Scratch Huckabee

by Mark Rhoads

He is a former minister from Hope, Arkansas (yes of course we know who else came from Hope and it is not a fun coincidence).  He makes jokes that he knows nothing about foreign policy.  It is not funny. He just proved how little he does know.  If he ever wants to be taken seriously by anyone, he should not delegate his articles on the topic to neophyte and left-leaning ghost writers.  An article supposedly under his byline in the new issue of Foreign Affairs says:

"American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out," ... "The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. My administration will recognize that the United States' main fight today does not pit us against the world but pits the world against the terrorists."

Foreign Affairs is a publication of the Council on Foreign Relations.  That is a group that very few self-respecting Republicans belong to unless they want to get a cheap group fare to India in January.  I would be happy to bet all the money in my pocket against all the money in your pocket right now (sorry, only $23.50 in mine at the moment), that the Darwin-thumping former governor never read an issue of that magazine in his entire life until this week. What a buffoon he is turning out to be.

I was completely fooled last August by his speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Philadelphia.  He spoke and so did Fred Thompson.  Thompson made a good speech but phoned it in and was mediocre and cold on delivery.  Huckabee sounded limited in his knowledge but he came across as very sincere and he gave a better speech for that reason.  The problem is he does not seem to think much before he speaks.

Nice timing, just when brave American service men and women are making significant progress and are dramatically reducing attacks on both American and Iraqi people in Baghdad, Huckabee, the 21st Century nominee of the Know Nothing Party, decides to burnish his non-existent foreign policy credentials with a juvenile and mornonic attack on the president of our country in a left-wing journal.  What on Earth can he be thinking of?  Huckabee immodestly describes himself in TV ads as a "Christian leader."  For starters maybe he could show some real leadership and explain why a "Christian leader" would routinely take expensive gifts from people he later rewarded with appointments to state agencies.  Actions speak louder than words and so far the former governor has been slow to explain his actions.

Comments

In sort of the same vein, take a good hard look at Huckabee and Obama. Who thinks either one of them is fit to be commander in chief? Cripes, Putin would have either of these guys on their knees, wearing a dress and calling them self "Mary" in 5 seconds.

I am sorry but I do not want either of those guys as a "leader". I just don't see it. I can't take either of them seriously in that roll and I cannot image the rest of the world would either.

tfb

[Jon Zahm]

I am growing tired of the nasty attacks on Mike Huckabee. You guys need to knock on some doors and attend community events and learn what most regular Hard R Republican voters think of George W. Bush. He has been a huge disappointment in almost every way, including the prosecution of the war. You can put your heads in the sand and read obscure articles in arcane journals or you can start connecting with the grassroots and listen to their concerns. Sorry to be harsh, but the only reason to "scratch someone off a list" is for their weak moral conduct, such as Giuliani cheating on his wife.

[Regina Srout]

The REAL Mike Huckabee: http://www.realmikehuckabee.blogspot.com

Jon, in all cander the job of commander-in-chief is a role for a man, and both the afore mentioned measure up as boys. You may not like that, but we are talking about national security here.

It is a big, brutal world outside the boundary of the U.S. And a whole lot of the world would like to kill us.

Hillary, she is man enough to do the job, Romney I could see rising to the challenge, no doubt about McCain, no doubt about Hunter, no doubt about Thompson, but Obama would be laughed off the world stage and set into a corner sucking his tongue and I doubt anyone would even know Hucakabee was on the world stage much less care. That is the reality. In the U.S. all these guys could be domestic President, but when it comes to the roll of commander-in-chief please do not send a boy to do a man's job.

The real sad think is Jon, I really don't think you will get this.

Regards,

tfb

[John Hetman]

"Hillary, she is man enough to do the job...."
She may, to your insight, be faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, but she seems to be turning into a puddle of unnerved and eliminated water, now that she's taking a few normal campaign lumps. As for Huckabee, there must be some stray dogs loose in the streets of Arkansas that he can busy himself with. Let the job fit the man.

[Torchwood]

Agreed.

We need a real man as President, not girly men or boys. Who is girly-man Jon Zahm to back such a wimp like Mike Huckabee, and have his name on the ballot to be a Huckabee delegate? Zahm has never worn the uniform for this great country. He never shed blood for this country.

I want a President to be a man who has worn the uniform and fought for this country. Anyone who has not served in the military is usually scratched from my list.

Captain Jack Harkness

[Rosanna Pulido]

Dear John Hetmon,

Did you mean these dogs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPI1nAqkpLQ&feature=related

[John Hetman]

Rosanna:

Thanks for a delightful video. The dogs here might be a bit too much for a guy with Huckabee's superb qualifications as the official dog catcher of Arkansas--I was thinking of those "dogs" smaller than a football.

[Mark Rhoads]

Bill Clinton was the first president not to ahbe word a unifomr2009 could be the first year since 1945 that the sitting American president never wore a military uniform. FDR was an assistant secretary of the Navy in World War I but he never served in any branch. Capt. Harry Truman gave faithful service in World War I. President Eisenhower was Commander of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe (SHAEF) 1943-1945, Kennedy was a Navy Lt., Johnson was a Navy officer, Nixon was a Navy Lt., Ford served in tne Navy, Carter served in the Navy after World War II was over, Reagan was an Army calvalry officer before the war in 1938 and stayed on making movies at "Fort Roach" or the Hal Roach studios, Bush 41 served in the Navy, Bill Clinton did not serve at all, Bush 43 was a pilot with the Texas Air National Guard, Al Gore had a public information (PR) job for a very brief time in a rear area in Viet Nam, John Kerry served in a forward area on a PT Boat.
Of the current crop of Republican candidates, Ron Paul was a doctor in the Air Force mostly before Viet Nam. He is now 72 years old. Duncan Hunter was an Army Ranger in Viet Nam 1970-1971 I think. Sen. John McCain was a Navy officer and POW.
I have found no reference so far for any military service in the biolgraphies of the Democratic candidates. Not having served man is not a deal killer for most voters

[Pete Speer]

Before he was elected the complaint about Reagan was that he did not have the smarts or the strength to stand on the world stage with the rest of the world's leaders. He certainly proved everyone wrong, bbecause he was quintessentially his own man who had a philosophy of governing and knew who was President.

I wish I could say the same thing about the most of the current crop (both parties) who have no philosophy and msotly are just smart enough to memorize what their back room boys with their fingers in the political winds tell them. That may get them elected but they damn sure won't be able to govern if they rely on the pollster created opinions.

[Hascat]

Ron Paul's policy of non-intervention would have served us far better over the years than the policy the US has pursued, overthrowing governments, backing dictatorships, training terrorists, and selling arms to people like Saddam Hussein. Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations would would work far better than the back-room deal-making and warmongering we've pursued in the past.

[Linda Yu]

"I am growing tired of the nasty attacks on Mike Huckabee."........ Jon Zahm
WOW! Jon we are feeling the same! I myself am growing tired of all of Chris Lauzens attacks on Oberweis! Comprende??

[tfb]

David Limbaugh has a column entitled "Single-Issue vs. Comprehensive Conservatism". In it he makes some comments about Huckabee which precisely sums up my thoughts on the topic. It is not often I find a commentator I can whole heartily agree with but on this article I am in agreement.

The article is at:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DavidLimbaugh/2007/12/15/single-issue_vs_comprehensive_conservatism?page=full&comments=true

tfb

[Jon Zahm]

I love it when anonymous people like "Captain Jack" call me names like girly-man? Coward.
How about we go into a boxing ring for charity so I can whip your ass?

Mike Huckabee and his morals and values must be a threat to you and the candidates that you support who can't even keep wedding vows to their wives (McCain who left his wife who waited for his return from Vietnam for a younger, richer one) or Romney, who has had both sides of every important issue in his political career.

[Jon Zahm]

"Linda Yu"

Oberweis and his mouthpiece Pascoe are the ones attacking Lauzen. Chris and his many supporters will fight back at the ballot box on Feb. 5 and March 8.

[the wonderboy]

tfb...out of curiousity, how much of this scary world have you seen? I mean, if you believe from your experience and knowledge that "a whole lot of the world would like to kill us", then I am just wondering what people you have encountered.

[Jon Zahm]

Hi John,

I respect your opinion. You are right about the frustration in the grassroots with the President. And you have identified the right reasons for that frustration. I would also add his total inability to move the ball on tax reform and SS reform.

I believe Huckabee is much more conservative on immigration (Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist would agree with me on this) and is for the best and most complete tax reform- the Fair Tax.

Plus he has taken on the Clinton machine in Arkansas and won.

I see a Huckabee presidency as an improvement over Bush.

[tfb]

It was written:

tfb...out of curiousity, how much of this scary world have you seen? I mean, if you believe from your experience and knowledge that "a whole lot of the world would like to kill us", then I am just wondering what people you have encountered.

My reply:

I carry the scars from multiple knife and a singular gun wound from the early 80's. My crime a the time was apparently that I was Gringo.

After the 1987 market crash, when I lost my job as a stock broker, I backpacked across this country and across the border into Mexico and Central America. Simply put, not a whole lot of love there for anyone. Pretty much I could tell you things I saw that would make a buzzard puke. I will say, however, many Panamanians have high regard for the U.S.

In the early 90's three men attempted to rob my grocery store.

Now days, as a general business consultant, my travels take me many places. Most of the people I work with are not from the USA. On 9-11, my co-workers cheered as the planes slammed in to the twin towers.

The most common thing I hear about the U.S. is this is not really a country but a place to get a job or do business. And the hatred for this country is venomous. The sentiment seems to be that this nation is just a giant open market with no unifying culture and that it will simply fade away and be absorbed by other cultures and countries. And that is viewed as a good thing(that was just stated at lunch not 3 weeks ago by 4 Indians, 2 Iranians, on Paki, and a Nigerian).

Regards,

tfb

[the wonderboy]

Perhaps you should look at the company you keep. I have seen nearly every continent and haven't encountered this hatred and murderous intent. In fact, I have found that most people love the American culture and American people. I have also found that most have a genuine disgust when the name of Bush or his foreign policy is discussed.

I know that there are some who don't like our country, our values, or our success. However, I would suggest that you can learn a lot about people by walking their streets and seeing the world in which they live. Perhaps a vacation is needed...don't wait for them to come to the states and work with you. Seriously, spend a little time on the red dirt of Africa or the streets of Beijing. You might be surprised at what you find.

[tfb]

It was written:

However, I would suggest that you can learn a lot about people by walking their streets and seeing the world in which they live.

My reply:

I take it you missed the backpacked part. You can't walk the streets much more than that. And you made an incorrect assumption about waiting till they come to the states, I travel internationally. Sorry but my comments stand.

tfb

[the wonderboy]

No, I caught the backpacking trip. I just didn't think you would base your views of the world on a trip to Mexico and ????(somewhere in Central America) that took place in 1987 (quick math: 20 years ago). Don't get me wrong, I am sure that your travels were enlightening, but a few things have happened internationally since 1987. Besides, your statement was in regards to most of the world...walking the same continent isn't really most of the world, is it?

Now granted, I haven't set foot on Australia or Antarctica yet, but I don't think the Aussies and the penguins are the America-hating, death to the evil empire types that you reference. Maybe I am wrong.

Perhaps you have travelled internationally since 1987, but I didn't get that from your response. I had asked what part of the world you had seen and the only specific references given were your backpacking adventure and interactions with business associates. I assumed that they must be coming here because I doubt you have an Iranian travel visa...just a hunch. So, I will ask again...what scary parts of the world have you seen? It might help me understand your views more clearly.

Of course, there is one possibility that I hadn't considered. There is this theory regarding cognitive dissonance which could play a role here. Perhaps the hatred and anger you sensed stemmed from reactions to the things you had said or done in their presence. We all have a tendency to react more negatively to the things that fall outside our realm of acceptance...but I digress.

[the wonderboy]

And silence....

[the wonderboy]

And silence....

[the wonderboy]

And silence controls the comments