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Like it or not, the 2012 presidential campaign season is already underway. Right now, we're in the nascent stage of the cycle where folks are asking: Will he/she run?
A new 8,300-word New Yorker profile asks that question of Mike Huckabee. Among the nuggets in the piece (some of which we had already heard):
-- Huckabee is now registered to vote in Florida, not his native Arkansas
-- He has gained weight since his '08 campaign days, though he doesn't weigh the 300-odd pounds he once weighed
-- Former McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt says some VERY nice things about Huckabee.
In some ways, Huckabee seems like a promising candidate for 2012: a squeaky-clean family man and bona-fide Christian who loves to talk. His communication is folksy but fluid; he never seems flummoxed, like George W. Bush, or befuddled, like John McCain, or unprepared, like Sarah Palin. “If we’re running a race against their most articulate guy,” Steve Schmidt, John McCain’s former campaign manager, told me, referring to President Obama, “we should put our most articulate guy. Huckabee’s that guy.” Schmidt, who has traded barbs with Palin since the election, said, “There’s no one who really provides a better contrast to Sarah Palin, showing her as an entertainer instead of a serious thinker—and there’s not enough oxygen for both of them.”
But the piece also quotes Huck's old gubernatorial chief of staff, Brenda Turner, who doesn't think he'll run in 2012.
Turner suspects that Huckabee will not run for President in 2012. “He’s actually living the dream that he’s always had, starting on radio at fourteen and loving TV like he does,” she said. “If he runs, it would have to be a calling, and it couldn’t just come from supporters; he’d have to feel the Lord was calling him. I don’t feel like he has that urgency.”
From this reporter's impression after covering Huckabee in '08: He was a tremendous performer, and the best and most natural speaker/debater among the '08 GOP hopefuls. But Huckabee also didn't do the little things that help you win the White House: raise money and build a strong campaign team. If he still is disinclined to do those little things, you've got to wonder if he really wants to make a second bid for the White House in 2012.
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Would be nice for him to run...Then again, if a three legged dog runs against Obie, the dog with get my vote.
Well, sure, John. We need MORE religious nutbags in charge of the country, right? "God's on MY side, so I can do anything I want to anyone I want- I'M going to heaven, and you're not". Yep- gotta love that kind of thinking. So much better than "we need to help the less fortunate than ourselves" nonsense Obaba preaches.
DRIVE-BY-OBSERVER- You know nothing about Huckabee, if you watched his show you would know what a nice and considerate man he is as well as fair to everyone. He was the most beloved Governor of Arkansas-everyone voted for him-black, white, Dems., and Repubs. he served two full terms and took over for another Gov. that got the "boot" and finished his term! He never pushed his religious beliefs on anyone. They don't come any nicer than "Huck". He never let them put his picture in the hall way of the State Capital-he left that space open for a elderly couple that had been married for 60 plus years, a soldier, a fallen policeman, a boy scout that earned his Eagle badge-ALWAYS for the PEOPLE , not full of himself like the one we have now!! Been there, met him. He may not be corrupt enough for the people in Washington-can't buy him off or bribe him!!!
The Republicans need to first change their attitudes from a do-nothing reactive party to a do-something proactive party and then concentrate on 2016. Obama will when re-election in 2012 with 52% - 55% of the vote.
Didn't we have enough theocracy between 2001 and 2009? Huck is a nice guy but not presidential material.
Obama wasn't persidential material either
That didn't stop GWB from serving two terms.
No one knows whether Huckabee will run. CA is right, the Republican have to figure out what they are for, as opposed to what they are against. CA is also right on as the GOP need to think about 2016 instead of 2012. McCain was a "throw-away" candidate in 08. Romney will also be a "throw-away" candidate in 12.
Running for President required a "fire in your belly" and at this point, only Romney has that masochistic urge. I do not believe Republicans will beg Huckabee to run. Besides he still has that poor judgement issue of pardoning a prisoner who later murdered a law enforcement officer. Mike will enjoy his spot on Fox News.
Ron... Wait for it...
You have to know you're going to hear from Allblow about Mitch Daniels running now don't you? It's just a matter of time!
If God calls you to run for president, then I would never vote for you, unless of course god called me and told me to vote for you.
Personally the last thing I want is religion from a politician, or politics from a preacher.
Forrest, not only wise words, but funny, too.
Thank you Cathy, but it is serious stuff when your voting for a representative of God, it is one thing to vote for the wrong political candidate, but what if you vote for the wrong God. Can Jewish people, vote for Jesus? What if a Christian votes for a candidate who is called by God to run for office, and then finds out this guy's God is not Jesus. It is one thing to spilt the party ticket, but voting for the wrong God! So if a politician indicates (even if he is just exaggerating his credentials) that he was called by God to run for office I'm gonna need at least a robocall from God to confirm the endorsement.
Blimp Emulator Huckster Huckabee is a loser and criminal hugger. Now the repugnant ones want to forget his release of a criminal who ended up killing again in Arkansas, no wonder he's bailed out to Florida. We certainly don't need some fat clown who can't even control his own weight to be allowed to control our federal government. We certainly don't need this evangelical christian lunatic fringer to destroy our Secular Democracy in favor of his christian perversion of Iran, a religious tyranny. Blimp Emulator Huckster Huckabee ought to stick to his favorite restaurant, Blimpies!
This just shows how desperate the party of sore losers is to find a presidential candidate that isn't totally stupid like Simpleton Sarah Palin, or tied to the hip with Wall Street Criminals and a totally nutty perversion of christianity like Moron Mormon Magic Underwear Romney who made sure he nad his thieving business pals in Utah made off like bandits proftting from the Salt Lake City Olympics. Nor will FatBoy Haley Barbour be viable once the nation learns that he led his state to first place in having the most unwed welfare mom teenage pregnancies or last place in high school graduation rate.
Nope the dopes of nope have no viable presidential candidate for 2012, nor did they in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 or 2008, even if they did win as we can blame Ronny Raygunz, Daddy Oil Bucks Bush or Clueless George Bush for driving our national debt through the roof while redistributing that wealth to their rich and greedy base of self serving supporters.
President Barack Obama is a Certain Two Term President!
Eric- Huckabee pardon that boy when he was 17 to give him a chance to turn his life around-anyone would have done that. The boy had stolen something. You think Huck had a crystal ball and could see that years later that he would have killed someone? Think you could predict something like that? Anyhow , after his term he had NO more dealings with the youth!!! Give him a break!!! You DON'T know the man !!!
Eric from Salinsanity, You live either in a mental asylum or near one. I guess the former.
We just had a president that talked to God, but he is dyslexic, so he might have been taking orders from the dog. Whenever a politician starts talking about what God told him I can't help thinking is God working as a Washington DC lobbyist.
Not only was he dyslexic, but he was also an agnostic insomniac. He'd lay awake at night, wondering if there really WAS a Dog.
I don't care who you are, thats funny!
These guys never cease to amaze me. Do they really believe that 'god' cares about American politics? It's ridiculous.
There are times I am very impressed with Huckabee, as a candidate who would reach across and pull in the moderate votes it will take to win in 2012. But then, he does something that is obviously designed to pander to the nut-job section of the GOP.
We need to find a candidate who has a core set of principles, but also has the courage to say, "I'm looking for good ideas, and I don't care if they come from Rush Limbaugh or Al Gore." So far, that person has yet to emerge.
So much for sereration of church & state. We don't need another Hollier than Thou gNOper in office!
The bible says that Jesus rode a donkey, not an elephant. Jesus must have been a democrat! Also too Jesus was to moderate to be a republican, or a real american.
Boy, Am I willing to vote against President X even if Ronald McDonald is on the ballot against him. But seriously, Huck can't win against a juggernaut like Palin. He may not like her attitude but he is just play acting. He knows he can't win against a woman of caliber like Palin.
Forrest Gump, Jesus was a Republican , that is why he was riding a donkey. Jesus couldn't have been a DINO. Why? Because he never did confiscate anybody's wealth. The DINOS were the Romans who confiscated and taxed the poor people. Anyhow, if Jesus were to confront the DINOS today, he'd seen them reading Das Capital instead of the Bible.
Palin is no "juggernaut" she is a nut with jugs.
I'm not a verbatim Bible quoter but when asked about being taxed by the Romans, even Jesus said "Render onto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's and render unto God that which is God's."
Even Jesus believed in the separation of Church and state. In addition he was a liberal because he accepted anyone and was not exclusive of people.
Christian beliefs are fine and admirable in politicians but it should not be any qualifying factor.
Eric from Insanity, Where was Barack for 50 days? Honestly, can you give me a day by day account ? You can't weasel out of this Insanity. Barack was AWOL for 50 days whilst the Disaster headed for the gulf. Anyhow, don't worry you DINO head, we'll soon find out. Let's see, singing with McCartney, playing golf, dodging reporters, partying in the White House, making stupid speeches of which he is a master, sending lawyers to thegulf instead of help, etc. We'll find out soon. Just wait. Bush was late for 4 days. Barack is late for 50 days. The American people are speaking now. They will never forget.
JuvenBachan, I have to disagree with you because I personally saw the President address the oil spill within a day or two after it occured. I cannot rmember what show aired it but I distinctly remember it. My regret is I have no proof at this time and I don't like the idea of saying it without the proof.
Yes he responded right away, and a few days later went down there and talked with the people in the rain. I am looking for a link to show you. I will be back with the info.
I truly believe that Huckabee will not run. I have seen him tell too many lies about the President and if they weren't lies, they were so close that it was hard to tell the difference.
I believe that G-d communicates with people but I am not sure that He would tell them to run for political office. I believe that He is more concerned with whether their heart is in the right place or not whether they truly believe in Him and His ways.
Palin is a nut job and McCain is nuttier for picking her. We all should thatn God that McCain & Palin were defeated, McCain would of led us into a nuclear war.
These God-lovin' Republicans should remember Lincoln's words, "I don't claim that God is on my side but rather pray that I am on his."
K Mac in Oklahoma, Even if he did, he showed no management skills or leadership in trying to minimize the disaster. If President Bush had visited the areas after 50 days or even address it days after , the DINOS and all the Leftist media and other organizations would have come down on his head like a ton of bricks. Eventually they did. They murdered Bush. Even now they blame Bush for this disaster. What a ton of stupidity the DINOS are. I have never seen such ignorance as this. This is the downfall of the Annointed ONE.
Seriously, If a homeless person runs against the Bama, or any down and out except for a criminal, I'd vote for them.
Five Reasons why Governor Mike Huckabee will WIN the 2012 Presidential Nomination:
5. Republican establishment can't afford another Presidential loss, they will immediately back Huckabee right after his 2012 win in Iowa.
4. Republican establishment backed Main Street Ronald Reagan after he tapped establishment George Bush Senior for VP. Huckabee could tap Jeb Bush Jr. for VP.
3. The Republican establishment can't back others as they don't have name recognition nor do they have long tenure governing experience such as Huckabee.
2. Primaries are decided by Social Conservatives and Independants. Both groups that Huckabee does exceptionally well with on 2012 polls.
1. To inch out Obama in 2012, the Republican candidate must have superior communication skills in debates. Only Huckabee has that unique ability coupled with his quick Ronald Regan witty humor and personal down home charm.
Mike Huckabee will capture the Presidency in 2012 as Reagan did in 1980, the odds are stacked heavily in his favor. Those on the financial right who try to take over the ship in these times of economic turmoil and tea party energy need to back Huckabee now, otherwise they will be known as the ones who brought down the Republican ship for good.