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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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Thank you baby jesus!
did anyone want to look at those hog jowels as prez?? not me! he is not a man of god and not a leader. he is anti gay and full of fundamental spewing hatred. hes no better than glenn beck or sarah peon.
A very wise Huckabee ... my admiration just elevated with him. See, Mike H. knows the 2012 elections are not going to be about issues ... its going to be about tactics, and tactics include lying, cheating, deceiving, misdirections, half-truths, even betrayal of blood relatives, just to get into office ... and Huckabee wants no part of that kind of campaign. Now, Repubs like Newt ... well, they cut their teeth on that stuff, no integrity in that man, its about winning at all cost. Already in 22 states the Repubs are busy rigging the game ... redistricting, creating confusing voting registration & rules for the poor, bribing the judges, developing their negative TV campaigns ... anything to win.
Thank you Huckabee ... maybe the 2016 elections will be more in your taste. Sit this one out, my man, 'cause it is going to get very, very nasty!
God told me not to vote for people that work for Fox and anybody named Newt cause they speak with forked tounges
Hmm...if Jesus told Huckabee not to run than maybe there is something to this whole Christianity thing.
Actually, he realized the Mayan calendar says the earth is going to be destroyed in 2012 and he is busy with other things.
God told him not to run, because so far he has done all the things republican politicians do, including lying, cheating, deceiving, misdirections, half-truths, even betrayal of blood relatives, just to get into office ......He has used up all his lines, he has nothing new.
What a hypocrite calls himself a Christian, yet lies on Fox ALL OF THE TIME!!!!!!!! Maybe he has to make up ammends the rest of his life for all his lying. Folks need to remind him of this to get him off the corrupt and no morality, mostly lies network Fox.
Huckabee should stick to being an opiniontaiment entertainer on "Dumb FUX News"...
Sure Mike, Jesus loves you but most people think you're an idiot...
You know the movie Trading Places????? Well I wonder who is paying Obama's Bet. He can't answer questions. He just plain doesn't have a clue about what he is doing. Well fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Wake up people you are losing everything and are too dumb to know it.
Saves me the trouble of NOT voting for him.
I'm not a Republican and I'm not a supporter of Huckabee, but I believe Huckabee is sincere regarding his faith and in my opinion is the most respectable of the GOP bunch. That said, I believe he's bowing out because (one) he knows that beating Obama will be very difficult for the GOP, given that they have nothing to offer as an alternative, and (two) he realizes that he's surrounded by a bunch of hypocrites and he's trying to distance himself from them. As believers we sometimes have to disassociate ourselves from the hypocrites to avoid looking like one.
Thank you for a clear-minded and civil post. It's refreshing.
Seriously, very great decision. Last thing we need is someone who keeps saying they put God first and then shows just the opposite with his comments and behavior.
Spitual my a**. It's all about the big salary at FOX.
I say if he needed God to make that decision, he shouldn't be president.
Was it a "spiritual decision" to make racist comments about the President and lie about his birthplace?
Was it a "spiritual decision" to later willfully LIE about it?
It's a "spiritual decision" on my part to never EVER vote for a Republican (as they encourage, tolerate or applaud this sort of thing) for the rest of my life, even if it were someone I knew locally running for dog catcher with no opposition!!!
He is waiting to be drafted. it might work, we have yet to hear from a candidate that could win. He should Quote Pat Paulson "I will not run if nominated, and if elected I will not serve."
Do you think that this decision has something to do with the fact that you have absolutely NO CHANCE at all to win?
Or does it have something to do with the fact that Huckabee is building a 2.5 million $ waterfront house in Florida right now as we speak and can't pay for it on the president's salary?
Or else it may have something to do with the fact that Faux News is paying you millions of $ for spreading lies;
Or maybe the Huckster needs more time for his new line of US history cartoons where he rewrites US history to his liking.....
Anyone who who spews right wing dribble on dumb FUX NEWS has the same relationship to Jesus that Charles Manson has...
Good call!
Wow... the looney left is out in full force! I hope someone, ANYONE will beat Obama. Rome is burning and he's still partying it up...
Sure anyone of the dozens of kooks from the right can just swoop right in there and take the white house from Obama...
I'ts going to be so funny when Obama humiliates the rich white guy the GOP puts up to challenge him.
To the Contrary: our country is slowly but surely coming out of the nonsense imposed on us by the Bush-Cheney Regime. The market is reasonably stable - unemployment numbers are increasinly optimistic - we are progressing toward reducing military commitment in the far reaches of the globe.
Of course, we are still in doldrums. The Bush-Cheney Regime laid waste to much, globally and domestically. President Obama and his administration cannot be expected to reverse it all in less than 3 years. As a 61 y/o citizen of the country, I expect to not see full recovery from the GOP devastation of 2001-2008. As long as our country stays on its current course, or improves the course, my children will at least enjoy the benefits of recovery.
That is too bad. It would have been interesting to see what idiotic gibberish he would have formulated.
The good Rev. Huckabee played the game while selling his worthless book to people who thought he would run for President. First Jesus had nothing to do with Government. Huckabee uses Religion for personal gain and should go right to hell. He's the reason many no longer believe in religion.
Thank goodness Mr. Huckabee has come to this realization in his life. Here's hoping he's not just spewing nonsense to stay in the public eye.
"Candidates" like Mr. Huckabee, with their extremist, fanatical beliefs, need to go away. Almost daily, the GOP's "front-runners" embarrass their Party. Of course, their Party is overall very weak, the likes of Huckabee - Trump - Palin - Bachmann - ad nauseum weaken the Party to the extreme.
Let's hope the GOP can find that 1 percenter in their Party that actually uses a reasonable, rational brain - and thinks about the good of the entire country and its citizens v. the narrow special interest bands they currently embrace.
Thank goodness Mr. Huckabee has come to this realization in his life. Here's hoping he's not just spewing nonsense to stay in the public eye.
"Candidates" like Mr. Huckabee, with their extremist, fanatical beliefs, need to go away. Almost daily, the GOP's "front-runners" embarrass their Party. Of course, their Party is overall very weak, the likes of Huckabee - Trump - Palin - Bachmann - ad nauseum weaken the Party to the extreme.
Let's hope the GOP can find that 1 percenter in their Party that actually uses a reasonable, rational brain - and thinks about the good of the entire country and its citizens v. the narrow special interest bands they currently embrace.
God told him, "You are a fool if you try to run against President Obama!" So he replied, "Yes God, you are right. I will do the people a favor and not run."
Him and Christ made the decision, huh? LOL! We don't need another religious wack job either!~