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Subscribe to RSSFormer Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee announced late Saturday that - in a "spiritual" decision guided by his relationship with Christ - he will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.
"All the factors say go, but my heart says no. And that's the decision that I've made," he announced at the end of his FOX News show.
The 2008 presidential candidate said that his final decision not to run -- which he arrived at "late this week" -- came in spite of donors' enthusiasm and robust poll numbers even in states outside of his native South. He also noted that his wife and children have been supportive of a run.
"I don't expect everyone to understand this, but I am a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ," he said. "And that relationship is far more important to me than any political office. For me, the discussion and decision is not a political one, not a financial one. It's not even a practical one. It's a spiritual one."
Huckabee, who snatched a surprise victory in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses in 2008, has performed at or near the top of the GOP pack in several national presidential polls.
The announcement came at the end of an hour-long program during which Huckabee interviewed onetime Saved by the Bell star Mario Lopez about healthy eating and then played the bass guitar alongside a camouflage-cowboy-hat-sporting Ted Nugent. Huckabee said at the conclusion of his announcement that he will return to his primetime show - which he could not have continued if he pursued a run -- next week.
The FOX show was followed by a short "special announcement" by possible candidate (and FOX news contributor) Donald Trump. "A lot of people are very happy that he will not be running, especially other candidates," said Trump. "So Mike, enjoy the show, your ratings are terrific, you're making a lot of money, you're building a beautiful house in Florida, good luck."
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I come on here and see the Liberals complaining about this and that about Republicans because they don't want their precious little entitlements to be cut. The entitlements should be for those who can't work or not work anymore, not those who chose not to work. I have not heard any Liberal complain or address the size of the deficit which is over $14 Trillion dollars. The Dumbocrats keep spending the money that we do not have, running up a huge debt and when the Repulicans want to cut spending, they start whining and bitching. I will not vote for Obama after this atrocity of a mess he got this country into. I wasn't a fan of Bush because of what his dad did in the early nineties, but at least I had a job in the Bush administration. Obama has been in office nearly three years and I had a job for four months before getting laid off because of Obama's economic policies. Obama is reckless on spending and those who say that the Republicans don't car about the elderly, women and children, here's a fun fact for you, the Republicans are trying to cut spending so my children, my grandchildren and my great grandchildren don't have to pay this debt off. Look at the facts and stop making excuses for Obama. Face it, he blew it. Yes, I voted for him the first time and just like Madoff's clients, I got swindled. Oh, and I forgot, I wonder how much Libya is gonna cost? How do you think California got the point just before bankruptcy? Guess what, if this continues, the U.S. will be just like California, bankrupt. Vote Obama out in 2012.
Let's not forget Obamacare which is the nationalizing of health care that will just get us further into debt. The liegislation was so bad that they had to resort to back room deals to get it passed. Cap and trade, another job killing law that he passed. Do you Liberals want 9% unemployment for another four years? Most rational people would say hell no. Ried and Pelosi rather just keep spending and now they want to raise the debt ceiling. The reason they want the debt ceiling raise is so they can spend us further into debt. You wanted hope and change and guess what? We got it alright. Went from a superpower to a nearly a third world country in three years. If we get Obama for four more years, the damage to this country will be irreversible. By the way, I did my own reasearch, and don't watch Glenn Beck.
The Dumbocrats keep spending the money that we do not have,
Were you equally upset about spending from 2001 to 2006 when the Republicans has the House, the Senate and the White House and managed to turn the largest surplus of all times into the largest deficit of all times, in less than four years and without including most of the costs of the two wars Bush started in the calculations?? You say you do your own research. If that's true they you would realize that BOTH parties love spending money. You say you don't watch Beck but you sure do listen to Rush the junkie. You almost quote him word for word.
Let's not forget Obamacare which is the nationalizing of health care that will just get us further into debt.
The Limbaugh talking points word for word. It is NOT the "nationalizing of health care" -- not even close. It's a windfall for insurance companies.
Ford Truck Man
100% WRONG.
Another right wing ignoramus, they are NOT entitlements at all. I don't know about you but my entire working life I have paid into both the Social Security and Medicare systems. Every week when I got my check there was money missing and a box marked with both of these benefits so YES I am entitled. If the congress would stop stealing money from both trust funds there would be plenty of money. So when you call them entitlements you do yourself and the rest of us a disservice.
OK, you want deficit talk. Throughout the 2000's when bush was president and the congress and senate were controlled by Republicant's they pushed through the prescription drug benefits without paying for it, they borrowed money to pay for it. They pushed through the bush tax cuts without paying for them, they began two wars one which was so not necessary and didn't pay for either. Your blindness is amazing and selective at best. Don't forget it was bush that drove the economy into the ground and the first bailout of $750 billion was signed into law by him. The deficits we now face can be traced directly back to the republicans so get off your high horse. At least the Democrats think of the little people to which you must not be one of, you must be very wealthy to side with the big business republican'ts otherwise why on Earth would you support such blatant reckless spending for only the wealthiest of Americans?
WOW, are you drunk or something? What mess has Obama got us into? That man probably saved not only the United States of America from a deep depression but probably the world to. You cannot give this man credit for anything because of your blindness and hatred of others that do not support your view of the world. How sad for you. Obama will get a second term it is certain after Osama Bin Ladens death, he deserves it more now than ever. You can live in your misery for a few more years.
Right on SNAPPA.
No matter how you guys continue to spin it, the race card and the "Bush did it" card simply doesn't work anymore because he should of put in the framework to getting the economy back on track. He ran on the "Hope" and "Change" rhetoric and said he will fix the economy, close Gitmo and get us out of Afghanistan. Gitmo is still open, our economy is worse then it was under Bush and we are still in Afghanistan. Last time I checked 0/3 is still an "F." Obama pushed for the $787 billion "stimulus" package and said the unemployment rate won't go over 8%. That was a lie. Unemployment spiked soon afterwards. Also, he rammed down our throats a widely unpopular Health-care Reform Bill that mandates everyone to have health insurance and has been found to be incontitutional in two district courts. Also, since you guys are so quickly to blame Bush for everything, atleast the unemployment rate was lower than Obama which has been over 9% in his first two years in office. Gas prices also have risen over $4 a gallon, something everyone criticized Bush for, now if we criticze Obama for the same thing, we are called "racists." Hmmm. The Democtratic Party sounds like the ones that are "disconnected" from their constituents not the Republicans. We continued to borrow money like it is going out of style and instead of cutting spending, let's raise taxes on people making over $250,000 annually. We can tax them at 100% and still woould not get us out of this mess. You also have to cut spending in order to balace the budget. Also, that little health care bill, targets the poor and get this, we are already seeing the effects of it by health care premiums sky rocketing.
Huckabee is probably playing it for a losing republican VP slot, where the big money is. Biden gets around $200K per year, while Palin gets around $20 million, and she lost.
President Obama is the only real chance we have. Any of these Republicans running would be a failure.
To save the United States, we must re-elect President Obama and we will.
Here, here to that...
Newt what a joke pres. of a car wash maybe. If the Gop only has this to offer,And what ive seen from the rest of the field YOUR HURTING. So far i wouldnt vote for any of the clowns.
His personal relationship with "Christ"? That statement alone should preclude him from ever holding public office. I think it shows his mental status as unstable and he should not be making decisions for the country based on myths and monsters. To hold the office of president one must have all his/her faculties and be able to make split decisions, there wouldn't be time to go down on ones knees and pray to the walls asking for assistance. We see all the time how bad theocracies are with Iran and all the last thing we need in the US is some mentally unstable person in the White House to which we already seen what happens when GW Bush was there. Enough of that already.
0bama is going to lose in a landslide. He will win 13 liberal states plus DC. He has helped turn Ohio, PA, VA, NC and Florida very Red. You can't win without winning all of those states and he won't win any of them.
You don't win re-election with $5 gas and 9% plus unemployment rate and a double dip recession which 0bama is giving us. The race card doesn't work anymore, the blame Bush card doesn't work anymore. The American people are also smart enough to know that 0bama had nothing to do with getting 0sama. They know it was the CIA & the military and don't appreciate the 0bama Victory lap that he takes. We can only hope that 0bama keeps giving speeches like he did in El Paso.
0bama is a 1 term POTUS. Thank God - our country can't survive another 4 years. It will barely make it to Jan 2013 with 0bama as POTUS.
Black-belt,
You keep up the hope, because that's all you in the GOP have at this point...no electable candidate, an improving economy, and bin Laden terminated by our current administration's order.
That's truly laughable!
Demon - 0bama's bin Laden bounce is almost gone and it was pretty well publicized that Hillary, Panetta & Petaeus had to drag 0bama and Valerie Jarrett into allowing the seals to go after UBL. I can see that you are a koolaid drinker so I don't expect you to believe in anything but what 0bama puts out there.
Black...................read much?.............or are you a Palinite?.........Obama's popularity is soaring...........what planet have you been living on?
..............and who dragged Bush into Iraq? Cheney?...........................did this bother you?
Some potential candidates have decided not to seek the Republican nomination because they didn't think they'd get it.
Mike Huckabee has decided not to seek the Republican nomination because he realizes his chances of getting it are too good.
Even with what happened in the 2010 elections and the continued problems in the economy it will take some major gaffe on the part of Obama for a Republican to beat him in 2012. That's the plain and simple truth of it.
Obama would have to do something really stupid that alienates his base...like call for the end of African American and Hispanic cultures and tell people to start acting more "white".
He's obviously not going to do that...nor should he for that matter...but it would take something like that; or the complete collapse of the economy to something like 20% unemployment nationwide for a Republican to beat him in 2012.
I say that as an opponent of most of his policies.
As far as 2012 goes all Obama has to do to win is not do something drastically stupid to alienate his base. If he keeps the Democratic base happy it won't matter who the Republicans run out there.
Mike Huckabee and other potential Republican front runners realize that. They're biding their time until 2016 when Obama, most likely coming off of a second term, won't be their opponent.
We tend to give second terms to our Presidents even ones whose actions during the first term upset people.
George W. Bush was deemed the anti-Christ by many liberals but won a second term. Bill Clinton disgraced the honor and dignity of the country by having an affair...in the Oval Office no less...but won a second term.
It takes severe disappointments like George H.W. Bush raising taxes after running primarily on the promise not to, or the complete debacle that was the Carter years for us to have a one term President.
Huckabee and the others who've said they aren't running this time are looking at 2016 and they know that their chances will be a lot better without a major defeat from 2012 hanging over their heads so they're biding their time.
They're hoping Obama will make that horrible mistake that could make him a one term President, but they aren't betting on it.
The Republicans will find someone to run out there that will put on a decent show...will stick to the party platform...and will take the loss with dignity.
They'd be wise...and I think they will...concentrate on picking up more seats in the House and Senate like they did in 2010 and wait until 2016 to put forth a serious challenge to retake the White House.
Andrew,
Excellent advice. Really. I wish more people understood things as well as you do.
0bama is not going to win re-election with $5 gas and 9% plus unemployment rate and a double dip recession. 0bamacare will have just been ruled unconstitutional by SCOTUS and the Repubs will have a much better candidate than you are giving them credit for at this time.
black-belt,
So, if everything goes as you predict, yes, maybe. But you're reaching pretty far, especially on the
claim.
Demon - I don't think you realize how unpopular 0bama is in flyover country. Nov 2010 wasn't about any Repub candidates - it was about the 0bama agenda and policies. I think people like Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Bobby Jindall coupled with a VP candidate of Condi or Herman Cain would easily beat 0bama. I realize you don't think those candidates are as strong as I do but we shall see what happens. This time we get to run against the 0bama record and the same ??leadership?? team that got "shellacked"" in 2010. I am pretty sure Dirty Harry Reid and Nancy Piglosi are more unpopular than the Republican candidates. It will be a fun 540 days between now and then - take it easy - have to go stimulate the economy.
The "Huckster" is obviously making way too big of a paycheck feeding lies to the viewers of FOX Noise to ever want to run for President.
He wants to run...he just wants to run in a year when he can win. In 2012 no Republican is going to beat Obama...only Obama can beat Obama and people like Huckabee know it so they're saying thanks but no thanks.
Yep, listen to your heart, about 10 more of you should listen. Save ur money and time.
I watched the 1st candidate debate, " it sucked"
Oh man, people! Relax! Gov. Huckabee decided to follow a different path. So what! This somehow became another Repub-Dem slamfest??!! WHY??!!
The President wants to extend a hand to Islam and it's ok yet you slam a man for refusing to run when his heart tells him to follow Christ? That's a bit much. Especially the folks who want to point out the flaws in the men (and women) vs. offer solutions!
Here's a tip (and a dare to all of the remaining prospective candidates): If you're seriously thinking of running against the current president, have answers to these three questions and STICK TO THEM, even if it costs you reelection:
Please note what I am emphasizing. Not rich or poor, not black or white and not college graduate vs. GED holder. I am emphasizing the 300 million of us who make up this Great Land. Maybe you should do the same.
No Jesus Freaks in the Whitehouse, thank you.
No holy rolling fundamentalists in the Oval Office. We had one of them before, and WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR IT.
Yeah that Jimmy Carter sure was a nut wasn't he?
W. wasn't the first 'Jesus freak' in the White House, just the most recent.
However.....Jimmy Carter lives his religion and did not participate in mass murder in Iraq. Does that clear things up for ya?
Easier, like Palin, to collect money, be anti-intellectual, and have no answers for anything, your heart
told you $$$$$$$$$$.
Huckle-phony isn't running because he doesn't want to spend all his Fox money on losing! He likes the Fox gravy train too much. I thought it was in the poorest of taste to rip on Mitt Romney before he gave his anticipated declaration on TV. If you're not running, Huckle-phony, why would you rip on any fellow GOP contender?! When Huckle-phony who hates Mormons, answered the question posed to him on his show, "Where's your buddy, Mitt Romney, these days?" He responded with, "He's selling Mormon underware for Polo, Ralph Lauren!" I thought, what a bigot, and how un-pastoral and un-Christlike a comment! Shows his true colors. He is nothing but a tin horn huckster, was a lousy Gov of Arkansas which opened its doors to illegals and gave them all the benefits of citizenship, and the list goes on...he's a phony with a good gift for gab, and a mean spirit underneath..even looks like Nixon a little bit...fitting! Good riddance!
His heart says "No," and his wallet filled with FOX dollars says, "Hell no!"
always worked hard, had a good life, better sense than to vote republican. sure finding out what a cash cow is..... paul ryan,sarah palin,and what's her name? gosh i forget, the one that got all that money from the government for raising foster kids. i also love to look back over those tv clips of tea party monkeys that are now finding out the dangers of bedding down with snakes. most of them looked old enough to be on social security, medicare, disabled, and sloooow!