I want to like him.  I do like HIM, I just don't like the policies he stands for.

He seems like a very nice man.  

I'm glad McCain won tonight, because of all the Republicans with an actual shot at the title (I like Fred Thompson, but he's not going to be Pres - he MIGHT get the VP nod from McCain though, and I'd like that very very much) McCain is the one I like most, but everytime I hear Huckabee speak, I think "Why do you have to be such a social fascist?  Why do you have to push this horrible neocon right wing christianity?  Why couldn't your policies be more NORMAL??"

Still - go Obama.

Quote from: Hackmastergeneral...everytime I hear Huckabee speak, I think "Why do you have to be such a social fascist?  Why do you have to push this horrible neocon right wing christianity?  Why couldn't your policies be more NORMAL??"

I think it's because he still believes that's where the heart of the Republican constituency lies.  If he's successfully clued into the fact that the Republican party has finally splintered philosophically after 7 squandered years of the Bush presidency, then he must think that the evangelical Right carries enough votes for him to get elected.  In either case, he's sadly mistaken.

You know, for about half an hour this last summer, I was almost taken in by the aw-shucks, every-man, populist appeal Huckabee was stumping in an effort to seem like a normal fella.  It didn't take him long to shift to his favored constituency, though, and that will be his downfall.  As one commentator put it recently, "Huckabee doesn't just want to be president, he wants to be America's cleric.  Think about what that means."

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI think it's because he still believes that's where the heart of the Republican constituency lies.  If he's successfully clued into the fact that the Republican party has finally splintered philosophically after 7 squandered years of the Bush presidency, then he must think that the evangelical Right carries enough votes for him to get elected.  In either case, he's sadly mistaken.

You know, for about half an hour this last summer, I was almost taken in by the aw-shucks, every-man, populist appeal Huckabee was stumping in an effort to seem like a normal fella.  It didn't take him long to shift to his favored constituency, though, and that will be his downfall.  As one commentator put it recently, "Huckabee doesn't just want to be president, he wants to be America's cleric.  Think about what that means."
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Yeah.  I don't think America wants another bible-thumping president who allows his religious beliefs to dictate his governance.  Not the majority, and not the majority who will vote.  I hope not.

I was dismayed by McCain's switch to more slightly-more social conservatism, but I have a feeling thats only playing to the base, and he won't really put forward or support many socially conservative measures.  Again, I hope not.  I know he is virulently pro-life, but I don't have as MUCH of a problem with that as, say, constitutional amendments barring homosexual marriage or even legal unions.

I'd really like to see that McCain/Thompson ticket.  That would make the race against Obama/Clinton very interesting (I don't think the Dem ticket will be Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton I just have no fucking clue who is going to come out on top.  If Clinton does, she'd be stupid not to ask Obama to be her VP, and he'd be stupid not to take it.)

Quote from: HackmastergeneralYeah.  I don't think America wants another bible-thumping president who allows his religious beliefs to dictate his governance.

Bear in mind that it's much more serious than just being a "Bible-thumper" as far as Huckabee goes.  He's an ordained Southern Baptist minister.  He doesn't juat want to lead the nation, he wants to witness and minister to it.

QuoteI was dismayed by McCain's switch to more slightly-more social conservatism, but I have a feeling thats only playing to the base, and he won't really put forward or support many socially conservative measures.

That's my thought, too.  I have little doubt that McCain believes what he says on the stump, but I also believe that he's too much of a political pragmatist to really let it get in the way of performing the job of being President.

QuoteI'd really like to see that McCain/Thompson ticket.  That would make the race against Obama/Clinton very interesting.

I'll say, I'd actually have to think about which candidate I liked more, rather than which I hated less.  Well, that is, I'd have to think for a moment before hitting the EJECT button on the Republican party candidate, just to l'arn 'em a lesson.  McCain would make me think twice, though.

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaBear in mind that it's much more serious than just being a "Bible-thumper" as far as Huckabee goes.  He's an ordained Southern Baptist minister.  He doesn't juat want to lead the nation, he wants to witness and minister to it.That's my thought, too.  I have little doubt that McCain believes what he says on the stump, but I also believe that he's too much of a political pragmatist to really let it get in the way of performing the job of being President.I'll say, I'd actually have to think about which candidate I liked more, rather than which I hated less.  Well, that is, I'd have to think for a moment before hitting the EJECT button on the Republican party candidate, just to l'arn 'em a lesson.  McCain would make me think twice, though.

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The repubs need to eat some serious defeat in this election.  Make em think about whats happened the last number of years, and how evangelicism and the Oval Office really don't mix.

Quote from: HackmastergeneralThe repubs need to eat some serious defeat in this election.  Make em think about whats happened the last number of years, and how evangelicism and the Oval Office really don't mix.

What makes you believe that Hillary, a woman with more skeletons in her closet than a biology classroom, and Obama, a first term Senator from a Northern state who has already made some gaffes, both of whom have been playing softball with each other throughout the primary, are going to have the horsepower to defeat whichever Republican gets the nomination?  Do you seriously think the Republican or the 527s are going to be as kind to them as they've been to each other?

QuoteThat's my thought, too. I have little doubt that McCain believes what he says on the stump, but I also believe that he's too much of a political pragmatist to really let it get in the way of performing the job of being President.

That's a very charitable way of putting it.

Mine would be more like: "He's a spineless prick with no real platform of his own, who'll buckle like a chump to whatever the party wants him to do."

McCain talked a big game in '00, but the last 8 years have pretty much proved him to be nothing more than another slimeball opportunist who'll jump on any bandwagon necessary to keep his spot in the limelight.

Quote from: J ArcaneThat's a very charitable way of putting it.

Mine would be more like: "He's a spineless prick with no real platform of his own, who'll buckle like a chump to whatever the party wants him to do."

But in a divided party, which way would he jump?

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaBut in a divided party, which way would he jump?

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My bet?  He waffles like a motherfucker until one or the other side edges out the others in the polls, then he makes a halfhearted bandwagon jump that no one buys except the gnatlike-memory demographic.

Huckaboob is going to lose because he's to far right. He's so far right that he just expects that Christians should vote for him just on the basis that he's uber righty. I think he may be offending some of the Christian right by just assuming he will get their vote.

Quote from: McrowHuckaboob is going to lose because he's to far right. He's so far right that he just expects that Christians should vote for him just on the basis that he's uber righty. I think he may be offending some of the Christian right by just assuming he will get their vote.

As an FYI, right-wing talk radio has been attacking Huckabee for being too liberal, if not a socialist in preacher's clothing.  In fact, I find it hilarious that right-wing talk radio is urging people to vote for Fred Thompson as the authentic conservative, though everyone here seems to think he's a moderate for some reason.

Quote from: John MorrowAs an FYI, right-wing talk radio has been attacking Huckabee for being too liberal, if not a socialist in preacher's clothing.  In fact, I find it hilarious that right-wing talk radio is urging people to vote for Fred Thompson as the authentic conservative, though everyone here seems to think he's a moderate for some reason.

I think Huckabee is for something that are liberal (most a vote getting gimmick), but has a lot of down right Righty extremist views as well. I think he want's to be seen like more of a moderate but he's not.

Quote from: HackmastergeneralStill - go Obama.

Yeah.  Go Obama...

You might find this interesting, too.  (This is probably closer to what people here are looking for.)

Quote from: John MorrowYeah.  Go Obama...

And how is this supposed to be particularly damning of Obama, John?  Aside from the gratuitous religious pandering that every candidate, regardless of party affiliation, is being cornered into publically flogging these days.  The "See? I'm a Christian, too!" tone of the pamphlet(s) pales in comparison to Huckabee's explicit religious and doctrinaire campaign platform.  Hell, John, this isn't even tarring with the same brush.

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThe "See? I'm a Christian, too!" tone of the pamphlet(s) pales in comparison to Huckabee's explicit religious and doctrinaire campaign platform.  Hell, John, this isn't even tarring with the same brush.

I think that people are seeing what they want to see.  Did you actually read the whole pamphlet (some if it is admittedly difficult to read)?  What makes you think that Huckabee isn't pandering and Obama is?

The Little Green Footballs blog titled a recent bit about Huckabee Leftist in Evangelist's Clothing Fails to Win Secular Support.  Huckabee has been pandering to evangelicals, pandering to FAIR Tax supporters, pandering to Confederate flag supporters.  What makes you think his religious talk isn't just pandering, too?

I'm also curious to see how Obama's "I'm not a Muslim" schtick is going to play with Muslims.