E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSFormer Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, warned Republicans in an interview on The View against underestimating President Obama in 2012, and says the party gave Obama a "gift" by taking back the House.
He said, of course, he believes he could you beat President Obama?
"I wouldn't run if I didn't think I could," he said, adding this: "I think it's going to be harder to beat Barack Obama than a lot of Republicans are thinking, because he is the president. He's going to have a $1 billion starting out in his war chest. There's an extraordinary advantage of an incumbent. And I'll tell you something else people don't think about -- divided government is good for the executive branch. The gift that the Republicans gave to him was that they're going to control at least the House of Representatives and they don't have, and he doesn't have a filibuster-proof Senate. What that means is that when the legislative branches fight, the executive always wins."
On whether he'll run, he said, "It's a decision I'll make later in the year. ... If people are sick of me, I probably won't do it." He again lamented the necessity of being a good fundraiser and having a solid field operation, and said he wouldn't get in unless he knew he would be in a very strong financial position.
"I'm not jumping into the pool, if it doesn't have water in it," he said.
Leave a Comment:
Just what the country needs.
A preacher in charge.
You think the government meddles into your lives too much NOW??
So...you're in favor of him running?
As a staunch conservative he IS in favor of less government. He was the most common sense Republican that ran last time and wanted to abolish the IRS. That sounds good to me.
Huckabee may come across as a "small government" conservative, but he wears his religion on his sleeves more than most other potential 2012 GOP contenders. Government has no business dicating values or morals to us. Huckabee may come across as a charming and likeable man, but he clearly aims to force feed us all with his so-called Christian "beliefs."
huckabee and sarah"the quitter"palin , should run
" He said, of course, he believes he could you beat President Obama?"....
Who lets these people write for First Read.....I guess no one edits the writers either...
Huckebee has a lot more credibility many others is the GOP. The idea that the GOP and tea-baggers are 'taking the country back' might be a bit premature.
he has a sunnier disposition than say...mrs. palin. i appreciate his more thoughtful comments, than the school hall chatter from the alaska ex-governor.
i agree with huckabee, obama will be hard to unseat. if the economy recovers and it will in 2012 people will forget how bad of a job he's done and take the posture of leave it as is. remember, he's charming and a lot of people voted for him because of his hope deal. those folks haven't gone away, they are hopeing that he gets the country running in a positive way. the republicans will work hard to mend the economy and obama will get the credit. after all if it rebounds during his watch, he gets all of the glory.
when all that happens as i've said, he will get four more years to really take down our capitalist ways and implement his socialistic ideas with the help of all the unions and tarp money grabbers that fatten up on the government handouts. the payback will be big because the handouts were huge. we may have to wait until 2016 to get our country back the way it should be.
Um, TARP was passed overwhelmingly by Republicans in Congress and signed by Republican, George W. Bush. Nice try.
Aside from the cringe-worthy title "President Huckabee" (but is that any worse than "President Obama"?), he is quite appealing as a candidate. He views are relatively moderate and sensible compared to many of the better known and more vocal fringe elements of his party which is attractive to those of us mainstream independent voters. Regarding the concern about having a (former?) Baptist minister as President, I don't recall hearing much in his policies that were overtly religious. His tax policies are bold, but highly unlikely to get any traction (too many 'unknowns' and frankly, too many people make a living/profit from the status quo - unfortunate, but it's a political reality). In interviews, he seems sincere and humble. In debates, he's knowledgeable, thoughtful, and civil. I admired the fact that he stuck it out against McCain in '08 despite overwhelming odds (likely one of the reasons he is considered one of the frontrunners this next go-around).
Bottom line - compared to some of the other potential contenders in his field (Palin, Gingrich, and others), he is very likeable by voters outside his core support base. Granted, he is still not going to appeal to left-of-moderate Democrats (but which Republican would?), but for those of us not beholden to either party, he is a viable candidate.
As another Independent, I absolutely agree with you. If he were to run in 2016, and the Democrat candidate is too far to the left, he'd get my vote.
Huckabee would most certainly get my consideration in the coming election. The other present frontrunners for the republicans would not. Independent as well.
Huckabee's outrageous and highly offensive comments regarding gays proves his extreme religious views. I give him credit for hiding his truly extremist beliefs.
Of all the politicians I've come to know in recent years, Mike Huckabee I thought was the most sincere. This isn't to say I would vote for him, but there was a sincerity to him that I appreciated.
I just found that a lot of his convictions were {in the voice of Kramer}
A little out there.
As far as the Republicans go I like Huckabee the best. Mitt Romney will change his stance on a subject in accordance with what the polls say that particular day. He also has the problem of the Massachusetts Health Care he passed which looks similar to our new National Health Care. Sarah Palin has cult like following and might be the one to beat on the right. There is NO WAY she could be elected in a general election. Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pence and the rest are just not credible candidates. Unless the Republican Party can pull a rabbit out of the hat I believe they are in for a real thrashing in 2012. Huckabee might be their best bet.
Unless Republicans get off their "NO" butts and quit talking about doing things we all know there is no way they can do 2012 will be the year Obama is re-elected and Dems get back control of both houses, The economy is already improving, HCR is already working well, WSR is already working well, Democrats are attempting to keep taxcuts for the average voter while Republicans are holding out for taxcuts for the rich and corporations, Stocks are on the rise, Unemployment is on the way down and it is getting harder and harder for Republicans to say "Our agenda works better" Huckabee may be the best chance they have but personally I think unless they can force through an irrelevant issue like they did with Clinton they have NO chance in 2012
I gave this preacher a thumps up on McCain.
He talks straight and does not flip flop.
Hucks:: is a religious cult member ...we already had that and they were voted out !!!There is no place for cult members in our government !!! EVER
Huckabee/Palin in 2012....no one else need apply
Mike Huckabee might be the more positive Republican presidential candidate; however, he, nor any other Republican would get my vote in 2012.
The current political environment and the results of the midterm elections have brought to mind Benjamin Franklin's quote, "We have a Republic, if we can keep it." Well, in my minds-eye, we are on the threshold of giving it away.
The Supreme Court - 5/4 Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives control, has instituted an oligarchy power into our government as a result of its Citizens United decision. As is evident, the Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives controls our Judicial Branch of government.
The results of the midterm elections have given the Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives an overwhelming control of the House of Representatives and a stronger position in the Senate. It is evident that the Republican/Tea Party Conservatives is in control of our Legislative Branch of government.
As evident, if the Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives obtain the Executive Branch of government, our Republic will be lost. There will be no Checks and Balances and the Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives will have absolute control. In essence, our democratic form of government will be replaced with a totalitarian, one-party rule, autocratic and a dictatorial government.
Also, pay attention to the results of the midterm elections regarding our states. The Republican/Tea Party/Conservatives now have control of 60% of our state governments. Newt Gingrich has already advised these governors to institute conservative values and morals into their governing.
I'm not ready to give up our Republic, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights or the advancements that we have made as a country!