What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

gaypastor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:25:04 GMT

What if Hillary were the nominee?

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

amycnote — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:28:30 GMT

Interesting hypothetical, Andrew. I love this kind of stuff. I know this doesn't have anything to do with the post, but did anyone notice during the debate that McCain dropped his mike into the other hand just about EVERY time he was done speaking? I'm wondering why this is - does it have to do with his hands being crushed when he was a POW? Is it just another component of his awkwardness? Does he even know he's doing it? I don't know why I'm having trouble letting this go, but after about 2 times, I was totally obsessed with him doing this, so much to the point that it made me unable to really focus in on what he was saying b/c I was anticipating him doing it again. Would've made a good drinking game - like when the students (and probably others too) drank every time Palin said "maverick" during the VP debate.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

cobalt6 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:51:44 GMT

Again the Media will say and do anything to get Obama elected!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

vanno — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:54:23 GMT

Andrew, Huck supports the FairTax. I'll explain it for you. The FairTax, to summarize, is a 23% national retail sales tax on new goods which will only substitute for 22% corporate tax currently embedded in items you and I pay now FOR the corporations. So, prices will stay the same with this exchange. All other taxes will cease to exist, a prebate will cover costs up to the poverty line for registered citizens, and no expensive tax filing or threat of being thrown in jail for a tax "crime" anymore. The tax is progressive, rich people spend more. It will end government corruption in that politicians can't grant tax breaks to a special few for a price. It will tax criminals. tourists, and common folks equally. One cannot escape the consumption tax, as one can the income or corporate tax. 80% of GDP comes from the Fortune 500 alone, making tax collection much more successful. THIS issue got Huck as far as he did, as well as being personally talented. If a critic has a problem with the FairTax, specifically cite it from the 50 most FAQ's at fairtax.org.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

preco — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:58:59 GMT

Good stuff, nice diversion from McCain's gutter language campaign.

Any Republican governor would probably have done better than McCain.

No trigger hair decision, like picking Palin (begining of the decent of McCain into political oblivion)

Some smarts on how to talk economic policies the middle class Americans and the average guy can atleast understand. And No gutter language, fear mongering and devisive politics as seen in the last days of McCain and Palin's political careers.

Thanks very refreshing hypothesis.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

jay-dre — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:02:03 GMT

If you are going to knock an idea, especially a tax idea when this country is going to get trounced in the world economy because of our sad excuse of a tax policy and code that only benefits special interests, then at least take the time to educate yourself on it. First of all, Huckabee advocates a consumption tax replacing completely all current taxes, not a flat tax. Second, you need to actually read the facts of that plan instead of getting your information second or third hand or maybe through even more distillations. Since you don't understand the difference between a flat tax and a consumption tax, I'm sure you have not done so. Misrepresenting what he was advocating the way you just did is exactly why the media makes things so much worse and why the status quo has no hopes of changing.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

revhank — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:02:06 GMT

I have to say I'd be much more comfortable with Huckabee as the nominee right now. Since the pandering to right-wing Christians would have been built-in, there would have been no need for him to risk the nation's future by recruiting a vacuous twit as his running mate.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Braes — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:03:38 GMT

Mike, who I personally know, will be there in 2012. I am not a political supporter of his. I do not agree with him on enough issues to ever change that. Mike is however, a good person. He is decent, and says what he believes. Again, I do not have to agree with him, but at least I know which way he is going. That trait alone was bouyant for him here in Arkansas, where a long tenured Governor of my party had stretched verbiage into wonderland. He also followed the indicted and convicted Governor who followed, Jim Guy Tucker. Single party control of a state can be abusive. My party has learned those lessons, and now campaigns on the slogan;"Keeping Promises, Getting Results." Without the Huckabee tenure, I doubt this would be the narritave.

Mike won't win a National election, even with the Fox TV program designed to give him national chops. Mike is a truly regional candidate. He can stomp the cloth-coat Republican crowd in the South. That is not however the penetration into the states that elect our Presidents. Mike is going to have to broaden his appeal while working for Fox. I do not see that as possible. He has hung another albatross around his neck, Murdoch/Ailes. Cuddling up to the outer-ring of the Bush apparat is not a path to electoral success, just ask McCain.

Mike has the Hard-Right credibility. McCain needed it and brought Palin aboard. Neither is broadly palatable. Mike however should not be compared to Palin beyond Conservatism, as Mike can talk, Mike can think, and Mike can lead. A better question is, How far ahead would McCain be if he'd have picked Mike instead of Caribou Barbie.

(4-7%)

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Boy1der88 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:04:36 GMT

Amy-

I noticed the same thing with the microphone and was also taken back by it. I thought it was akin to a homerun hitter flipping his bat after hitting one in the seats. I truly believe that McCain believed the answers he was giving were spot on and would resonate with the American people. In retrospect, they were erratic and uninspiring, and gave us no real insight as to how he would handle the current economic crisis.

As McCain has danced around the issue, interjecting himself when he was not welcome, never committed to the plan one way or the other- he has shown knee-jerk responses that I feel would be typical of his decision making process as President.

To that I say "thanks, but no thanks".

Obama has given consistent answers to questions, has been coherent, and to me has seemed the most presidential (in terms of analysis of issues and proposals to remedy them) during the entire election process, both in the primaries and now in the general.

Barack Obama is undoubtedly, in my mind, the best choice for President in these unprecedented times.

HOPE '08

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

cobalt6 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:05:06 GMT

Experts also thought Gore and Kerry would win!

They lost just like Obama will lose!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

lindawithasmile@yahoo.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:48 GMT

Geez, you're right, Huckabee would have a lot of "I told you so's" if he'd have been the Republican choice. He's far more in touch with what's become a buzz word... Main Street... than John McCain with his however many houses and however many cars who I'll venture to say had never stepped foot on any real Main Street in America before the campaign. And despite Huckabee's religious fundamentalism, he sure wouldn't have picked Palin. Bad choice, John. And hey, what's all the flap about her cover photo? The few unplucked eyebrows? I'll bet it was intentional to show the country she's truly "one of us." Gag.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

eshuster — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:11:53 GMT

I believe Huckabee would be doing better, but would be suffering from many of the same things that ill McCain. On the other hand, if Romney was running it would be a completely different race. The economy is Romney's strength and he would be light years ahead of Obaman in credibility and savvy when it comes to the economy. Many will not agree with me, but Huckabee is the reason Romney may never get a real chance at the Presidency. Huckabee knows he can't win the nomination no matter what, so he instead settled for being the savior to the fundamentalist Christian world by keeping a Mormon from the white house. Because of Huckabee, Romney lost the nomination - and John McCain knows that! Our entire nation missed out on having one of the most economically savvy presidents of all time at a time when we really need it.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

underdog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:13:21 GMT

After watching the debates I still believe the American people are the loosers in this election. We have one candidate who is the love of the media, to the point of being sickening, and another who is over reaching his potential. Good senator but the next step up seems to be beyond his capability. Would rather have seen a Huchabee, Biden square off for the presidential position.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Texan1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:13:57 GMT

The Republican elite establishment spoiled their chances for a win when they rejected Huckabee. He spoke about "Main Street" before anyone else from either party. Because of his upbringing, he knows what Main Street is like; the Washginton and East Coast party bosses put out the word that Huckabee was the least desirable candidate because he was against the status quo and the retention of Wall Street as usual. This was the year for Huckabee, and the Republicans botched it, as usual.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

dsmb2007 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:17:56 GMT

Mitt Romney should be our nominee right now. To say Huckabee might have made a better candidate because he is more likable is the same as saying Palin helps because she is likeable. it doesn't help us in discussing what knowledge, expertise, and policies our new president should have. Romney is exactly who we need right now, but because of prejudice, mostly on the part of Huckabee himself and the evangelical republican 'base', we are stuck with McCain. That being said, all McCain needed to do to win this election was NOT pick Sarah Palin for VP. I'd be voting for him had he picked Romney, Pawlenty, Rice, or any number of other options. Instead he picked Palin and made a mockery of the office. And I think since he realized that he has basically given up. I believe he literally tries to sabotage his campaign by pulling stunts like the homeowner bailout plan that came out of nowhere. I'm sure Huckabee will be there in 2012 to derail the man who should be our next president. Hopefully by then we'll have learned something from this election.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

schuter1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:18:18 GMT

I always liked Huckabee's attitude and approach. He sounded fairly sane and rational. That's when I knew he wouldn't survive. McCain's time was 8 years ago, but he let Bush and the RNC bend him over the nearest table and have their way with him. Now he's just an old guy with not much of anything new to say. I don't know about Obama, but right now, I'm just tired of the Republicans and the attitude they exhibit. So bring on something new.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Redburn — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:22:56 GMT

I will never forget that Huckabee said that we don't need the constituion when we have the ten comandments.. This alone disqualifies him to be president.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Iota1963 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:24:40 GMT

There is a story regarding how Huckabee threated to leave the pastorship of his church when the parishioners resisted allowing a black person to join the congregation. Considering how Bush won 18% of the Black Vote in Ohio (2004), and how McCain wrote the entire thing off to Obama, can you imagine Huckabee gaining 10-15% of the black vote in a race where that margin may make the difference?

Since he has been on Fox though, he has changed for the worse.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

LTD1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:27:59 GMT

The problem for any Republican candidate, even Mike Huckabee, is George W. Bush. Whether or not you can actually tie the Bush administration into the economic mess we're currently in, whether or not Bush economic policies were good or bad, the public perception is that the Bush administration is so thoroughly inept and so corrupt and so disingenuous that it deserves the blame

Would Mike Huckabee be a stronger candidate at this point in the general election than John McCain? Of course . . . Huckabee's performance in the primaries was cool, calm, specific, and he was too smart to waste time and credibility on personal attacks. If then, Huckabee's behavior then would accurately predict his behavior now, he would be challenging Obama on specific issues and would have a much better chance of becoming the next Republican President of the United States.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

RevWright — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:32:01 GMT

Really when it gets right down to it. If Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin is the best the two major parties have to offer for leadership then we are all FU*K*D. Obama hasn't really ever done anything except tend to his own overinflated ego. Biden is just a blundering idiot. McCain is a joke and Palin is really an unknown. It is simply pathetic that these 4 who have never really done anything except live off the taxpayers and give nothing in return is the best we have. It's simply pathetic and comical. I really believe Obama will win this election but not for any reason we should be electing a president. I am really looking forward to it if it happens. Not because I think he is going to change or fix anything. I simply do not think he is capable but moreso to see who the democrats blame the problems on when they control the house, the senate and the white house. They won't have anymore scapegoats to blame their own laziness, greed and stupidity on. Then we need 4 years of the republicans in control of all three decision making entity's as well. After that 8 years stretch and neither party can blame the other then it will be crystal clear that neither party is capable of organizing a refrigerator much less a country. They both SUCK!!!!!!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Iota1963 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:43:34 GMT

Everyone owns a refrigerator. No refrigerators are manufactured here. Everyone owns a cellphone. No cellphones are manufactured here. Everyone wears Nikes (almost). No Nikes are made here. All the Blackberries, Ipods, and other fancy things, made somewhere else. Flat Screen LCD's and Plasmas, not made in America. No DVD players are manufactured here. All the companies have outsourced these jobs overseas. This is due to the tax policies and trade agreements we have pursued. China made a deal with Boeing to buy x amount of 767's, but the trade off was 50% of the plane had to be made in China. Can you imagine the gains they made in metalurgy and advanced manufacturing? The US government could have stopped it, but Boeing successfully lobbied that is could not compete against AIRBUS unless the deal went through. This is why I don't care about who knew Ayers when, or the Keating 5, or even the Hanoi Hilton. FIX THIS COUNTRY NOW!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

queenie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:53:45 GMT

Amy and Boy1der88 - I noticed the mike thing too, it drove me nuts! It reminded me of a rapper who throws down the mike when done, and/or like Dave Chappelle used to do at the end of his show. Like his point was a slam dunk every time, except they weren't. as they say...

MY FRIENDS - I'M VOTING FOR 'THAT ONE'

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

ClementW — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:09:39 GMT

What if NBC/NEWSWEEK were bought by FOX News.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

edralevl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:17:03 GMT

Mike Huckabee? Nah. He is only good on the pulpit. Because he act in God's judgment defining who is christian and who isn't. That dangerous for a "President" to act like that. If he is the front runner I'll switch to another party. Not very trust worthy person.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

mahutchi4940 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:17:48 GMT

You would think that beating a lightweight far left liberal like Obama could have been done, even with the media and enteratnment industries behind him, but it looks like Republicans are finally realizing what a horrible mistake it was to nominate McCain. Many like myself just had to hold our noses and hope he wouldnt sell us out.

Huckabee or Romney or especially Trancado (sp?) would have stood a better chance.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

libertyinmo — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:21:18 GMT

Ron Paul is the one who could have beat the Democrats in the fall. He has been on a lot of news programs lately pretty much saying I told you so. When it comes to the economy, he warned us in the debates and has been warning the congress for ten years about the imploding economy. Too bad the press didn't give the only truthful candidate much coverage and when they did, they ridiculed him. He and his supporters are probably having the last laugh now as the housing bubble is popping, the banks are going bankrupt and the stock market is tanking.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

lanerone — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:28:29 GMT

Thus guy who wrote this article must be a leftist as they don't miss the chance to lie about the Fairtax. I don't see how anyone coudl be seen as taking the unfairness out of Wahsington, taking away corporate tax breaks, taking away earmarks, than by going to the Fairtax. Anyone against the faritax is really, if honest, in favor of using the gubament, by force, to make you alter your behavior, to reward one person or company and not another. That social engineering is what got us in this mess. Simply level the playing field and let the best rise to the top, regardless of their background. Our economic system is a mess, we'd have more economic freedom in China than doing business in the USA.

This also is why we can't let the system continue to allow Iowa and New Hampshire pick our presidental nominees for the rest of us.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

shortjames — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:30:01 GMT

Like the Democrats in the 1970's the Republicans have boxed themselves in and are now paying the price. The GOP became more and more ideological while at the same time complacent having been in power for so many years. During their primary they marched further and further to the right, oblivious to fact that in doing so they were leaving more and more less ideological voters behind. Instead there seemed to be sentiment that they lost so big in 2006 because they were not "right wing enough". By nominating a VP from the right wing of his party McCain virtually assured his defeat at the hands of a more moderate, less ideological Democratic ticket.

I expect the Democrats to win big in November...then start their inevitable decline just like the GOP before them. US politics is and always will be cyclical. There is no escaping that.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

lhneumanns — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:30:10 GMT

Mike Huckabee has had my vote since announcing his campaign (no I am not an Arkansan). I'll write him in and that's what every American with a spine should do.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Natalie Rosen — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:38:44 GMT

No way on Huckabee. Just his name sounds like Mayberry RFD. Too much of a hick for the rest of the country. There really is NO ONE in the Republican party with any smarts with the exception I have to say Romney. I loath him but he is economically savvy. The problem with Republicans is that they have a moronic base. Romney who originally was a choice person flip flopped and it was obvious. The Republican party needs to ditch its dumb base and march into the 21st century. REAL Republican prudent spending and OBEYING THE LAW is what they SHOULD be about.

Denying evolution, global warming, stem cell research and science in gneral is NUTS. It makes us the laughing stock of the world and does not advance mankind. It's ALL about survival of the fittest and THAT is evolution. Get with the program Republicans and find yourself a person with solid conservative economic values, who really does believe in our Constitution and keeping us out of wars but one who does NOT deny reality!!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Huck4Life — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:43:10 GMT

I think it is a blessing for Huckabee that he is not the nominee because most everyone in the Republican Party realizes he SHOULD HAVE been and will rally behind in in his next run....and there will be a next run. Huckabee is speaking all over the country and abroad and the more people hear of him, the more they love him. Those liberals who try to polarize Huck can forget it. He is a man with a broadbase appeal who speaks the truth, is honest, smart, experienced and visionary. Huck talked of the middle class and kitchen table issues, endorsed the FAIR (not flat tax and there is a HUGE difference) TAX, the single most thing to help the economy for the long term, and he is one of the few Republican leaders who is speaking out against the bailout. He is proving that he "knows of what he speaks." His show on Fox did better than CNN, MSNBC and CBS combined.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

sai_chai — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:01:20 GMT

Nope, it would have been better if the monetary policy and Constitutional prophet, Representative Ron Paul, had been the candidate. Then America would be seeing first hand the major differences between the twin parties in wolves' clothing and a REAL candidate for change.

Too bad Ron Paul was so mocked and abused by the mainline media, including Fox News, as well as his fellow politicians we are now stuck with as our *only* choices for president.

I am voting for the Constitution Party or the Libertarian Party or not at all, because both Obama and McCain have not demonstarted that they even have a clue how to handle the financial and political crises America now finds herself facing.

An independent electorate is our only hope for real and significant change in America.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

NickFalco — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:07:01 GMT

Really? With all these problems with the economy you want Tax Hike Mike and not the man who predicted that this problem would happen back in 1983?!? Are you guys nuts?! There are so many reasons why you should have voted for Ron Paul over any of the other "conservative" candidates that I don't have the time to chronicle them and I am sure that some of you are regretting that you DIDN’T vote for Ron Paul.

Just imagine Ron Paul on stage being asked about the economy and telling everyone that he wants to get rid of the IRS and income tax and not replace it with anything because government spending would be so low that you don't need those extra tax dollars. Ron Paul would tout a tax and spending cut in the TRILLIONS yet you talk about what would have happened if we would have nominated Huckabee?

Tax Hike Mike has so many skeletons in the closet that the loss would have happened in November would redefine what a landslide loss is.

If you go back to pick any candidate that would hypothetically replace McCain, pick the one that knows more about the economy than Greenspan, Bernanke, and Paulson combined, Ron Paul.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

bluebloodedLV — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:09:11 GMT

If Huckabee were McCains VP pick, the race would be much closer. The only other viable presidential candidate for the republicans would have been Ron Paul, who I was really interested in until I heard Obama, and this is coming from a liberal democrat. But RP would have alienated the small minded and judgemental conservative base. Support the people not the corporations.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

underdog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:09:55 GMT

This is like the end of the Nixon era all over again. Ford lost beacause the public lost faith in the republican party and elected Jimmy Carter because he was "Anti-Washington", a change. Doesn't matter who is running today. It doesn't look like it's in the cards for the republicans. Thank you George Bush. No matter how bad Newt , or Trent Lott, or a couple of other idiots damaged the party, it always came back. Gorge W Bush,and his croonies , Chenny, Karl Rove, Rumsfield, and the hard core necons have killed what it took a personallity like Ronald Reagun to revive from the last political disaster.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

bluebloodedLV — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:12:51 GMT

mahutchi4940 writes: a lightweight far left liberal like Obama

Really, you can't be so blind to realize that of all things, Obama is not a lightweight! He's been picked apart and scrutinized for almost 2 years now. If he runs the white house as well as he has organized his campaign, you'll be alright.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

bluebloodedLV — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:20:38 GMT

Posted By: cobalt6 (October 9, 2008 at 3:05 PM)

Experts also thought Gore and Kerry would win!

They lost just like Obama will lose!

You're wrong, my friend. Obama is WAY AHEAD of where Kerry was at this point in 2004. Sorry, but you might as well start coping with it. It's about time you get used to hearing President Obama. I don't feel sorry for any of you because for the past 4 years at least, I have been so disgusted to think GWB is our president. What a disgrace. How does it feel to have the tables turned? You will all be crying re-count in November, but it won't even be close enough for a recount.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Anticrisis — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:27:29 GMT

Behind Chuck Norris' beard is not a chin, but another FIST!

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

While urinating, Chuck Norris is easily capable of welding titanium.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

americandefender — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:31:37 GMT

I am looking forward to our new president and the changes this country needs, we have had 8 years of record deficits, I can barely feed and house my family beacouse lets face it nothing trickled down to me except more poverty. You right wingers keep attacking beacouse soon we will start our road to change go Obama!!!!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

LA2000 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:48:39 GMT

The problems the republicans face now could not have been cured by any one republican presidential candidate. They have an enormous credibility gap. You can't start a war based on false assertions, and expect to be trusted on military affairs. You can't claim knowledge of free market economics, then lead the country into fiscal ruin and expect to be trusted on economic affairs. You can't claim to be a "uniter not a divider" and then run the most partisan, disrespectful government in the history of the nation and expect to be handed the reins of the nation.

The republican party is toxic. It is finished as a credible political force in the near term and probably for a decade or more. And it couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of preening egotists.

I say that as a lifelong registered republican who will be voting a democratic ticket this time around.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

mrzoid — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:01:32 GMT

If Mike Huckabee were the Republican candidate, he wouldnt have a FoxNews show. Nothing like the "Fair and Balanced" folks at FoxNews; so fair, so balanced, cause how else could you explain giving a show to a former Republican primary candidate?

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

NickFalco — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:02:15 GMT

LA2000 -

They would have been if the Republican's went back to their roots but they didn't nominate Ron Paul so it wasn't and isn't going to happen.

Imagine a candidate who was opposed to this war since the start, one of the few that voted against it. Imagine a candidate who knows more about free market economies than Greenspan, Bernanke, or Paulson. Imagine a candidate with a backbone and some credibility who works with the otherside as long as the issue is Constitutional. Imagine a candidate that wants to PRESERVE the Constitution and actually uphold his oath of office. Imagine a candidate that doesn't want to run your life or take your money. Imagine a candidate that is for REAL change.

That candidate is Ron Paul.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

UKis1Jeff — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:16:13 GMT

An even better question Andrew might be what if Hillary was the nominee? Does even the most Obama-aid drinking person out there feel fully confident that Mr. Cool can solve or even start to solve ALL the problems we face.

Move-on and lovers of great speaches nominated Mr. Cool. His claim to fame was he was against the war. Hillary wouldn't apologize for her vote and they punished her......aren't we all thrilled with the result. Have these debates made anyone feel better about Obama or just that McCain is a less impressive Bob Dole.

Fact is and Mr. Cool's 49% can argue all they want, he is not really all that different than Sarah Palin. I'll give him extra credit for the Havard degree but come on.....this is the best America can do???? An OLD guy with no new ideas and a temper or a young hip guy with NO experience at all.

This is one of those....if we knew then what we know now....moments in history. If the primary's were starting today, Obama would have been laughed off the stage announcing he was running. McCain???? Try Romney and having EVERY Republican on board.

I will vote for Obama...holding my nose and praying every day for his success but wouldn't we ALL feel better if Hillary and Romney were the two left standing?

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

tripleg90 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:38:27 GMT

Well if experience was the stand all to be all for being the president; GWB was a governor before the President. And look at where the country, Bush didn't put country first! As president you can never forget the people who elected you. And bush didn't... THANKS WALL STREET!!!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

gretel5555 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:38:43 GMT

Meh. Huckabee is a right wing religious wacko. McCain is a little more to center but chose Palin who makes even Huckabee look sane. Neither are good choices. Time for a real change and for a government that keeps religion out of the public domain.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

dunnhaupt — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:45:59 GMT

I never understood why the primary voters picked McCain. Since he lost once before, his chances were lower than those of other untried Republican candidates. Americans do not often give a loser another chance. Well, they did this time, and it looks like they are going to regret it.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

golfdude00 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:00:40 GMT

Andrew,

You are far too kind my friend. To label Bush as simply the most "unpopular" President in modern history is to give him WAY too much sympahy. He is a walking diasaster, easily the worst President EVER. He isn't simply inept he is arrogant and brash. He has single handedly laid waste the the American brand. Watching him on the world stage has been nothing short of embarrassing.

Everyone is saying that Obama has won. I say don't count your chickens. A LOT of people voted for Bush and a LOT of those same people are going to vote for McCain/Palin. I have read on these very pages Republican whack jobs say that Palin's performance in the debeate clearly put her in the running for not only a shot at VP but a shot at her own Presidential run somewhere down the road. Never underestimate the Republican machine. I know a LOT of Republicans and most are scared "little" people that would spend BILLIONS in a heart beat to kill people they don't understand because they are different than us or for quick political gain, trample the rights of gay Americans to "Pursue Happiness" as they see fit and basically make the USA look like a country of spoiled brats that look down their noses at the rest of the world. It is time for good honest Americans to rise up and say ENOUGH. We are good and decent people. Never again should we let the likes of Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, Rumsfeld, O'Rielly, Hannity, Limbaugh, or Coulter represent us in any way shape or form.

Obama/Biden '08

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

hunter112 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:00:52 GMT

Nice try, Romano! See if you can peel off the fundamentalist conservative vote with your little "What if?" puff piece on the Huckster, by comparing him to McLame. Chuckleberry is a goofball nanny-stater who wouldn't have had the brains to pick Sarah Palin, a real conservative. Better we have a ticket to vote for where the top guy has a decent chance of dying before he can legalize his 'amigos' than to have someone who would ban every fun thing out there. No thanks, we'll take this ticket as it is.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

GOPGirl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:01:40 GMT

Huckabee would have been the best choice for the GOP. I voted for him. Ron Paul is great, too. But he isn't for protecting our friends in Israel. McCain is lame, so is Palin. I plan on voting for Bob Barr. McCain already went back on his word "I will not sign any earmarks that pass my desk". He just voted to bailout Wall Street with a bill full of PORK. To those who are Repubs and are switching to the Dem side: don't do it. Vote your conscious- it's not throwing your vote away, it's reminding the politicians they work for us. With that said, vote out of ofifice every cogressman and senator who voted yes on the bailout. They do not speak for the people.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

golfdude00 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:03:09 GMT

Sorry I forgot the issue at hand. I totally agree with gretel5555. Have you seen the "Huck" banter with Sean Hannity? He is a religious whack job.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

SAGG — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:07:28 GMT

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, blah, blah, blah. The Repubs are stuck with McCain now.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

GOPGirl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:11:44 GMT

Not necessarily SAGG.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

Johnsonium — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:12:24 GMT

Huckabee is likable, even to this "far-left liberal". However, he was too fundamentalist and socially conservative to win this time around. McCain was the Republicans' only shot. I said this from the beginning. The American public would never elect another far-right winger such as GWB in this election. Unfortunately for the Republicans, McCain has answered the call by running one of the most tone-deaf and ineffective campaigns in history. Every move he makes has been a serious strategic blunder that anyone with a modicum of political intelligence could have predicted would fail. McCain is toast and he only has his inept, ham-handed campaign strategy to blame.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

DavidE7 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:12:30 GMT

America desperately needs Mike Huckabee. He has right all along about the economy. While the other Republican candidates trumpeted how sound the economy was last winter, he thought it was on thin ice. When the other candidates thought it was a good idea to borrow $150 billion from China and give $400 to every American family, he thought it would be better to take the money and invest in infrastructure programs that would create jobs. When all the other Republican candidates assured the audience that Ronald Reagan would endorse them, he said he had no idea whether Reagan would endorse him, but that he endorsed Reagan. He is a man of total fiscal integrity who ran a campaign for $16 million while others, like Mitt Romney, threw money around like there was no end to it. The objections to Huckabee above are unfounded. There was no scandal in his administration, he was falsely accused by dirty politicians. He has made few very gaffes, and those he did make were jumped on instantly by a hostile media who is scared to death of a man who believes in a just and loving God. America lost when he did not become the Republican nominee. Now the Republicans will lose big time because they bet against him.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

GOPGirl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:12:37 GMT

The RNC and DNC are rigged.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

LLiving10 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:15:04 GMT

Much more useful would be to contemplate obama turning the US into a giant Detroit. The United States of Detroit. Michigan is a completely ruined state, completely ruined. If you people want to live in pit of sht, go take a tour of what is in store for American. Go visit detroit, or any inner city. The give me something for nothing crowd will sink you, and america. How many more examples do you need?? DC, Chicago, etc. All places just like the giant black holes in the galaxy. Sucking the life out of everything and everyone in near it. You people are complete fools. Stop relying on anyone, especially the govt. I see and hear the swirls now of the giant black holes waiting to take you to the abyss of hell, namely Detroit. Enjoy!

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

GOPGirl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:18:16 GMT

DavidE7 you are right. Most people I talk to feel the same. But they either plan to vote McCain cuz they don't like dems or they are not voting. These people who criticize Huckabee only know what they hear from their biased media sources. They should read the FairTax books twice and then ask if they still want the current system.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

LA2000 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:20:13 GMT

NickFalco -

The truth is, Ron Paul had some good ideas that were never going to fly with the republican party as it stands now. It is time for the blue dog democrats and fiscal conservative republicans to form their own party built on responsible governance and balanced budgets. The radical social conservatives can have what's left of the discredited carcass that is the republican brand.

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

cani77 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:28:17 GMT

In a few weeks we will make a choice that will decide our future.

I follow an economist named Bob Proctor. He has called the top and bottom of every market crash since the 70s correctly.

Also, he perfectly predicted the current real estate market meltdown and the picture he paints about what will happen in the next couple years

is terrifying.He thinks it will be worse then the great depression.

The banks in the U.S. are going under one after the other. Countrywide ,Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch , Fanny and Freddy Mae ,AIG

The government took them over because they are essentially bankrupt. Even with the goverment nationalizing hundreds of billions of dollars in debt the stock market is crashing

the credit markets are frozen and all of us may suffer beyond anything in the last 80 years.

McCain just like Bush " doesn't understand the economy".

That not just my opinion its his own words. Not only does he not understand how to fix it but he does not understand exactly what is broken.

It is no surprise that he doesn't. The people that make up these securities use complex mathematical models very few people understand.

Bush and McCain both can take the credit for this mess since they helped deregulate the laws that were protecting us.

Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future.

Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy.He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury.

No one in this country can afford for that to happen. The last time Bush met with his economic advisors was in March. He didnt realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham had the guts to say that we are in a mental recession after he helped create the worst economy meltdown in our lifetime. Check out this link to the truth http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo

It will take the best and brightest minds in the world to get us out of this nightmare. As bad as Bush has done, McCain would be

even more destructive because things are in much worse shape. The next president will not inherit a surplus like Bush did but a crashing economy and a 11,600,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars deficit. Most of it Bush created and it will take decades to pay it back.

If you do what you have always done then you will get what you have always got.

When it comes to policy Bush and McCain are the same 90 percent of the time.

So why are the polls even close then ?

Mccains team just said they no longer want to talk about the economy.Instead they would like to spend time talking about obama

which means running the biggest smear campaign in history.

They think they can just tell you lies and you wont be smart enough to see through it

Let's teach him we are smarter than that .

Elect Obama Biden 2008

Check out this video of sarah palins interview and ask your self if she understands what she is talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36Xc0GG4iQ

re: What If Huckabee Were the Nominee?

cani77 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:28:42 GMT