Are you ready for Senator Huckabee?
posted at 1:00 pm on February 25, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Neither am I, but the incumbent’s vulnerable, we’re desperate for seats, and Huck’s national profile is now sufficiently high that he could march home and put Pryor back on his heels quick-like. Brian Faughnan makes a compelling case, particularly re: Huck using four years in the Senate to pound the table about border enforcement and winning the war to shore up his conservative cred for another presidential run 2012. Even if you think it’d be insincere (as I do), we could do worse than having a media darling with preternatural communication skills on TV every other day arguing our position. SECOND LOOK AT CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR HUCKABEE!
Main problem: The filing deadline is March 10. Texas and Ohio are March 4. If McCain beats him in both states, which is highly likely, can he credibly turn on a dime after weeks of Aguirre-esque rhetoric and decide no, in fact, what he really wanted to do is be a senator? Especially after having said just last week that he’d rather dye his hair green than run for the seat? Note to Huck: Conan O’Brien doesn’t need a sidekick.
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Do. Not. Want.
Jimmie on February 25, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Senator Romney in 2010? Hell yes.
Huckabee? well, it would depend on the democrat he ran against. Here in the south, lots of the dems are better on illegal immigration and taxes than republicans.
funky chicken on February 25, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Oy vey
Defector01 on February 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Perish.The.Thought.
1 less Dem in the Senate = more gooder
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM
As a supporter of the Fair Tax, I like it, with the added benefit that it sends him back to Arkansas where we’re less likely to be tormented with his god-awful class warfare shtick (among other annoyances).
Buy Danish on February 25, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Since when has Huckabee worried about turning on a dime? He’ll just pull some faux-innocent humor out of his back pocket, thump his Bible, and all will be forgiven by those who love him.
aero on February 25, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Why doesn’t this guy just get his own TV talk show ala Jerry Springer/Maury Povich and just get it over with?
pilamaye on February 25, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Better a senator than a regular on SNL. That show is already not funny.
Syd B. on February 25, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Sure. Could make for a nice little barbershop event. And I do not get the Huck-hate. He’s so awful that you’d rather Arkansas send a Dem to the Senate? Sheesh. The guy’s not so bad. Aside from having a chance to prove himself on issues that people in these parts obsess about to the point of mania, he also puts an appealing face on an indispensable element of the Republican coalition.
CK MacLeod on February 25, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Can he file now, quiet-like, just in case?
As noted above, one senate seat is a big deal these days.
TexasDan on February 25, 2008 at 1:12 PM
I think he’s more suited to join Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland on the Bible-thumper channel, pilfering old ladies for their Social Security and pretending to heal the sick.
There are plenty of rubes out there who would send their kids’ inheritance to him.
bigred on February 25, 2008 at 1:13 PM
He should fit right in. Senators are definitely his kind of people. Lots of friendships to be made and deals to be cut, before he makes it to the really big leagues,..a lobbyist. Best of all, not enough Shi’ite Republicans to cramp his style.
a capella on February 25, 2008 at 1:16 PM
The real question:
Is the Senate cafeteria ready for MRS. Huckabee?
Republican on February 25, 2008 at 1:18 PM
What is the problem with another rank and file Republican in the Senate?
He might as well unseat Mark Pryor. Every Senate Democrat up for reelection in a red state needs to look over their shoulder. Democrats have carried the water for illegal aliens and the Spanish language, they have carried the water for code pink, media maters et al so let them own it.
We need our eyes on 2010 as well. Harry Reid is vulnerable. The last Dem Senator to carry the flag for liberals when they had the majority lost his next race. What was his name? He was from South Dakota I believe anyway, the point is that they have gone so far left they are vulnerable. We have soundbite after soundbite of them trashing a war we are winning, yet the GOP seems so feckless they may let the Democrats ooze away from the edge of the abyss.
Theworldisnotenough on February 25, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Good grief!
a capella on February 25, 2008 at 1:19 PM
We need another big government nanny stater in Washington if you ask me. There just aren’t enough of em!
lorien1973 on February 25, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Huckabee in the Senate? Couldn’t hurt. As one of 100, he couldn’t do all that much damage. As noted in the post, it would give him a chance to establish a more conservative record on immigration, taxes and spending.
Slublog on February 25, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Or a paycheck.
The temptation of having an ‘R’ in the seat is great. Then again I would be breaking beer bottles against the widescreen everytime some talking head introduced Senator Huckabee.
Limerick on February 25, 2008 at 1:21 PM
From Arkansas?
I wouldn’t want Bill Clinton Lite
98fromCA on February 25, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Wow. Finally someone who said it. Kudos!
Aristotle on February 25, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Hey, it’s a seat, so why not if his home state will vote for him.
Last I checked, Chuck Hagel still actually had an R after his name. Heck, we even had that putz Lincoln Chafee as a GOP senator for years.
JammieWearingFool on February 25, 2008 at 1:23 PM
A few more statesmen and a few less politicians in Washington would be refreshing. IMO, Huck is a politician.
captivated_dem on February 25, 2008 at 1:26 PM
No.
Me no likem RINO’s….they confuse voters.
He would probably make a fool out of himself enough in the senate that he would remain as unelectable as he is now.
Maybe he can spend the 4 years in the senate getting to the bottom of that “Satan/Jesus are brothers” thing.
Roger Waters on February 25, 2008 at 1:28 PM
JWF you are a cruel man to bring up Hagel.
I would guess that Huckabee wouldn’t have a wide stance, which is something at least.
But if the dems in AR nominated a Zell Miller type, it’s a wash unless the GOP actually has a chance of getting back into the majority in the Senate.
funky chicken on February 25, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Jeez. Huckabee doesn’t hate guns or the military. He’s not gonna vote to celebrate partial birth abortion or create a national men-in-tight-hotpants day.
If there is an outstanding conservative alternative for the seat, by all means nominate and support him in the primary and general.
If no such candidate exists, Huckabee is a good choice. OR at least an OK choice.
funky chicken on February 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Bloom County summed it up best. A “statesman” is nothing but a dead politician and what this country needs is more statesmen!
highhopes on February 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM
He should run in New York against Hillary in four years. Can wear a Yankee cap and everything.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on February 25, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Allah just dropped his i-Phone while reading that.
Limerick on February 25, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Utahns may get the chance to vote for a Romney this November after all — Josh Romney, the son of former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, says he’s considering a run for Congress.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Mitt Romney may end up on the ballot as a vice presidential candidate — or even, some suggest, the party’s nominee if the campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., continues to falter.
Josh Romney told the Deseret Morning News that after a year of campaigning across country for his father, he’s been approached to run as a Republican against 2nd Congressional District Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
“I haven’t ruled it out,” Josh Romney, 32, of Millcreek, said of becoming a candidate himself. “I’m pretty young, but I’ve had good experience on the campaign trail.” Plus, he said, he likely could count on his father’s supporters here in Utah. Link
al on February 25, 2008 at 1:36 PM
That might be chuckleworthy, but seriously…..
captivated_dem on February 25, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Tell him to come on down to Texas. We could use an actual Republican in the governor’s chair.
Limerick on February 25, 2008 at 1:37 PM
bigred on February 25, 2008 at 1:13 PM
You are so right! He’s already been to Kenny’s place once, why not get some pointers and start bilking right away. Build up a fortune and then run for pres in 2010.
flytier on February 25, 2008 at 1:37 PM
I think it’s a freakin’ GREAT idea, and I hope he does it.
Too many people have been down on Huckabee. He’s got some of the hated RINO instincts (thinks “government” when he hears “we”) but he’s got more of the desired conservative instincts, and he’s got an “R” next to his name, nothing to sneeze at where Senate seats are at stake.
Run, Mike, Run.
(Unrelated to this topic, please visit my political blog, “Plumb Bob Blog: Squaring the Culture,” at http://www.plumbbobblog.com. Thanks.)
philwynk on February 25, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Sounds familiar. Death by a thousand cuts.
a capella on February 25, 2008 at 1:40 PM
I am so glad that I do not live in AR
ConservativePartyNow on February 25, 2008 at 1:40 PM
What, you’d expect him to be embarrassed to do an about face and run for Senate instead? Dude. He’s only doing what the Lord tells him to… on his regular Tuesday morning conference call with the Big J.
Sugar Land on February 25, 2008 at 1:41 PM
“Politicians run for office with the belief that Government is the answer to the problems of the day.
Statesmen run for office with the knowledge that Government IS the problem, and to keep politicians from causing more damage. “
Huckabee is a politicain. That is all that needs to be said.
Voidseeker on February 25, 2008 at 1:46 PM
***LIFELONG ARKANSAN ALERT***
I am an Arkansas Republican, who has never ever ever voted for Mike Huckabee. And I never ever will.
Say what you want about Mark Pryor, there’s no way he’s losing next election. Besides, he was one of the ‘gang of 14′ — he’s willing to work across the aisle. His daddy, David Pryor, was a popular Dem governor-turned-senator back in the 70s & 80s. His name is what won him the first senate seat, but his reputation is Arkansas by Republicans is higher than the libs in Little Rock.
Read blogs by the liberal ‘Arkansas Times’, their lib commenters say Pryor is no better than having the GOP as the nominee. The last thing Arkansas needs is another bumbling goofball like the HUCKSTER to misrepresent our state….or would you like Senator “ban all soft drinks & smoking, then claim that’s what Jesus would want” giving Leno & Letterman more fodder for years and years?
Do NOT support Mike. In this case, the Dem Pryor is better than Huck. Pryor will toe the party line on unimportant issues, but count him in as a strong supporter of issues that actually matter (think war on terror funding, wiretapping, etc.). I’d vote against pryor if there were a CONSERVATIVE running, but Huckabee is a populist nanny stater in a preacher’s clothing.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/p000590/key-votes/
Check out his votes… lots of “with the gop and not the dems”… heck he was one of like 5 dems to confirm GONZALES for crying out loud
battleoflepanto1571 on February 25, 2008 at 1:46 PM
a capella, so you still prefer to hand the whole kit and kaboodle to military hating, gun hating, capitalism hating democrats?
I said, if there is a better, more conservative alternative, nominate and support the alternative. If not, Huck is better than a democrat.
That’s not rocket science, or a preference for lib/mod republicans or a sliding left of the GOP.
funky chicken on February 25, 2008 at 1:48 PM
And ANOTHER THING… Arkansas is a RED STATE.
We only have dems in office because we never ’switched over’ during the 70s or 80s. The real election is the may primary for Dems, and every one of them is a God-guns-gays type (well, except the congressman from Little Rock, Vic Snyder). Arkansas dems would be horrified if they knew what Code Pink believes.
battleoflepanto1571 on February 25, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I’ve always thought Huck was really running for President of the 700 Club.
satyr9us on February 25, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Though, he will need a replacement when Conan moves to Leno’s timeslot next year.
someguy on February 25, 2008 at 1:51 PM
I’m only talking about getting Harry Reid out of the Sen Majority Leader spot here…
If the senate’s gonna stay dem, Pryor may be a better man. That’s for AR voters to decide.
funky chicken on February 25, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Fried squirrel day would be his first legislation. Pretty harmless.
hanzblinx on February 25, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Well, better Senator than President or VP.
Hey, Maybe McCain would like to run for the Senate (instead) too.
And that’s all I got to say about that.
LegendHasIt on February 25, 2008 at 1:55 PM
How do you think we got to this point? We’ve stocked the pond with Huck types and now we can’t understand why we don’t have better choices when it really counts. I refer you to the above post from a Repubican Arkansan.
a capella on February 25, 2008 at 1:57 PM
i dont like him he is a baby has run a stupid campain and lost all of my respect by running just on identity politics
but ! i would back him 4 the senate because he can win and 1 of hundred is not a big deal and he is pro life . should he run again 4 president i will not back him never never..
al on February 25, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Celtic backhand. Love it.
captivated_dem on February 25, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Wow, this Pryor guy sounds more conservative than McCain! Pryor (if a Dim has to win) 08!
kcd on February 25, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Problem is- after a while the “conservative” democrats usually end up toeing the party line once push comes to shove- as with the “death tax” in this case. Yeah, they’ll do what it takes to get elected in a relatively conservative state, but if it comes down to a partisan vote, they generally start voting with their party.
Hollowpoint on February 25, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Are you ready for Senator Huckabee?
definitely. better a sen. huckabee than a sen. pryor.
its vintage duh on February 25, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Another conservative Arkansan here.
I can’t stand Huckabee.
I’m certainly not crazy about Pryor.
But please, oh PLEASE, can we get rid of Lincoln?!?
shibumiglass on February 25, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Senator Huck? Yep! While his record as governor is nothing to write home about, as a senator, he’s less likely to be damaging than McCain already is. If somehow Hagel, Snowe and Gramm can be removed, then GOP senators will be less tempted to continue being loose cannons.
infidelpride on February 25, 2008 at 2:21 PM
I thought Huck was gonna replace Falwell ?
William Amos on February 25, 2008 at 2:25 PM
There is only one good thing that will come out of Senator Huck:
One more vote for a pro-life justice.
Huck’s got huge issues everywhere else, but he’ll go down that line to a fault.
BKennedy on February 25, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Sounds like a no-brainer to me, but…
Let’s leave it to the good folks of Arkansas to decide.
sleepy-beans on February 25, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Why does he have to be credible? It’s Arkansas.
Spirit of 1776 on February 25, 2008 at 2:57 PM
No problem with him being Senator. Just look at Arkansas’s two senators. Both Democrats
kangjie on February 25, 2008 at 3:12 PM
not a big deal to me…
Trevor on February 25, 2008 at 3:23 PM
If you look back at Huck’s history he made a failed run for the Senate from Arkansas just prior to being elected Lt Gov.
It is normal progression for Senators in Arkansas to be ex governors from the state.
CommentGuy on February 25, 2008 at 3:28 PM
GOMER HUCK………WHAT A DORK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21615320@N06/2203519293/
awesum on February 25, 2008 at 3:59 PM
No. America needs him as our president not as a senator.
Rigged ballots in Washington state and Missouri, I’m telling you. And California too..even though I have been registered republican for quite a while they said I wasn’t registered and gave me a provisional ballot(which went right in the trash after I handed it to them). Maybe it had something to do with the fact that EVERYONE working at the ballot were flaming liberals who make sure to tell everyone where the democratic ballot is and assume everyone is a democrat.
SaintOlaf on February 25, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Has Huck got a screw loose or what?
mixplix on February 25, 2008 at 5:24 PM
I’ve been calling for it for months on other sites. But, I thought the deadline was April 1st in Arkansas. The earlier deadline would make it a little tougher. Getting the Senate back should be a priority and I don’t know if anyone else can knock off Democratic freshman Senator Pryor. There probably won’t be much of a race there if Huckabee doesn’t run. Huck can finally get his wish of running with McCain, because they could help each other win.
tuleya on February 25, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Pryor votes against the illegals. Lincoln, however, looooves the illegals. Let Huck take her place and leave Pryor alone.
annexwcp on February 25, 2008 at 6:22 PM
If Huckabee were more conservative, or Pryor were more liberal, I’d be very much in favor of this, but they aren’t.
However, Senator Pryor’s one of the “good ones” on the other side of the aisle. If John McCain is our next president, as I hope he will be, a democratic Senator Pryor will be a big asset for him (and us) in a Congress which will likely be DEM in both houses.
ClintACK on February 25, 2008 at 10:01 PM
I’m active duty military from Arkansas and I agree with battleoflepanto1571’s comments. Pryor is a pretty decent Senator on important issues. Only thing I have to complain about is it took his staff over a month of email me back on the National Defense Authorization Act back when it was still in veto mode. I’m in the retention business and that NDAA veto really screwed the pooch on my January numbers.
artitumis on February 27, 2008 at 1:42 AM