower on the environment and an all-around do-gooder who believes that the biblical obligation to do “good works” extends to using government — and your tax dollars — to bring us closer to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

If you are tired of Bush’s brand of “conservatism”, then voting for Huck is only going to make things worse.

Don’t go there.

thirteen28 on November 21, 2007 at 10:48 AM

I’m with you. Huckabee is Bush all over again. He’s a social conservative, but a big government liberal on everything else. DO NOT WANT.

Valiant on November 21, 2007 at 2:06 PM

Those are more substantial and valid issues for him to address at least on some level. Most of that stuff seems to have settled in his favor with minor crap being held against him.

It’s still a very fluid race, with several weeks to go. Howard Dean was “inevitable” around now in 2004, but his not-that-bad Iowa performance and the subsequent barbaric-yawp that buried him show how quickly that can change. And heck, Bubba’s “comeback kid” narrative turned relatively disappointing early results in NH into a hell-blessed miracle.

The slate should be narrowed to two or three survivors by the time my state gets to vote. My guess is it’ll come down to Rudy McRomney. but I’m willing to be surprised.

Slublog on November 21, 2007 at 1:41 PM

I understand your point with that video but I also see where Huckabee is coming from on that issue. It just highlights to me the fact that the illegal immigrant problem is best handled through border enforcement and cracking down on those hiring them here. If the child’s parents didn’t have a job waiting for them they wouldn’t be bringing the kid here in the first place.

What I don’t think is productive is smearing one of our own candidates with false accusations.

What has been said about Huckabee that is false? He raised taxes, he raised spending, he supported giving illegal immigrants tuition breaks at taxpayer-funded universities, he supports a nationwide smoking ban.

As this video shows, Huckabee is still trying to justify his plan that would have offered in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.

You are giving Huckabee a pass on his atrocious record despite the fact that he’s done nothing to explain his sudden change of heart. Why?

Because I’ve heard him in person explain his views. I have no reason to believe he is lying just like I don’t have any reason to believe Mitt or Rudy are lying. There’s plenty to take issue with Huckabee over. I just think you should address real issues with his candidacy not hold him to a different standard you hold other candidates. No candidate will be perfect.

The thing that is encouraging to me is that with ALL of our top candidates they are in line on the major issues. I wouldn’t be distressed or despondent if either Thompson, Mitt, Rudy, or Huckabee got the nomination. Rudy is softer on immigration than I’d like but when he says he’d secure the border I absolutely believe him so either way its a step up from where we are now. Truth be told I’m leaning toward Mitt right now for my Florida primary vote but I’m very much undecided. Huckabee impressed me a lot and Thompson has disappointed me greatly.

What I don’t think is productive is smearing one of our own candidates with false accusations. Yes his record isn’t the best, but my whole point in this thread is that neither are any of the other candidates. I’m a firm believer in learning from your mistakes. It’s clear for whatever reason that Huckabee considers his past stance on immigration a mistake.

bj1126 on November 21, 2007 at 11:18 AM

Yes, those are statements on his website. Plastic fantastic.

His record on those same issues speaks for itself, and he has yet to explain the epiphany that turned him from a pro-illegal immigration booster as governor into a hardcore anti-illegals candidate. You keep deflecting with questions about what the other candidates believe. This is about Huckabee, not Romney or Giuliani.

You are giving Huckabee a pass on his atrocious record despite the fact that he’s done nothing to explain his sudden change of heart. Why?

RW Wacko on November 21, 2007 at 11:49 AM

You’re starting to really live up the wacko part.

Anyone but Huck, though, PLEASE.

So is flip-flopping okay or not? Romney and Giuliani have (deservedly) taken a lot of heat for their convenient changing of positions.

Why does Huckabee get a pass? Remember, he felt so strongly about providing benefits to illegal immigrants that he accused his opponents of being “un-Christian.”

The bigger question is, why is he not given one while the others are? Why is Rudy’s absolute refusal to say that being here illegal a crime not being pressed harder?

From his website:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4

In this age of terror, immigration is not only an economic issue, but also a national security issue. Those caught trying to enter illegally must be detained, processed, and deported.

The Governor opposes and will not tolerate sanctuaries for illegals. The federal government must crack down on rogue cities that willfully undermine our economy and national security.

The Governor opposes and will not tolerate employers who hire illegals. They must be punished with fines and penalties so large that they will see it is not worth the risk.

His administration as Gov was also rife with corruption. other than that, he’s okay. I’d probably vote for Hillary over Huck. I’m actually serious about that.

As opposed to Mitt who has flip flopped on almost every issue and Rudy who hasn’t flip flopped at all just doesn’t care about illegals as long as they aren’t committing violent crimes?

So is flip-flopping okay or not? Romney and Giuliani have (deservedly) taken a lot of heat for their convenient changing of positions.

Why does Huckabee get a pass? Remember, he felt so strongly about providing benefits to illegal immigrants that he accused his opponents of being “un-Christian.”

So it’s okay for him to flip-flop what could be the biggest issue of the coming election because he’s not a gun-grabber?

As opposed to Mitt who has flip flopped on almost every issue and Rudy who hasn’t flip flopped at all just doesn’t care about illegals as long as they aren’t committing violent crimes?

Huckabee suffers from the dual debilitating afflictions of RINO-itis (repugnant to conservatives) and Christianist moralism (repugnant to many Christians and non-Christians alike). While one could conceivably level the RINO (or perhaps CINO) charge at aspects of Giuliani, Romney, and, yes, even Thompson, all three have had to make a firm defense of or commitment to governing in accordance with conservative principles. Giuliani and Romney have especially had to do so, given their backgrounds, and I think have answered those appropriate criticisms effectively.

Huckabee, however, has not yet had his record and core principles scrutinized under the hot, harsh lights that accompany a rise in popularity. And, frankly, I think that once he is more closely and critically inspected much of the support he is enjoying these last few weeks from disaffected Repubs who are disappointed with the Big Four (but think Ron Paul is too weird) will fade away.

I would be interested to see a demographic breakdown of Huckabee’s recent support, as I have a gut feeling that his rise is an attempt by one-issue abortion voters and Christian social-con’s (ahem…Chuck) to find “God’s candidate,” rather than the best candidate.

God doesn’t care about candidates, folks. He cares about the conduct of His people (2 Chron. 7:14).