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As federal budget negotiations are underway, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) decried the size and scope of the government, comparing federal spending to illegal drugs.
"What we've come up with now is a formula in which the federal government -- by its own nature -- is able to get larger and larger by the granting of federal money to states and cities for programs, often just enough to get them hooked on something. But the long-term money is left to the states and the cities,” he said at the National Press Club in DC. "This whole idea of federal money is kinda like the free sample of heroin that your drug dealers give away. The ultimate effect is you get hooked."
On the subject of budgets, Huckabee poked fun at Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is embroiled in his own budget battle in the Badger State. At the beginning of his speech at the National Press Club, Huckabee thanked everyone for coming and joked about billionaire businessman and Republican backer, David Koch. Yesterday, Gov. Walker got a prank call from a blogger pretending to be his supporter, David Koch.
"I was detained for a few minutes, had a phone call from David Koch, and that lasted nearly 20 minutes. But I was finally able to break loose," Huckabee said for a couple laughs.
Later in his speech when a cell phone rang, Huckabee continued the ruse, "That's probably David Koch calling. I already talked to him today. No more."
In his National Press Club appearance, which was to promote his new book, "A Simple Government," Huckabee said the book would help him decide whether to seek the presidency in 2012. The book, he emphasized, would give potential supporters a clear insight as to where he stands and what he believes. He also said it would help him develop his message.
"The question that I have for America is: Do you think this message resonates with you? If it does, that gives me a whole lot more encouragement to go put myself through the sausage grinder of a campaign," he said.
If he does decide to run he could potentially compete against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Addressing speculation that the two men don't quite get along Huckabee said, "I don't have a big personal issue with Mitt Romney. He and I certainly clashed in the last presidential contest. I don't think that's a big surprise when someone's in a contest with you."
"If Mitt Romney is the nominee of our party this time, I'm going to support him,” he continued. "Because I'm a Republican and I believe he'll be a better president than Barack Obama."
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If only what Mr. Huckabee was saying is true. Unfortunately when you want to push your Christian crusade agenda and get rid of all Muslims, you lose all credibility with the sane public. Your book becomes a lie since "simple government" and "Christian crusades" don't go hand in hand. One implies less taxes and more personal privacy. The other, lots and lots of military spending and interference with personal privacy.
"when you want to push your Christian crusade agenda and get rid of all Muslims, you lose all credibility with the sane public."
Speaking of sane, Ana is bananas...no true Christian wants to 'get rid of Muslims'...but please continue with your ranting...
Bob,
I guess you haven't been following Mr. Huckabee politically have you? Else you would know that getting rid of all Muslims "is" part of his agenda.
The Huckster:
Yeah, the federal government is a pusher addicting innocent cities and states to nasty habits like improved infrastructure, health insurance for children, and cleaner air and water. The Huckster would put them through a 12-step program to get them used to living without these noxious addictions.
Right on Houston!
That Huckster - isn't he a real knee slapper? What a stand up comic he is!
Make sure to tip your waitress, he'll be here all week with a matinee on Saturday!
Feisty,
Huckabee is a nice guy, believe it or not I sat next to him on a flight on Sunday. Religion never came up. Would I vote for him? Probably not, but a nice guy.......
I do not know one dealer that gives out free samples, it's a myth!! *chuckles*
Huck is right- all that federal money comes with strings attached, so that states are committed to programs they no longer need, or can no longer afford. Ridding the federal government of entire departments, and giving monies to the states on a per capital basis, makes far more sense. The federal government exists to protect the country from foreign invasions, running the federal court system, and keeping trade free and fair.
Obama has raised spending to new levels on both a federal, and personal level, all paid for by taxpayers who now owe astronomical sums to foreign governments. What are we paying for tonight?
How about a Motown concert at the White House?
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1102/motown_in_the_white_house.html
Onemof the things I want this congress to do is to put a hard, yearly cap o. The amount ANY president can spend in a year. That amount would cover Air Force One, state dinners, and the kind of entertainments held weekly in this White House which include just enough other government officials to get the taxpayers to foot the bill.
Sorry, lobs, but Obama is abusing the privilege to the degree that some rules need to be put in place. Maybe if he had a clue that he had to live within a budget himself, he would get the idea for the rest of the federal budget.
In any case, this cannot be allowed to continue.
How about it?
Sure hope they served up some Kobe beef for those black folks - nothing like watching your head EXPLODE!
Like NO other President has ever entertained in the White House! Didn't hear you bitching when 'W' was serving up his punch & pretzels... but then again, he's white!
Didn't Bush choke on those pretzels?
No Joe---I felt about President Bush the same way you feel about President Obama but I never went around saying things like he shouldn't entertain at the White House. I never called for him to resign in disgrace or attacked his wife and family, either. And don't you think the White House has an entertainment budget, for goodness sake. How you can spin a post on Huckabee to a slam against the President is beyond me---you must be working overtime today.
Do they have a budget? None that I could find.
I found, however, that the Gao audit of Bush and Cheney for 2007 showed that, between the two of them, they charged the government about $62,000.
I learned that those expenses are to be submitted by December 1 each year. It seems to take the GAO quite a while to get the reports together- however, I should point out that I found that information as a result of an audit requested by congress.
Somebody needs to request an audit of this White House. Pronto.
No Joe again dishes out the daily rant of pompous, arrogant, holier than thou garbage. Conservatives who complain about WH entertainment need to check previous administrations for a reality check. I applaud seeing the People's House alive again with such entertainment--honoring Black History Month and the sound of MoTown apparently to No Joe is unacceptable. Talk about petty....
What no jo also isn't saying is that, unless it is official government business (i.e. state dinners with visiting foreign leaders), by law, those parties are paid for by the President's personal funds (i.e. from his salary). And once the President recieves his pay, it is no longer 'the taxpayer's money', it is his money.
Until no jo provides the source for her ". . . about $62,000." claim, I will call BS on that, I doubt that even one state dinner can be held for $62,000. 8 years and only $62,000? BS!!
Hate and lies are such an ugly things, no jo. You really should seek help.
Hope you see this, Matt. I just saw your response.
http://www.cq.com/graphics/govdoc/2009/02/18/govdoc20090218-88042.pdf
You need to scroll to the page for " unvouchered expenses, executive residence". It shows that, for ALL of the year 2007, Vush expended a little over $8000 to entertain, while Cheny spent a little over $52,000. I would assume that was at the direction of the president.
Please note my post above, and this one- I was speaking ONLY of one year, not all eight.
I am pretty sure Obama spends that amount in a month.
Golly, no jo, you are right that the official expenses for 2007 (and only 2007) were about that much. So they did not do much official entertaining that year, big deal.
But, as usual, you ignore the main point. All of the parties that are not official entertainment ARE COVERED FROM THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL FUNDS. Somehow I do not think that the Motown celebration is being paid for by the taxpayers.
And why do you even care? You are the only one pushing this and it only exposes you as a petty little brat.
So how come you haven't looked up the other 7 years of the Bush administration? Could it be that you have and it doesn't fit your narrative? How come you only say you are ". . . pretty sure Obama spends twice that amount in a month."? Could it be that you don't know and are just talking out your a$$? Or maybe you do know and it is less but you can't admit to it since it doesn't fit your narrative. Tell us no jo, you're the one making these accusations, how about backing it up?
Good god, woman, you really are a sad, sad, sad excuse for a person. How can you even live with yourself with all of that hate you have? All you do is come on here and spew vicious, vile hate toward the President every single day. Take a vacation and go somewhere sunny, relax and get an attitude adjustment before all of that hate explodes and you 'go postal' on someone.
Feisty, Sorry to inform you but there won't be any Kobe beef. Imports were banned back in April due to reports of Mad Dow disease.
correction, Mad Cow disease.
Hahah. you had it right the first time.
Well, thanks for the clarification there Rocco - what it means is that the crazy old bat has been continually spitting misinformation for the better part of a year now...
Go figure... Who EVER would of thought? lmfao!
God told Reverend/Governor Huckabee to make fun of Scott Walker. God doesn't want the Koch brothers to become more powerful than HE is.
Isn't he a religious cult leader? I didn't think America allowed it ...A separation of cults and state ?
two indisputable facts:
1 hitler banned unions as he sought to crush free opposition to his reign.
2 walker's argument holds no water. In Texas, we are forbidden by law to have union representation(Texas is one of 24 right to work states) and yet our state has an estimated 20-22 billion dollar budget deficit. This is without union benefits. The BIG LIE. Game, Set, Match.
Without any type of union benefits, I cannot afford to go to a Dr. or have any tests conducted. These are not opinions, these are facts. This is history and you should be fearful of it.
republicans hate the middle class and America.
Hello my old friend!
Can't tell you how happy I am to see you!
Hope all is well! *hugs*
Leon ~ You forgot 50th in education. A record to be proud of.