No “Deaniac” moments tonight, though Ed Rollins was about as gracious a winner as I’ve seen this side of Michael Vick’s rottweiler. How many members of Team Huckabee have made public violence-fantasy comments about Romney, including the twenty-gauge candidate himself? I hope Mitt gets his secret service protection, and soon…

I will be holding a press conference on the hour to announce that I have pictures of Mike Huckabee having a “tet-a-tet” with Larry Craig.

On second thought, forget what I just said as my soul would not let me do something like that. So never mind.

Slublog on January 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM

I linked to this story about Common Sense Issues earlier, but I think I’ll link it again for Ex-Tex.

Ex-tex on January 3, 2008 at 4:58 PM

Interesting, but I think the more likely culprit is Patrick Davis, former NRSC head. He’s in charge of the pro-Huckabee group (Common Sense Issues, Inc.) already doing push-polling in NH and Iowa.

Maybe– it’s about the “anti-mormon” calls? Has anybody noticed that all the “dirty tricks” seem to have been directed at Mitt? What if it turns out that the Romney campaign did’em??

Just askin’.

Ex-tex on January 3, 2008 at 2:57 PM

WHOA it looks like Mitt has a connection to the company that the NHAG says hired the calls.
From Jim Geraghty NRO

Political Committees
National
Bush/Quayle 1992
Bush/Cheney 2000
Bush/Cheney 2004
Dole/Kemp 1996
National Association of Attorneys General
National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Progress for America
Republican Governors Association

Mitt Romney was the Chairman of this Association in 2006.

To Joe Carter -

Joe, I am struck by the ferocity of your comments about Romney. I suppose that’s natural; the McCain folks felt the same way about their chief rival, GWB, in 2000, and said almost the same kinds of things you are saying.

What really struck me, however, was your reference to “the impending scandal that has been rumored for weeks.” This coming from the man whose role was “research director” in Huckabee’s campaign? Two days before the election? My co-blogger and I read just about everything significant that appears about this election in the MSM and the blogosphere, and this is the first I have heard of any such rumor. I think you should reflect on just how questionable it is for you to bring it up now, in this way.

Joe Carter’s response –

My co-blogger and I read just about everything significant that appears about this election in the MSM and the blogosphere, and this is the first I have heard of any such rumor.

I have to say that I was under the impression that the media/blogosphere was unable to keep a secret. But this rumor has managed to circulate widely behind the scenes while getting almost no coverage on the blogs. I was shocked by how many sources had heard it yet were keeping it under wraps.

I think you should reflect on just how questionable it is for you to bring it up now, in this way.

Indeed, I have reflected on that question. In fact, I only bring it up because the story hasn’t broken already and deserves to be aired. It has the potential to change the race significantly and show should be cleared up before any of the caucuses/primaries even begin.

Now the rumor could be completely wrong and it could turn out that the investigation ends up hurting Huckabee rather than Romney. If that is the case, then Huckabee should drop out of the race. I put honesty and integrity ahead of partisanship and this incident, while not exactly earth-shattering, cuts to the heart of that. It will also show once again that the cover-up is often worse than the crime.

You know it’s election season with these kind of stories:Mitt Romney will never be President — I won’t be surprised if Mitt Romney wins the Iowa Caucus. I will be surprised, however, if he’s still in the race when the……

You don’t put a post out hoping no one will see it or only a few people will and will stay hush about it.

amerpundit on January 3, 2008 at 3:55 PM

Exactly.

I wonder how many hits this nothing of a blog post that no one was supposed to see has gotten.

It’s not like he’s on-air talking about it. He made a post on his blog. He’s smart enough to know that if he really wanted to make some noise he would have needed to plant it days ago.

EduardoOTI on January 3, 2008 at 3:38 PM

He put it out there, without any details whatsoever, knowing people would read it and spread it. You don’t put a post out hoping no one will see it or only a few people will and will stay hush about it.

I’m an ardent supporter of the power of blogs, but I think you guys are overreaching on this one quite a bit.

So you think Carter’s behavior is acceptable for a supporter (and former staffer) of the guy who’s running a “positive campaign?”

It’s not like he’s on-air talking about it. He made a post on his blog. He’s smart enough to know that if he really wanted to make some noise he would have needed to plant it days ago.

Huh. Really? On the day of the caucus when all the pundits are looking for that little extra insight, that little tip that puts them ahead Carter drops this like blood on the water for the sharks. You’re probably right. He was probably trying to bury it. Either that or he was doing the “Lord’s work” as seen by Pastor Huck.

Iowa has given us a real gift (read as “blessing” for all Huck supporters) by showing us who Huck really is. I was favorable disposed to him, though anti his positions until his rise up to the top. Not so now.

It’s not like he’s on-air talking about it. He made a post on his blog. He’s smart enough to know that if he really wanted to make some noise he would have needed to plant it days ago.

Who cares if he’s not “on-air?” This intertube thingy has a pretty large reach, and like davep35 says, this little stinkbomb is all over the political internet.

It was a nasty move by Carter.

I certainly hope that Mitt was not involved with the anti-mormon calls. I find it very difficult to believe that a well-organized, disciplined campaign like his would do something that stupid.

It’s not like he’s on-air talking about it. He made a post on his blog. He’s smart enough to know that if he really wanted to make some noise he would have needed to plant it days ago.

It’s all over the blogs today, the day of voting.

It’s not like he’s on-air talking about it. He made a post on his blog. He’s smart enough to know that if he really wanted to make some noise he would have needed to plant it days ago.