I am not bailing on Fred Thompson and won’t until after he completes his second term in office. But given that there is at least a 1% chance that Fred will not be our nominee, and since I like all our candidates, I want to accentuate the positive. (except for McCain…kidding)

I was very disappointed in much of Mike Huckabee’s Foreign Affairs essay, especially the part where he described President Bush’s foreign policy as “arrogant” with a “bunker mentality.”

The fact is that Bush spent too long at the United Nations but did get a large coalition of the willing to go to Iraq. Moreover, France and Germany have come to Bush’s position and the Democrats in this country have gone madly left due to no fault of the President.

I think most of the other criticisms of Huckabee on foreign policy have been overblown distortions.

I watched Huckabee face tough questions on all the above and more this morning and came away impressed and reassured that he would be a great Commander in Chief.

He sufficiently watered down the “arrogant, bunker mentality” claim against President Bush to make it seem more like a nuanced critique he could use to his advantage with world leaders. It was his “not 100%” for and against spin. He needed to do that. The fact is that France and Germany have come our way thanks to Bush’s persistence, and I would prefer that our candidates emphasize that, but it is useful to send a message that he would be MORE receptive to other ideas.

I agree with Huck on the connection between Pakistani dwelling jihadists and our open borders. I don’t care about the irrelevant mistake on the numbers arrested or the east or west error in the essay.

I want our enemies in Pakistan (and everywhere on Earth) to fear that we would use military force inside Pakistan to kill them and disrupt their safe havens even if the government there opposed it and even against CLAIMS our action would destabilize the country.

The situation is not stable now. It could be made stable if the Pakistani government waged full war on these same enemies that threaten them.

I don’t believe Huck would act recklessly, and I love it when our guys remind libs like Russert that protecting America is paramount and that killing terrorists in COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NOT ATTACKED US, is part of the GWOT!

Can anyone say Iraq?

Huck understands good and evil and the necessity of deterrence. This separates him from liberal Democrats and Ron Paul.

Huck also defended his Arkansas policies well.

And I thought he had toned down the class rhetoric and the anti-GOP rhetoric enough as regards reaching out to lower income families.

So now, its down to cigar smoking in bars!

[UPDATE]

Mark Kilmer agrees with Gamecock

On NBC’s Meet the Press, host Tim Russert began by talking to Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. The candidate had dropped nine points in an MSNBC/McClatchy poll of Iowans. Huckabee offered that the polls were “all over the place,” some have him leading, others trailing. To his credit, he did not burst into laughter when Russert, with a straight face, uttered the name “McClatchy.” Let alone MSNBC. Russert asked if the commercials regarding Huckabee’s record might have had some influence. Huckabee said that with the relentless attacks – “and they were relentless” – and the fact that he was outspend 21-1, “it’s pretty amazing that I am where I am.”

Russert asked if Mitt Romney had said anything about Huckabee which was untrue. Huckabee started the list. Mitt claimed that Huckabee had reduced Meth sentences in Arkansas when the truth is that he signed a bill in 1999 which doubled Meth sentences, which are four times greater than those in Romney’s Massachusetts. Huckabee said that Romney accused him of giving “special breaks” to illegal immigrants. Actually, it was a bill concerning the children of such people who had “earned” scholarships, and it never made the legislature. Romney accused Huckabee of increasing spending “by some ridiculous amount,” and even the New York Times “took him apart” on this false claim. Huckabee said that Romney’s claim about tax increases was wrong because the tax increases in Arkansas were either court ordered or approved by the voters, such as the one to improve roads. Huckabee said that he left Arkansas with good roads, while Romney’s “were a mess” in Massachusetts. Romney claims that he did not raise taxes, when actually he did raise taxes in the form of fees by a half-billion dollars.

He said that he raised taxes for “educational purposes” and for roads. (I take it, then, that he opposes abolishing the Department of Education.)

Foreign affairs. Huckabee said that in light of the events of the past few weeks, some of his remarks regarding Pak seem “almost prophetic.” Russert grilled him about his pledge to use military strikes within Pakistan to rid it of al Qaeda. Russert averred that he would then destabilize the Musharraf regime and turn Pakistan over to the Taliban. Huckabee said the strike would not an effort to destabilize Musharraf. He predicted that the past week’s activities would lead to a greater accountability of how our aid checks to Pakistan are being spent.

Russert asked him if it was worth destabilizing Musharraf to capture Osama bin Laden. Huckabee challenged the assertion that the U.S. strike would destabilize Musharraf. He said that if he were President, he would weigh all the information to determine whether it were worth the risk of destabilizing Pakistan if we could possibly “save American lives” and “take out al Qaeda’s number one operative.”

Huckabee explained his “close the borders to Pakistani illegals” comment in reaction to Bhutto’s assassination by saying that he was trying to make the point that what happens in the world affects us here in the U.S. and that he wants to stop Pakistanis from crossing our borders with shoulder filed missiles in their briefcases.

When asked for an example of the President’s “arrogant bunker mentality,” Huckabee said it was Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ignoring the advice of the generals and “arbitrarily” sending too few troops into Iraq. Huckabee pointed out that he’s been more consistent in his support of the President when they agree, such as with the Surge. He said that Mitt Romney has been a “latecomer” in supporting the surge.

Huckabee defended his faith nicely against Russert’s attacks.

It went on for a while. Russert’s questions, while not softballs, were not as tough as some of the questions I’ve seen asked here at RedState. Huckabee did not implode, by any stretch, and handled himself well.

I also need to remind that I do strongly disagree with Huck’s “Fair Tax” proposal that I think is unworkable, too regressive and unrealistic given the impossibility of repealing the 16th Amendment.

I am also reminded that Foreign policy experience genius John McCain agrees with Huck that Gitmo should be closed and all the prisoners brought here so they can file lawsuits. Both are wack on that.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com

Have a look at this posting….

OTTUMWA, Iowa–Last night, I attended a Mike Hucabee event at the Bridge View Center here and made the conservative estimate that he drew a crowd of 400 to 500 inside an auditorium that held 650. When I noticed that Mitt Romney had an event at the same place this afternoon, I looked forward to getting an apples to apples comparison. I showed up again today and walked into the auditorium where I had seen Huckabee the night before, only to find it empty. The Romney event “is in a much smaller room on the other side,” I was told. Whereas the room where Huckabee spoke was the size of a large movie theater, for the Romney event I was directed to “Conference Room 1,” where I counted about 100 people once the event started. With the race in Iowa currently a tossup, everything will hinge on turnout, which is incredibly hard to predict, but crowd size is probably the best measure we have.

To be sure, this is just one anecdote, and perhaps there are differences between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, or other varaibles that I’m not taking into account. Or perhaps Huckabee will follow the path of Howard Dean, who was unable to convert large crowds into turnout. But the dramatic difference in the crowd size is just one small example of the potential for grassroots enthusiasm to triumph over paid organization.

Huckabee supporters have the passion and drive to GOTV come Jan 3rd – IA starts the ball rolling – especially with the lowered expectations that have been presented lately..

That was the admonition of the billboard on the side of the road Saturday afternoon as myself, John Swon (my co-blogger at Truth vs. The Machine) and syndicated columnist Barry Casselman raced from John McCain’s bustling Urbandale headquarters to an event for Governor Huckabee at the McCreary Community Building in Perry, IA late yesterday afternoon.

That billboard was more than a little prescient.  Huckabee’s event, which took place in a community theatre room that could house around 300 souls, had the feel and personnel one would find at a church revival.  Cries of ‘Amen’ and raised hand were frequent responses during the Governor’s speech.  Mr. Huckabee spent much of his 25 minutes of remarks aimed squarely at his chief antagonist in Iowa, Governor Romney.  He did so in a way that was pointed, but not overly mean-spirited.  As someone who would much prefer Romney over Huckabee as my nominee, I felt that Huckabee landed some punches on Romney’s political integrity.  If the Democrat nominee is able to raise similar doubts in voters’ minds next fall — should the Massachusetts governor still win the nomination — Mr. Romney will have the same sorts of problems that plagued his fellow Bay State politician in 2004.

The candidate connected as he talked movingly about his father and the discipline his father administered on a young Mike Huckabee.  This resonated well with the large families with many, well-behaved children in tow.  President Bush’s political brilliance was being able to connect with evangelical audiences in subtle ways (without alienating his wider audience) beginning with the debates of the 2000 cycle through his inaugurals.  Huckabee is much more explicit.  There is no “talking in code” to be found at a Huckabee rally.  The Governor speaks the dialect of full-on “evangelicalese” and his audience gets it.  My sense is that he will emerge from this race without the nomination but as the premier spokesperson for politically disaffected evangelicals.  Whomever ultimately wins the GOP nomination will need to find a way to connect with the folks in attendance last evening if they are going to have the type of ground game that helped President Bush prevail in each of the last 2 elections.  Governor Huckabee could serve as a power broker in this regard. 

Huckabee offered a defense of his fiscal record in Arkansas by explaining that his loadstar was whether his policies as governor would positively affect a hypothetical 7-year old in one of his state’s most impoverished communities.  It was clear that there is almost no government program Huckabee would oppose as long as it could somehow raise the prospects of that destitute 7-year old.  I came hoping to find something, anything that could encourage fiscal conservatives about the economic prescriptions a President Huckabee would employ.  Instead I was chilled to realize that there is no limit to what Huckabee would do when using the spending and taxing power of the federal government. 

As the event concluded, those in attendance almost universally got in line for a chance to “touch the hem” of the politician-preacher.  He was mobbed like the rock star he impersonates with his band Capitol Offense.  I asked two women in attendance why they were supporting Governor Huckabee.  One indicated that she was a Brownback supporter but couldn’t stomach it when the Kansas Senator threw his support to Sen. McCain.  The other woman said she was attracted to Huckabee because he “believed in God” and “lived it”. 

Organization is the gold standard of success in Iowa.  I have no doubt that Governor Romney’s team has mastered the art of the turnout in the Hawkeye State using traditional means.  That said, I sense there is a ”off the grid” turnout machine among Iowa churches and homeschool group who will generate a mighty turnout for Governor Huckabee. 

My strong sense is that Huckabee wins here next Thursday — recent foreign policy missteps notwithstanding. 

Some other Iowa observations:

Ron Paul’s supporters are crude and boorish.  They have no intention of persuading.  Their very intent is to offend — which they succeed in doing.  ‘Nuff said. 

Mayor Giuliani is going through the motions here.  His HQ is anemic compared to his rivals.  We drove nearly 45 minutes out of our way to see the Mayor at Funaro’s Deli and Bakery in Indianola.  When we arrived, Hizzoner’s SUV was already pulling away.  He had arrived 30 minutes early and I was told he did a 10 minute speech with no Q & A.  Other Giuliani supporters who had seen the speech were disappointed.  The Mayor is clearly just trying to stay relevant until the primary calendar grows more favorable.  It is not clear he is succeeding — even with those who support him. 

Fred Thompson’s campaign seems to have some kick.  During our 10-minute conversation with the Senator’s spokesman we observed many volunteers coming and going.  They seem enthused and are clearly hoping for a credible 3rd-place showing and may succeed.

Senator McCain’s office seems to reflect the resurgence of their candidate.  The HQ in Urbandale was filled to the rafters with enthused College Republican types who often seem to be the barometer of a successful campaign.  Thompson and McCain are battling for 3rd.  My sense of that McCain will take that slot.

Mitt Romney has the most impressive office space of any Iowa contender.  Curiously, it also seems the most disheveled.  When we introduced ourselves to a pleasant young spokesperson she seemed jumpy.  She was not enthused when our compatriot Barry Casselman introduced himself as a columnist for the Washington Times and did not seem eager to talk to the press.  These folks seemed disciplined and efficient, but nervous.  There seemed to be fewer volunteers coming and going than at other GOP HQs.  In fairness, we were only there for 10-15 minutes and this may not be a true reflection of goings-on.

We visited 2 Democrat campaigns Saturday.  Surprisingly, Joe Biden’s campaign headquarters is abuzz with young volunteers.  They seem to be resigned to a strong 4th-place showing but believe if Edwards doesn’t win Iowa they will win the equivalent of 3rd-place — and a ticket to move on to the next round.

Our last visit was to Barak Obama’s space.  A recent thaw had made a disaster out of the entryway as the carpeting was soaked with melted ice.  The enthusiasm of the college student who was in town from Washington state was not dampened by his desk’s proximity to the front door and the frequent drafts of icy-cold air that accompanied the comings and goings of legions of volunteers.  Obama’s people are true believers. 

My gut tells me the first-term senator from Illinois wins narrowly on January 3.

One more thing:  Des Moines’ 801 Steak and Chop House is a world-class steakhouse.  It rivals Morton’s, Manny’s and other great Midwestern purveyors of animal flesh.  It is a mandatory destination if you are in town for the caucuses next week.

UPDATE:  Yesterday I contacted all the top 5 GOP campaigns by phone attempting to get an itinerary.  The only campaign who did not pick up on the first or second ring was Romney’s.  In each of 3 attempts I was sent to voicemail where I identified myself as a blogger with Race 4 2008 hoping to shadow Governor Romney.  Today, more than 24 hours after my inquiry, I received a phone call from Mr. Smith with Sunday’s itinerary.  I don’t flatter myself to think that a lowly blogger should get an immediate call back, but this may serve as an anecdote of disorganization at Romney HQ. 

Zogby Iowa GOP Caucus Poll

• Mike Huckabee: 29% (25)
• Mitt Romney: 28% (26)
• John McCain: 11% (5)
• Fred Thompson: 8% (8)
• Rudy Giuliani: 8% (12)
• Ron Paul: 8% (5)

The daily tracking polls, which span December 26, through December 29, include 934 likely caucus–goers on the Democratic side and 867 likely Republican caucus–goers. The margin of error is 3.3 percentage points on the Democratic side, and 3.4 percentage points on the Republican side.

Yet another poll showing a tight race. Incidentally, this is the 5th straight poll that has Paul and Rudy tied exactly. What does a 6th place Iowa finish do to Rudy? Also, Intrade now has Romney and Huckabee at 50.0 and 50.1 respectively. In other words, we might have to invent something more precise than a dead heat to describe this race.

Mason Dixon Iowa GOP Caucus Poll

• Mitt Romney: 27% (20)
• Mike Huckabee: 23% (32)
• Fred Thompson: 14% (11)
• John McCain: 13% (7)
• Rudy Giuliani: 5% (5)
• Ron Paul: 5% (2)
• Duncan Hunter: 1%

This poll strikes me as huge news given that Mason-Dixon is considered one of the best polling firms around. With only a handful of polls left before Iowa, we’re looking at an absolute dead heat.

Update: The Mason-Dixon poll of 400 likely Republican caucus attendees in Iowa was conducted by telephone from Dec. 26-28. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points. Also, a few interesting internals: Romney has a +41 favorability rating, while Huckabee has a +23 favorability rating. 78% of Huckabee’s supporters say they’re probably sticking with him, compared to 65% who say they’re probably sticking with Romney. 48% of poll respondents identify as evangelicals, which seems to be about 10% higher then the typical Iowa poll.

This endorsement brings the number to 25 newspapers in New Hampshire and 5 in Iowa all backing John McCain for president. Here is the Telegraph’s rationale:

Eight years ago, when he was running as a political maverick against Republican establishment candidate George W. Bush, we endorsed John McCain for the GOP nomination for president of the United States.

We did so because of his integrity.

We did so because of his leadership.

We did so because of his forthrightness and his refusal to pander to voters by telling them what they wanted to hear.

A lot of things have changed in this country during these last eight years, starting with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which resulted in the tragic deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans and led to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

But not everything has changed. McCain is here once again, crisscrossing the Granite State in his Straight Talk Express tour bus, displaying the same integrity, vision and, yes, straight talk that marked his earlier, unsuccessful run for the presidency.

Oh, and one more thing hasn’t changed: our support.

Russert: It has been documented in several sources that you were willing to release felons early who have been “Born Again.” Would you be willing to release a Muslim convert who professes Allah while in prison or a convict who has converted to Mormonism? If not, would it be fair to describe this as a religious test?

Huckabee: Tim, Look we need to bring hope to this campaign and learn that we are all brothers. I intend to bring Hope to the White House.

Russert: So would it be a religious test to release someone from prison based on their faith?

Huckabee: Look I hate religious tests. That’s why I dropped out of Divinity school! (light hearted laughter.) Besides, I don’t think Article 5 of the Constitution forbids me from giving compassion to the destitute.

I haven’t found much time for politics lately, which is pretty rotten luck, since we’re in the homestretch of the primary process. But, there have been Christmas preparations, and a large amount of time with school friends who I haven’t seen in months, and who’ll more or less be dropping off the face of the earth for the next year or so. It’s been a hectic time, but things have settled down a bit, and I think I’ll be a pretty active from now on; I have a lot of catching up to do. I guess I’ll start from the beginning, chronologically.

Mitt Romney Marches with MLK

This was a relatively large speed bump in what was beginning to look like a Romney tailored road. If Romney fails to win the nomination, this will have been the most immediate contributor. But, as usual I think the damage here is more one of perception, then substance. His original gaffe struck me as both surreal and silly; increasingly silly, as we’re presented with real and momentous world crises in Pakistan. But, I can’t feel too badly for Romney here. He handled the situation poorly; the wound was self-inflicted and rent wide open by a still somewhat bare political tool-set. You take your lumps and hopefully you learn to duck next time. If Mitt wants to have a chance of winning the big game in November, he needs to find a poker face while we’re still using small antes.

The McCain Surge

I’m probably alone here among Romney supporters, but I couldn’t be more thrilled by the McCain surge. His rise has coincided with a Huckafade, which means that even if McCain fails to make much progress beyond NH, we still have plenty of good routes that avoid a Huckabee nomination. But, I sense that McCain has a real shot at winning the whole shebang, and again, I couldn’t be more thrilled by this. McCain’s my second choice and a fantastic general election candidate. If Romney stumbles, it’s good to know that someone like McCain waits in the wings.

Pakistan and Bhutto

Bhutto’s assassination might well be the most interesting development in months, from a political perspective. It elevates McCain and seems to be in the process of sinking Huckabee. It also allows us, as voters, to see the depth of foreign policy thinking of other candidates like Rudy, Mitt, and Fred. It’ll undoubtedly play a prominent role in the NH debates, and could potentially solidify shaky foreign policy credentials of a few candidates (Fred and Mitt) and tear down artificial edifices of strength (Rudy). Or vice versa. It’s a game changing event and it’ll be fascinating to see extended reactions in the coming weeks.

The State of the Race

With less then a week til Iowa, a few uncertainties have been resolved in my mind. First (and I say this with the sincerest respect for fellow contributor Tommy Oliver), Fred Thompson will not be the nominee. That seems obvious to some, but it’s significant enough that I feel it’s worth stating. Various moments come in a campaign, or in any endeavor, where the “possible” is pushed aside in favor of the probable; where cold hard reality rolls over blithe idealism and where serious analysis doesn’t admit of certain possibilities. With Thompson trailing by 20 in Iowa, considerably more in NH, and by a dozen in his firewall of South Carolina, this seems emphatically like one of those moments. That doesn’t mean his supporters should abandon him; democracy thrives on irrepressible idealists willing to fight the good fight when no one else will. But, this isn’t Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In real life, more often then not, when Jimmy Stewart collapses senators yawn and go back to “graft, and greed, and lies”.

Rudy’s position has also clarified mildly. It’s now possible to imagine a truly split field if Huck holds off Romney in Iowa (Huck wins Iowa, but collapses everywhere else under the weight of his ineptitude, McCain wins in NH but the increased scrutiny reminds Republicans why they disliked him, Thompson essentially disappears, and Romney manages a surprise win in South Carolina where he’s currently in a solid second). In other words, it’s possible to imagine Rudy holding on in Florida and carrying off his wild, utterly mad strategy.

Beyond that, this race looks every bit the same exciting muddle of two weeks ago. Romney still has a clear and extremely viable pathway to the nomination. But, you can’t help but feel as though he’s a hairsbreadth away from complete collapse as well. McCain’s resurgence puts him in a solid position, but even more then Romney or Huckabee, his eggs are concentrated in a single basket. He’s a bad bit of thatching away from irrelevancy. Any one, or all three of these early state juggernauts could be faced with an immovable wall. There are better and worse bets about how the next few weeks are going to shake out, but as long we’re talking about the 4 big contenders, I don’t think there are necessarily any stupid bets. In short, we’re in for an awfully exciting ride.

Recent events demand that our presidential candidates (as well as elected officials and chattering class) add some items to their agenda now, while the Summers-iron in winter is hot.

Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard College President, Larry Summers, now liberated from the PC world that crucified and excommunicated him for stating the obvious fact that men and women are different, is advocating large tax cuts, now, IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE BUSH TAX CUTS PERMANENT in 2009, in order to ensure that the US avoids a recession made possible by high gas prices and the sub-prime credit crunch.

God bless this man. His proposal reminds me of the wisdom of then President and Vice-President elect Bush and Cheney’s call for tax cuts in order to combat the recession they saw post the Tech-stock bubble.

The candidates and elected Republicans should also demand repeal of the recently passed and ignobly signed by President Bush energy bill that I and David Hinz consider his first true sell out to the Dems. (His other transgressions were telegraphed via his 2000 campaign)

See HinzSight wisdom on energy bill here.

These issues, as well as the Dem’s opposition to tough illegal immigration measures and the link to the Dem’s obvious plan to allow illegals to vote via motor-voter laws; weakness on defense; and hostility to Americans of faith and the life issue should ensure a GOP victory in the Race 4 2008.

Our candidates should also emphasize the need to ensure our capability and will to secure Pakistan’s nukes via US special ops military action , if necessary, as well as stability and support or Pervez Musharraf, now, in the aftermath of the assassination of Bhutto.

If we call out the Dem’s dependence on illegal voters, appeasement foreign policy, food price raising global warming religion, and the above, we can escape the minority next year.

We should also call for a cut in federal gasoline prices and make speeches in low income neighborhoods on this. We should beat Dems to the punch in appealing to lower income families that are squeezed by gas and “sin” taxes, as well as the credit crunch.

We could be issuing Majority Reports in two years if we do all this.

Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
The HinzSight Report

Huck is history in the Race 4 2008
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
FRED08

Surely a blow to the Team Huckabee, and a strong message to Iowa Christian Voters:

Officials with the group typically avoid making public endorsements because of their tax-exempt status, but Mr. Hurd blurted out his decision tonight in what felt like a bit of an accident.

“I’ll tell you a little secret,” he told the audience of more than 200 people. “I haven’t told anybody else this. I’ll tell this secret out here. Next Thursday, when I go to the caucuses, I’m going to cast my vote for Governor Mitt Romney.”

Neither Mr. Hurd, nor Mr. Romney, who took the microphone afterward, identified Mr. Hurd as the chairman of the Alliance’s board.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to endorse a candidate,” said Mr. Hurd afterward, when the Caucus approached him. “I hope I don’t get in trouble.”

Mr. Hurd downplayed the weight of his endorsement, but Tim Albrecht, Mr. Romney’s Iowa campaign spokeman, called it a “huge validator.” Link

While a public endorsement of Romney by Hurd was a surprise, I am positive that Mr. Hurd’s support of Romney was not to insiders. Calling Jeff Fuller! Any details you want to chime in with are appreciated.

Getting The Story Straight

Every once in a while I am more thankful than ever for today’s technology which allows me to talk to you directly instead of having to go through the filter of the main stream media.Some of them are intent on making the outcome of the campaign dependent upon their pre-conceived notions. Every once in a while their incomplete and slanted coverage makes this clear.

Today I had this story written about me regarding what I said at a Town Hall event in Burlington, Iowa by a reporter who wasn’t even at the event. Incidentally, I declined to be interviewed by this particular reporter yesterday for reasons which will soon be apparent.

In referring to me, she reported “he doesn’t like modern campaigning, isn’t interested in running for President, and will not be devastated” if he doesn’t win.

Below is a transcript of what I actually said in response to a question by a local Burlington resident which was the basis of the reporter’s story.

It is clear that there are those in the media who will exact a high price for candor and from those whom they consider to be insufficiently ambitious. But it is with increasing amazement that we see that those who are willing to slant or leave out important parts of a story to make their point.

If a candidate succumbs to this he will be reduced to nothing more than a sound bite machine.

As for me I am going to continue to say exactly what is in my heart and is on my mind and give straight and honest answers to those who ask straight and honest questions.

Incidentally, the audience in Burlington broke into applause in the middle of my answer. The reporter wouldn’t know that because she wasn’t even there.

-Fred Thompson

Crossposted from Red State Read the official transcript of the interview at the link.

Ok, ok. Here’s the ARG poll that everyone in the comments has been talking about.

ARG Iowa GOP Caucus

• Mitt Romney 32% (21%)
• Mike Huckabee 23% (23%)
• John McCain 11% (17%)
• Fred Thompson 7% (3%)
• Rudy Giuliani 6% (14%)
• Ron Paul 6% (10%)

Sample Size: 600 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of likely Republican caucus goers living in Iowa. December 26-28, 2007. Margin of Error: ± 4 percentage points.

I don’t buy this poll at all. Romney’s campaign conducts regular internal polling in Iowa and so there would be no way that he’d be launching these anti-Huckabee ads if his polling showed that he was 9 points ahead of Huck. Also, I find it hard to believe that McCain dropped 6 points after his spent three days in the state and generated bigger crowds and media buzz then he’s had in months.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T-iJKwskH4[/youtube]

Read this garbage:

PLAISTOW, N.H. — Ron Paul said the decision to exclude him from a debate on Fox News Sunday the weekend before the New Hampshire Primary is proof that the network “is scared” of him.

“They are scared of me and don’t want my message to get out, but it will,” Paul said in an interview at a diner here. “They are propagandists for this war and I challenge them on the notion that they are conservative.”

Paul’s staff said they are beginning to plan a rally that will take place at the same time the 90-minute debate will air on television. It will be taped at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown.

“They will not win this skirmish,” he promised.

The Fox debate occurs less than 24 hours after two back to back Republican and Democratic debates on the same campus sponsored by ABC News, WMUR-TV and the social networking website Facebook.

Paul, the Republican Texas Congressman, was wrapping up his final day of campaigning in New Hampshire until the Iowa Caucuses on Thursday.

He spent much of the day campaigning at diners in Manchester and Plaistow and downtown walks in Derry and Exeter.

You know something? If all of these so called “conservatives” in the party want to black out candidates, then they are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. Ron Paul is not Allen Keyes or Jon Cox. He has every right to be at the debate.

The folks who are supporting this are probably crying about CFR, since they don’t mind it as long as they can control what the candidate says, but they want to shut someone out who doesn’t share the same views? I would understand if Paul was irrelevant in this election cycle, but he’s not.

Speaking for a lot of Fred Thompson supporters, this isn’t what we believe in and Paul doesn’t deserve this type of treatment.

from Redstate’s Erick:

Jill Lawrence pulls a Roger Simon
By Erick

By now we should all be familiar with Roger Simon’s stunt. Fred Thompson, failing to bow down before Roger Simon, saw a campaign stop totally mischaracterized by Roger Simon. What was a light hearted moment turned into a moment of campaign ineptitude in Roger Simon’s eyes. Luckily the moment was caught on film and the world could see for itself that Roger Simon was full of crap.

It’s happened again.

Jill Lawrence, no doubt feeling slighted by the campaign for not getting a one on one with FDT, had her revenge in USA Today. She writes:

Bill Theobald of Gannett News Service … quotes [Fred Thompson] saying he doesn’t like modern campaigning, isn’t that interested in running for president and “will not be devastated” if he doesn’t win.

After putting that up, she had to correct herself when Bill Theobald told her she got it wrong.

Bill calls to clarify that Thompson said he doesn’t like the process of running for president but he does want to BE president.

Perhaps she could have gotten it right the first time. After all, it wasn’t even her own first hand reporting. She was reporting on what another reporter reported. Maybe if she didn’t feel her ego had been slighted by the Thompson campaign she would have tried to, you know, get it right the first time.

By the way, the Thompson camp was kind enough to send me a transcript so we can see for ourselves just how inaccurate Jill Lawrence’s third hand reporting was. The question was, “Do you want to be President?” Based on the question and just the first ten words, you’d think Jill Lawrence could have gotten it right:

The first place, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be doing this. I grew up in very modest circumstances. I left government and I and my family have made sacrifices to be sitting here today. I haven’t had any income for a long time because I figured to be clean, you’ve got to cut everything off. I was doing speaking engagements and I had a contract to do a tv show. I had a contract with ABC radio…and so forth. A man would have to be a total fool to do all those things and to be leaving his family which is not a joyful thing if he didn”t want to do it.

I am not consumed by personal ambition. I will not be devastated if I don’t do it. I want the people to have the best president they can have.

And you wonder why I defend Thompson against the lazy charge.

UPDATE: Of course, this was all videotaped AGAIN and aired on CSPAN, and once again, the press can bite me and my red pick up. Jim Geraghty has more:

But having now seen video of the event, the account appears to be a pretty selective take on it. Thompson appears to be at a Q & A with an event host, and a questioner asks, “if I caucus for you next week, are you still going to be there two months from now?”

The event host says, “Senator, you were a little bit late getting into the race.”

Fred responds, “The fact of the matter is, others started this process a lot earlier this time than they normally do.”

“Right after the last election.” (some laughter)

“I think that for some of them, they were juniors in high school.” More laughter, applause, and then this lengthy answer from Thompson transcribed by your friendly neighborhood campaign correspondent:

“That is a very good question… Not because it’s difficult to answer, but because I’m gonna answer a little bit of a different way than what you might expect. In the first is wanting the opporunity. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t. I grew up in very modest circumstances. And I left government and I and my family have made sacrifices for me to be sitting here today. I haven’t had any income for a long time because I’m doing this. I figure if you’re gonna be clean, you have to cut the [unintelligible] off. And I was doing speaking engagements, and I had a contract to do a TV show, I had a contract with ABC radio like I was talking about earlier and so forth… I guess one would have to be a total fool to do all of those things and to be leaving his family, which is not a joyful thing at all… if you didn’t want to do it.

But I am not consumed by personal ambition. I will not be devastated if I don’t do it. I want the people to have the best president they can have. (applause) When his talk first started it didn’t originate with me. There are a lot of people around the country and both directly and through polls… liked the idea of me stepping up. And of course, you always look better at a distance, I guess. (laughter) But most of those people are still there and think it’s a good idea.

I approach it from the standpoint of a deal… Of kind of a marriage. You know, if one side of the marriage has to be really talked into the marriage, you know, it’s probably not going to be a very good deal for either one of them. But if you mutually think that this is a good thing – in this case, if you think this is a good thing for the country, the you have the opportunity to do some wonderful things together. I’m offering myself up. I’m saying that if I have the background, the capability and the concern to do this and I’m doing this for the right reasons… but I’m not particularly interested in running for president, but I think I’d make a good president. Nowadays, the process has become much more important than I think it used to be.

I don’t know if they ever asked George Washington a question like this. I don’t know if they ever asked Dwight D. Eisenhower a question like this. Nowadays it’s all about fire in the belly. I’m not sure that in the world we live in today, it’s a terribly good thing for a president to have too much fire in his belly.

I approach life differently than a lot of people. People, I guess, are wondering how I’ve been as successful as I’ve been in everything I’ve done. I’ve won two races in Tennessee by twenty points in a state Bill Clinton carried twice. I had never run for office before. I’ve never had an acting lesson, and I guess that’s obvious. (laughter). When I did it, I did it. It wasn’t just a lark. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I’ve always been a little more laid back than most. I like to say I’m only consumed by very few things, and politics is not one of them. The welfare of my country, and my kids and grandkids, growing up, is one of them. (applause)

If what people really want in their president is a super type A personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about, for years how they can be president of the United States… someone who can look you straight in the eye and say they’ve enjoyed every minute of campaigning… (laughter) I ain’t that guy. (more laughter) [To questioner] So I hope I’ve discussed that, or I haven’t talked you out of anything. I honestly want… I can’t imagine a worse set of circumstances than achieving the presidency under a false pretenses, especially if you feel the way I do. I’ve gone out of my way to be myself, because I don’t want anybody to think they’re getting something they’re not getting. I’m not consumed by this process, I’m not consumed with the notion of being president. I’m simply saying I’m willing to do what’s necessary to achieve it if I’m in sync with the people. And if the people want me, or somebody like me, I will do what I’ve always done with everything else in my life. I will take it on and do a good job. You’ll have the disadvantage of having someone who probably cna’t jump up and click their heels three times, but will tell you the truth. And you’ll know where the president stands at all times.”

FirstRead’s Bethany Thomas was on the Straight Talk Express when news of Romney’s latest attack ad broke and caught McCain’s response to it:

On the Straight Talk Express between two town halls in New Hampshire, news broke that the Romney camp had released a new negative ad against McCain.

After McCain was read the script of the ad from a journalist’s blackberry, he said he was not surprised by the new attack, the second in such days. “I think we expected it… We did have a response ad and I think it’s effective. But for us to get down in that tit for tat — we’re just not going to do that.”

Senior strategist Charlie Black said the voters will question Romney — not McCain — over the latest round of ads. “The biggest issue in the race right now is not what [McCain] says on any specific issue. It’s Romney’s credibility.”

One of the topics taken into question by Romney: McCain’s stance on Social Security for illegal immigrants. McCain’s response: “They’re talking about the Social Security thing. How a person who is here illegally under a false name is ever going to get Social Security — you can’t do it.”

The McCain campaign responded with an ad Friday that Black says will hold its own, no matter how many more ads Romney puts out. “Look, he can throw up six more ads between now and [January 8] that say all kinds of stuff, but the people won’t believe it… He’s stuck somewhere around 30% and [McCain's] moving [in the polls].”

McCain: “I think it’s very important for us to say. ‘Look, we responded to his attacks with the quotes from two leading newspapers and that’s our response.’ For us to just keep going back and forth — that’s just not something, that’s not productive.

What’s so astonishing about Romney’s latest ads is that he claims that John McCain supports giving illegal immigrants Social Security benefits, which is completely untrue. After all, speaking on the Senate floor last year, McCain said:

“Under current law, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Social Security benefits which I think is entirely appropriate.” (John McCain, Congressional Record, S4744, 5/18/06)

That’s not all though. Mitt Romney himself explicitly defended McCain’s immigration plan (even mentioning him by name) back in 2005 when he told the Boston Globe that not only was McCain’s plan not amnesty but that illegal immigrants would not receive any kind of government-provided benefits. And yet here he is claiming the exact opposite in two attack ads this week.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDVKWBVk6xA[/youtube]

The sheer audacity of Mitt Romney is mind boggling.

Here is my third post in response to Joe Carter and Mike Huckabee’s foreign policy agenda. The first one can be found here, and the second one can be found here.

Last night in my amusement, I neglected to mention Joe Carter’s (the research director for Huckabee) bullet points that he said were covered in Huckabee’s article for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Carter made the points as an add on, or companion piece, to Huckabee’s article. Of course, in my annoyed and amused state of mind, I blasted off some rhetoric that I probably shouldn’t have (not in my posts here, but elsewhere), and that was a little uncalled for. So, let me get a few more of my petty criticisms out of the way.

Joe Carter: “I’ll confess that I thought the style of the paper was lacking while I find the substance quite meritorious.”

Mr. Carter said yesterday that Mr. Huckabee began working on the piece in November. Uhh… that’s not something I would advertise. He spent a month writing that? Second petty criticism: it’s not necessarily promising that one of Huckabee’s advisor’s has to provide bullet points to cover for the governor’s unintelligible piece that he apparently spent a great deal of time contemplating over, recieving foreign policy advice from the likes of John Bolton. Oh, wait a minute, scratch that last part. My mistake.

Let’s do a little comparison. Here’s one that someone else actually pointed out

Carter’s bullet point: we should support and continue President Bush’s new sanctions against Iran, his decision to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, and the classifications of al Quds force as a supporter of terrorism.

Now, compare it to this from Huckabee’s article:

“The Bush administration’s arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad.”

Sounds like spin to me. However, let’s not sell ourselves short on that minor point. Credit goes to a poster at Carter’s blog for pointing that out to me.

Carter’s Point: American foreign policy should not be focused on squabbles with other nations but rather united with other countries in our global fight against the terrorists.

Carter’s Point: The U.S. must never surrender any of our sovereignty.

Those are the overview points made by Carter. While reading them, I felt like I was reading a post debate reaction press release from the Romney campaign (Romney’s team does the best job of pulling some of really random quotes out of post-debate analysis). It sounds really nice. What makes the Huckabee plan to “not be focused on squabbles with other nations but rather united with other countries in our global fight against the terrorists” work? Buy them some “Kentucky Fried Chicken” and a ice cold “Coca Cola?”

Bullet Point: The goal in the Arab and Muslim worlds will be to calibrate a course between maintaining stability and promoting democracy. We must not act too hastily but we must act. Specifically, we can help by aiding or promoting basic sanitation, health care, education, jobs, a free press, and fair court systems within these areas.

This sounds like either nation building or following the Bush doctrine. Neither one is going to help the Middle East respect us more. That’s naive (there’s that word again). It sounds like it will cost a lot of money and our troops will be policing their communities for a long time. That may not be the wrong direction, but it’s not going to help us fight corrupt, tyrannical regimes. Usually, when Americans are nice to people in those positions, then they respond with more suicide bombers, which is why many of their citizens are so apprehensive to us being there in the first place.

Bullet Point: We should reestablish diplomatic relations with Iran but only after the Iranians have made concessions that serve to create a less hostile relationship.

Ahmadinejad. Enough said. I guess I have to keep refering to myself when I asked a few weeks ago:

Isn’t the Iranian government the same one that swears to “wipe Israel off the map” and to continue to argue the Holocaust-as-myth propaganda? Is the United States’ relationship with Iran really akin to that of a relationship of siblings, friends, or parental guidance?

Here’s one of my favorite references from the bullet points:

Bullet Point: Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.

Uh oh… the NIE report, which Governor Huckabee didn’t read, has been met with a lot of skepticism… but he did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Don’t these little one liners get old? But hey, the Tehran Times calls it a complete fiasco. Those Iran newspapers do like Mike! Oh well, we can all relax as the Iranians revel without nuclear reactors.

See my concerns? I conclude once again with another brilliant note from BOB DOLE in his response to Huckabee’s article:

The Foreign Affairs piece is a perfect example of 20-20 hindsight, and wishful thinking in most instances. You make knotty foreign policy issues sound so easy if we would just change our ways. I never was a foreign policy expert though I followed it closely for nearly three decades under Democrat and Republican Presidents.

Dole says that he was no “foreign policy expert, but he did follow it closely for nearly three decades under Democrat and Republican Presidents” …but at least he didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Ahh, the joys of Operation Uncle Remus…

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=xzQCev3BOq4[/youtube]

UPDATE: One of my favorite bloggers, the always informed and well thought out Pejman Yousefzadeh, wrote this headline over at Redstate:

“The Mike Huckabee For President Campaign: Where Knowledge Of World Affairs Comes To Die”

He is SLICK… And I am not talking about Mitt Romney…

From Jonathan Martin:

Mike Huckabee has to date refused to hit back at Mitt Romney on TV, but now a third-party group supporting the Arkansan has gone on the air with a tough spot in Iowa hammering the former Massachusetts governor for his abortion shift.

“Trust Huckabee,” which has previously only done automated phone calls, released the ad today.

A spokesman for the group declined to say how extensive the buy is.

The ad essentially does what most candidates would do on their own. It plays an excerpt from Romney’s own negative ad at the top before the classic needle-on-the-record screech. Then comes some now-famous YouTube footage from Romney’s ’94 and ’02 campaigns where he affirms his support of abortion rights before offering his declaration of now being pro-life.

And then: “On the most fundamental issue, shouldn’t we trust a man who’s always been consistent?”

Huckabee’s name isn’t mentioned but his picture is there to make the point.

The candidate himself has repeatedly disavowed the group, though it is funded by some of his own top donors.

Ok, I really don’t buy Huckabee’s “disavowing” the group. I’m sure there are high fives all around in the warroom.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeUK0N6D3co[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmhaypWwFPY[/youtube]

Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

• Rudy Giuliani 19%
• Mike Huckabee 17%
• John McCain 14%
• Mitt Romney 14%
• Fred Thompson 13%
• Ron Paul 6%
• Undecided 14%

Survey of approximately 600-650 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted December 20, 26-28. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.

Rudy Giuliani

• Rudy pins hopes on late victories
• Interview: Giuliani Says He’s No Novice
  by Ron Fournier
• Giuliani vows to fight terrorists aggressively
• Giuliani Says He Has “The Best Chance of Winning”
• CNBC Video: Giuliani on his Foreign Security Experience
  Mayor Giuliani tells CNBC’s John Harwood that his foreign policy experience as the 3rd highest ranking official in the Reagan Justice Department, as Mayor of New York, and in international business have prepared him to keep America safe and on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.
• Giuliani Defends His Absence From Iowa
  Candidate Says His Focus Is on a Nationwide Campaign
• Rudy Giuliani in Mount Pleasant, Iowa
• Giuliani wistful for Iowa of old
• Giuliani’s Defiant Streak Showed Up As A Toddler. It’s Still There
• Giuliani Defends Iowa Absence
• Giuliani goes low-key ahead of Iowa caucus
• Giuliani Discusses Health Care In Rare Iowa Stop
• Terrorism, law enforcement are focus of Rudy Giuliani’s Orlando visit
• Giuliani back in Florida on Thursday
• Giuliani stresses economy, pre-9/11 work in last day in Iowa
• Giuliani touts his handling of Sept. 11 in Iowa talk
• Missing Rudy returns to Iowa
• Giuliani touts experience
• Giuliani stresses economy, pre-9/11 work in last day in Iowa
• Giuliani tells caucus volunteers he’s counting on them — and the next 29 contests
• Rudy’s Last Iowa Stand
• Giuliani: Happy New Year, Iowa, and goodbye
• MSNBC Video: Rudy on Hardball
  Mayor Rudy Giuliani sat down with Hardball’s Chris Matthews and talked about his commitment to keep American on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us, saying he is the best person to lead America.
• Hannity Lowry & Colmes Video: Rudy: We Must Help Stabilize Pakistan
  Mayor Rudy Giuliani discussed his commitment to stay on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us and the need to help Pakistan maintain stability and apprehend those responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
• Giuliani’s Iowa Swan Song
• Giuliani makes rare visit to Iowa
• Rudy’s ‘Values Coalition’ Pamphlet
• Giuliani makes pitch in central Iowa for personal health insurance and accounts
• Giuliani Expresses Respect For The Muslim Religion
• Rudy Giuliani Veterans’ Co-Chairman Resigns Over Muslim Remarks
• Giuliani In Orlando: I Need Your Help
  GOPer Speaks At Memorial To Fallen Officers
• Giuliani’s Angel Posse
• Giuliani, Seeking to Gain Ground, Returns to a Familiar Theme: 9/11
• Giuliani Speaks In Front Of Orange County Courthouse
• Giuliani courts Florida voters
• Giuliani stumps in Orlando before leaving the Sunshine State
• Giuliani Picks Up State Troopers’ Endorsement
• Forbes: Rudy can deliver ‘blue state’ streak
• Forbes: Giuliani doesn’t need N.H.
  Multimillionaire says ex-mayor in marathon
• Forbes fights to turn round his political fortune
• Giuliani won’t say what an Iowa success would be

Mike Huckabee

• Shake, Rattle and Roil the Grand Ol’ Coalition
• Huckabee drops ‘R-bombs’ in Iowa
• Here’s Huckabee, but first a word
  In Iowa, hundreds sit through pitch before main event
• Huckabee’s foreign affairs lapses
• Mike Huckabee: ‘A man of his word’
• Huckabee still hunting for votes
• Huckabee Has Heart, And It May Be Enough
• Muck Hickabee: The Too Compassionate Conservative
• Huckabee says Romney is ‘dishonest’
• How Far He’s Come
• Huckabee Outdraws Romney, Big Time
• Foreign policy gaffes plague Huckabee
• No More Mr. Nice Guy
• Huckabee Continues Hitting Back
• Politics abroad foreign to Huckabee
• Pro-Huck group goes up on Iowa TV hitting Mitt
• As Huckabee gains steam, establishment sees a threat
  Upstart candidate breaking GOP mold
• Huck Hearts McCain … For Good Reason
• Huckabee Stirs Immigration Debate
• Huckabee claims cash gusher
• Bolton denies he is a Huckabee adviser
• Huckabee Advisor: Huck Has “No Foreign Policy Credentials”
• For Huckabee, Immigrant Threat Heightened by Events in Pakistan
• Huckabee’s Unusual Closing Speech
• Huck DOES respond to Mitt shots
• Huckabee paints Romney as a desperate candidate
• Thompson Boots Bhutto ‘Apology’
• On Upswing, Huckabee Attracts Funds, Backers
  But the Volume Makes Vetting More Difficult
• Huckabee: Don’t vote against rival Romney just because he’s Mormon
  GOP rival says Mitt’s economic record is better reason
• Utahns are heating up phone lines to Iowa
• The Context of Huck’s Devilish Question
• Huck just keeps taking it on the chin…
  …and at times he’s doing the punching.

John McCain

• Nashua Telegraph: McCain our choice for GOP nomination
• Concord Monitor Endorsement: Republicans’ best choice is John McCain
• McCain Doesn’t Want Tit-for-Tat with Mitt
• McCain Finished Rebutting Romney
• Did McCain call Romney a ‘pig’?
• “Phony” “Pig” (Is McCain Losing It?)
• McCain, not Romney
• Back in the hunt?
  Better news in Iraq, weak field made McCain’s obits premature
• McCain says Pakistan unrest points to value of experience
• Hannity & Colmes Video: McCain on Lieberman for VP
• McCain could be comeback codger
• McCain On “Hannity & Colmes”
• McCain: ‘I am legend’
• McCain arrives in NH for one last push
  Candidate to remain through primary
• McCain Begins New Hampshire Blitz
• Fighting Mitt With Mitt
  A sneak preview of John McCain’s secret anti-Romney ad.
• McCain hits back at Romney with tough new NH spot
• Another former Mass. governor campaigns with McCain
• John McCain, ready for service
• McCain’s ‘secret Anti-Romney Ad’
• Newsweek Video Profile: John McCain
  John McCain is an iconoclast in Republican ranks which he’s hoping will translate into votes.
• McCain to Romney: ‘Try to relax, Mitt’
• McCain Outspoken in Defense of Musharraf
• Blogger works for firm paid by McCain

Mitt Romney

• ‘Iowa first’ – Romney’s future may depend on results of 3 state contests
  Thursday’s caucus is a key test
• Romney plays it safe during campaign blitz
• Romney tells voters election is about ‘future’
• Romney On The Latest Bin Laden Tape And, Yes, Another Huckabee Foreign Policy Gaffe
• Romney Presents Contrasting Styles
• Hugh Hewitt interviews Mitt Romney on the campaign trail in Iowa
• Romney’s Closing Argument
  by Noam Scheiber
• Is Mitt Miffing Midwest Mormons?
• Romney Emphasizes Family In Final Push
• Romney Is Betting Big To Win Big
• Mitt Romney Down For The Count?
• Scenes from the trail: Romney supporter comes around
• Attacking McCain’s record seen as risky for Romney
• First Look: Romney’s Second Immigration Ad
• Romney officials approved clinic loan
  Worcester facility to provide abortions
• Planned Parenthood launches anti-Mitt clothing line
• Unfiled paperwork let Tavares out early
  Correction chief: Romney group failed
• Romney fails the test
• Romney cites record on positive changes
  Switches pitch in final run to Iowa caucuses
• FactCheck.org: More Mitt Malarkey
  Romney repeats misleading claims about McCain’s stand on immigration and his own record on taxes.
• Romney Eyes Huckabee Lead
  Onetime Favorite Launches 11th-Hour Attacks
• Video: Romney responds angrily to McCain ad
  Romney also defends his own negative ad against Mike Huckabee, saying the allegations in it are true.
• Mitt Romney Ad Watch: ‘There is a difference’
• Romney fights dirty as polls suggest lead is slipping
• Newsweek Video Profile: Mitt Romney
  Mitt Romney is hoping voters focus on his political experience, not his faith.
• Romney Begins Final Iowa Push
• Mitt Romney Stumps Through Siouxland
• Romney Unveils Ads Against 2 Rivals
• Romney’s Not So Secret Weapon
• Romney: Not running for pastor
• Romney: I’m not a ‘one-hit wonder’

Fred Thompson

• Thompson: Too Much Belly Fire Not Good
• South Carolina Important for Thompson
  For late-starting Southerner polling weak elsewhere, state may be his best bet
• Thompson expects to surprise in Iowa
• Do You Have the ‘Desire’ to Be President?
• Thompson says he’s interested in serving, not running for president
• Thompson: Doesn’t like campaign process, ‘will not be devastated’ if he loses
• Fred Thompson, Knifed By Half-Quotes Again
• Can Fred Thompson Turn It Around?
  GOP Candidate Is Optimistic, But An Expert Thinks His Late Start Continues To Hurt Him
• Thompson says U.S. ‘one terrorist plot’ from disaster
• Campaigning in Iowa, candidate steers attack to his security message
• New Thompson Iowa Ad Touts Conservatism
• New Thompson Ad: The Iowa Message
• Coming Up on ‘FOX News Sunday’: Fred Thompson and David Yepsen
• Political Play of the Day: Neither Iowa snow, nor cold deters Thompson

General Race 4 2008 News

• Letter to the Troops
  by General David Petraeus
• Now the voters get their chance : Oh, the possibilities
  The candidates have been talking for months. This week, the voters start talking.
• Finally, the election year is almost here
  By Carl Leubsdorf
• Global warming … or just a lot of hot air?
• FACTBOX: Iowa caucus: small turnout, big impact
• FACTBOX: Iowa caucuses: past results
• Sorting Truth From Campaign Fiction
• Bogus S. C. Card Cites Mormon Passages
• Richelieu: I could be wrong…
• Bipartisan Group Eyes Independent Bid
  First, Main Candidates Urged To Plan ‘Unity’ Government
  By David Broder
• Candidates hammer home message in Iowa
• Ron Paul Out-Foxed?
• New Year’s Resolution for Republicans: End Earmarks
  By Robert Bluey
• Edwards outlines case for electability
• Nuclear power gets boost from candidates
  Except for Edwards, top contenders in the GOP and Democratic races consider it a possible energy solution.
• Bhutto’s assassination brings foreign policy back into focus
• Intrade Update – GOP Nomination
• Intrade Update – GOP Iowa Caucus
• Intrade Update – GOP New Hampshire Primary
• Welcome to Rasmussen Markets™!
• In Iowa, Weather Forecast Is Now a Top Focus for Candidates
• How to Divine Foreign Policy of Candidates
• Candidates Digging for a Deeper Pool of Iowa Voters
• Candidates work Iowa, vote by vote
  A thaw in the weather enables 10 presidential hopefuls to schedule more than 40 events across the key early-polling state. But between some candidates, the chill continues.
• NRO’s Jim Geraghty year end political predictions and analysis
• Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer give year end predictions for Iowa and New Hampshire
• Washington Post The Fix blogger Chris Cillizza gives analysis of Iowa and New Hampshire, one week out from the Iowa Caucus
• Commentary Magazine’s John Podhoretz on the presidential race a week out from Iowa, and the impact of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan
• In N.H., McCain, 25, Romney, 0
• Rudy “Goes After His Enemies, And You Know, McCain’s Problem Is That He Has A Certain Hunger To Go After His Friends. That’s The McCain Problem.”
• Huckabee Slipping
  by Robert Novak
• Opening Day
  Iowa means more to the Democrats this year.
• The Battle for 3rd In Iowa
• Iowa Could Make or Break Democrats
• The Coming Spin War Over Iowa’s Results
• Romney-McCain battle heats up in New Hampshire
• Romney, Huckabee tensions grow
• McCain, Romney heat up New Hampshire airwaves
• Edwards Evokes Nation at Risk; McCain and Romney Wage Ad War
• Romney, McCain focus firepower on New Hampshire
• Romney-McCain sniping intensifies
• Closing arguments
  By Politico Staff
• Ron Paul’s Evolution Denial
• Edwards Pledges Ban on Lobbyists
• National security not a second-tier issue
• Grading the Candidates on Pakistan
• Dangerous indifference
  by David Frum
• In Iowa, political forecast is futile
• Rudy and Mitt In Iowa
• Looking for candidates this weekend? Try Iowa
• It’s not heaven; it’s just Iowa
  Who gave this state the magic power to pick the free world’s next leader?
• And they’re off and writing in the great race to the White House
  As US presidential primaries kick off, the hopefuls are fighting it out in bookshops as well as on the hustings
• Candidates Tread Warily in Iowa
• Tensions rise as 2008 White House votes loom
• Paul: Fox News is ‘scared of me’
• Candidates run (literally) for White House
• Bush balks at signing defense bill
  The measure has a provision that could tie up Iraqi assets in U.S. lawsuits. Democratic leaders criticize the administration for not objecting to it before it was passed.
• In Surprise Step, Bush Vows Veto of Military Bill
• Bush rejects defense bill by pocket veto
• Health Care Industry Braces For ’08
• Ex-Govs Face Foreign Policy Questions
  GOP Ex-Governors Face Questions of Foreign Policy Credentials Amid Pakistan Violence
• A Voice for Freedom
  U.S.-backed broadcasts remain the ultimate in “soft power.”
• Bin Laden Issues Warning on Iraq, Israel
• Bin Laden urges against US ‘plots’
• Bin Laden says U.S. seeks to exploit Iraqi oil
• U.S. and Iraqi commanders hail security
• Bin Laden warns Iraqi Sunnis
  In new audiotape, he warns them against joining anti-al-Qaida councils
• Pakistan accuses al Qaeda of killing Bhutto
• The Pakistan Test
  Some presidential candidates show they can respond quickly to a foreign policy crisis. Some flunk or foul.
• Pakistan Says Bhutto’s Death Has Qaeda Link
• U.S. gave Bhutto intelligence on dangers she faced
• Pakistan releases al-Qaeda call text
• Qaeda Network Expands Base in Pakistan
• Bhutto party accuses government
• Pakistan Violence Threatens Rule Of Musharraf
• Bhutto’s Jihadist Enemies
• Target: Pakistan
  Losing in the West, the jihadis hit Pakistan, with its nuclear prize.
• U.S. Fears Greater Turmoil In Region
  Pakistan’s Crisis Could Affect War In Afghanistan
  By Thomas Ricks and Robin Wright
• Bhutto’s Last Moments
  Video of the moment when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated has been released along with more details of shooting and blast.
• The Bhutto Assassination: Not What She Seemed to Be
  By Ralph Peters
• Benazir Bhutto, 54, Weathered Political Storm
  by John Burns
• Crisis Overseas Is Sudden Test for Candidates
• Pakistani attack targets freedom
• Clinton and Obama exploit Pakistan crisis
• Lessons From The Surge
  by Michael Barone
• College Women and Blue Collar Men:
  Holding the Democratic Primary Nomination in Their Hands
  by Ron Brownstein
• Which Democrat is a winner?
  With the Iowa caucuses looming, victory-hungry Democrats want to know — who is the most “electable”? Here’s our best (totally wild) guess as to how each candidate might fare in November.
  By Walter Shapiro
• On The Trail: John Edwards strikes populist tone
• This is showtime, folks, let’s pick a president
  On Thursday the Midwest state of Iowa kicks off the 2008 US election battle. With the field wide open, the candidates are desperate to make an early impact
• Predictions 2008
  What may come.
  An NRO Symposium
• Odds And Ends … With Six Days And Counting
• Obama Seeks Live TV Commercial on Caucus Eve
  Obama, Clinton Battle for Iowa TV Commercial Time Night Before Caucuses
• John Edwards: Obama ‘Living in Never-Never Land’?
  Edwards Criticizes Rivals as the Campaign in Iowa Enters the Home Stretch
• Dodd unloads on Obama and Clinton
• Friday night fight II
• In Iowa, Candidates Confront The Press Corps
• Sunday talk show tip sheet

Hillary Clinton

• Clinton: I’m ready to lead from day one
• Hillary: Pakistan troops might have killed Bhutto
• Hillary frags Pakistan
• Warning of Threats, Clinton Sells Clinton
  Ex-President Emphasizes Wife’s Experience
• Showdown for Hillary in John Wayne country
• Hillary grasps for nomination
• Concord Monitor Endorses Hillary Clinton
• Clinton’s Final Push in Iowa
• Bill Clinton Warns of “Unexpected”
• Clinton Campaigns with Ohio Governor
• Clinton returns to hitting President Bush
• Clinton demands Bhutto probe, slams Musharraf
• The Bill Clinton factor
• Public Divided on Whether Bill Clinton Hurts or Helps Hillary
• Bill Clinton Won’t Attend NSC Meetings in a Hillary White House
• Clinton: ‘Next president will have to be experienced’
• HRC: To Send Democratic Message To Extremists Iowans Must Vote
• Clinton to launch second Nevada ad
• Bill Clinton Stumps for Wife in NH

Barack Obama

• Obama Stings With Subtle Jabs
  Digs at Rivals Are Timed With an Effort to Keep Overall Tone Upbeat
• Obama moves onto Edwards’ turf
  Working-class voters have been migrating to the former North Carolina senator in recent weeks, prompting a shift in strategy.
• Obama launches new ads in Iowa
• Obama’s Cup of Tea
• Incomplete Picture in New Obama Health Care Ad
• Is Oprah a Racist?
  By Burt Prelutsky
• A Refresher on Obama’s Senate Race
• Obama’s European problem
  The senator may have traveled widely, but the critically important subcommittee on Europe has languished under his leadership.
  By Joe Conason
• Michelle Obama — A Not So Secret Weapon In South Carolina
• Obama Unpacks Closing One-Two Punch
• Obama hints he won’t run a 2nd time
• U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad backs Obama
• A Biracial Candidate Walks His Own Fine Line
• Obama can end the racial barter
• Obama pitches undecided voters in Iowa; seeks converts for his cause

WASHINGTON — While public polls show Mike Huckabee leading Mitt Romney in Iowa, a new survey of an oversized sample shows Huckabee slipping and no longer ahead of Romney.A private corporate interest commissioned a phone bank survey of 15,000 Iowans who say they will attend Republican presidential caucuses Jan. 3. It showed Romney with 30 percent and Huckabee at 26 percent. Sen. John McCain was third with 12 percent and Rudy Giuliani fourth at 9 percent. Fred Thompson had only 1 percent, with slightly fewer votes than Rep. Ron Paul (also at 1 percent).

Link

One of the great things about Mitt is that he is the only candidate who actually has taken an active stance fighting for traditional marriage. No other candidate testified to congress and fought in their own state to keep marriage between a man and a women.

Romney even went so far as to state in 1994 that marriage should remain between a man and a women. Here are a few Youtubes I found from the time that I think show that Mitt really fought the battle in an admirable way.

His speech on Beacon Hill. I don’t think you can find a speech by any other candidate fighting for marriage as passionately as Mitt does here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJXyDxMKv1E[/youtube]

More below the fold…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Earlier today, Mitt Romney released “Future”, an ad that directly went after John McCain on taxes and immigration in an effort to draw blood in New Hampshire. This was an risky move for Romney because it opened him up for attacks on his own less than stellar record taxes and immigration. But even more than that, Romney chose to deliberately misrepresent McCain’s positions in order to score a few cheap shots. The New York Times took a look at Romney’s ad and this is what they concluded:

Specifically, Mr. Romney assails Mr. McCain on both tax policies and immigration. On both topics, the commercial presents facts that could be construed either as selective or worse, misleading.

For instance, Mr. Romney claims Mr. McCain “even voted to allow illegals to collect Social Security.”

The more complicated reality is that Mr. McCain supported legislation that would allow illegal immigrants who come forward, pay fines, then wait their turn to become citizens the chance to collect Social Security – but only after they are citizens.

On taxes, the ad accurately states that Mr. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts. The reason he gave at the time was that he could not justify supporting them without coinciding spending cuts. Mr. McCain now supports making the tax cuts permanent.

Mr. Romney also claims that Mr. McCain “opposes” a repeal of the estate tax.

While Mr. McCain was also one of two Republican senators who voted against a measure to permanently repeal the estate tax, also known as the death tax, in 2001, he has long championed dramatically cutting back on the people who would have to pay estate taxes.

After opposing a permanent repeal for fiscal reasons, he later supported an alternative measure that would have narrowed the estate tax to apply only to the extremely wealthy.

The ad also makes claims about Mr. Romney’s own record that are open to question.

For instance, the ad claims “Mitt Romney cut taxes and spending as governor.” Some fiscal conservatives, however, have claimed that Mr. Romney’s raising of state fees by some $500 million when he was governor as simply a tax by another name and have also been critical and his closing corporate tax loopholes, which they argue amounted to tax increases on corporations.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign released an in depth fact sheet on Romney’s misleading ad to Jim Geraghty and FactCheck.org gets in on the action as well.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKR3QU3dB0M&NR=1[/youtube]

Debating Huckabee and Uncle Remus- “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

I’ve had the pleasure of being off the last few days, and today I was able to spend my free time helping Fred Thompson with his successful online pledge drive. During this time, I ended up getting into a little debate with Governor Mike Huckabee’s campaign research director, Joe Carter. Mr. Carter certainly means well, and I hope he gets paid a heck of a lot, because he’s had his work cut out for him the last couple of weeks. In the last few weeks, Carter has had to defend his candidate from the likes of the Club for Growth, the National Review, the Weekly Standard, Robert Novak, and countless other media figures/pundits/groups.

Earlier, Mr. Carter posted a rebuttal to a criticism of by Jeffrey Collins calling Mike Huckabee naive when it comes to foreign policy. Joe wrote that:

My problem in trying to defend Huckabee on this issue it that I have been working under the naïve assumption that people have actually read the article that they are criticizing. Like most people, I suspect that neither Justin nor Jeffrey has read the piece in its entirety. If so, I’d be curious to hear what they dislike.

(I’ll confess that I thought the style of the paper was lacking while I find the substance quite meritorious. The “arrogant bunker mentality” line made me cringe, though just about ever foreign policy expert agrees that there is some truth to the criticism.)

Since there is no chance that people will bother to read the entire 5000+ word article, I’ve cut it down to the key policy statements. I think this will help make it easier to debate the merits of Governor Huckabee’s position on America’s Priorities in the War on Terror.

I commented to Joe that his bullet points did help clarify the matter, but it still did not make up for the fact that Governor Huckabee completely mangled the original article, which was published in Foreign Affairs. Unlike some of those who he feels criticized the article without reading it, I did actually read the article, and had a very similar reaction to it, published here at r4’08, before the press outlets (such as the National Review) even commented on it. Heck, Mitt Romney’s campaign used my criticism in one of their official press releases! Even though I am not a Romney supporter, I am flattered by the mention in their press release (especially since I’m known to be working with another campaign).

I didn’t just read all 5,000+ words written by Governor Huckabee, but I read it, reread it, took notes, and did a full analysis of the piece for Foreign Affairs.

Joe responded to my rather brief criticisms, after telling me that I was apparently being played by my candidate:

I look forward to reading it. Hopefully you’ll address some of the actual concerns you have with Huckabee’s positions.

and:

Me: The most important question facing this cycle is: Is he the candidate who is most prepared to deal with the War on Terror?”

Joe: He is prepared in the only way that really matters: he understands the threat of jihadism and will do whatever is necessary to fight it. To be honest, I think that every GOP candidate (with the exception of Ron Paul) meets that criteria.

So now it is time to begin my response. Mr. Carter, who I’m sure is a nice guy in a tough situation, believes that Mike Huckabee “understands the threat of jihadism and will do whatever is necessary to fight it.”

Well, that one was made pretty easy to rebuke right there. I don’t even have to refer to my notes on the article to make my point. Did he watch CNN today? Roll the Tape!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-BOgBan-Fc[/youtube]

Summary of video from CNN:

A senior aide to Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee admitted Friday that the former Arkansas governor had “no foreign policy credentials” after his comments reacting to the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto raised questions.

Great, so according to Joe, he understands the threat of jihadism but even his own senior aides admit he’s got nothing (no experience in dealing with these matters) to fall back on?

More from CNN:

During an event Friday in Pella, Iowa, Huckabee said the crisis sparked by Bhutto’s death should lead to a crackdown on illegal immigrants from Pakistan. The Huckabee official told CNN that when he said that, Huckabee was trying to turn attention away from scrutiny of his foreign policy knowledge.

What in the hell was he talking about? He mangles these issues on a level not equaled since the candidacy of then Governor George W. Bush. The difference is that we live in 2008, not 1999. The world is a different place now. The seven years that have passed has been more like a lifetime. We, the Republican Party, cannot afford to nominate someone who is utterly, and apparently admittedly, clueless when it comes to fighting the War on Terror.

I thought I had successfully retired Operation Uncle Remus, but to quote the Godfather III, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

If understanding the psychology of jihadism qualifies one to be Commander in Chief then let’s just nominate the high school shrink. If I remember correctly, Governor Huckabee considers high school not that different from dealing with foreign policy:

The United States, as the world’s only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised.

For starters, this might be one of the most naive statements I’ve ever read on foreign policy. That, in itself, goes to show me that Huckabee doesn’t have a clue when it comes to understanding jihadism. They aren’t going to love us if we are nice to them. That sounds like it came from another certain candidate who gets routinely criticized by conservatives on foreign policy. Do I have to say his name?

Next, we come to the now infamous lines from the essay:

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.

The first lines are the ones that have been most scrutinized, but I shall now cede the floor to someone with much more authority than I will ever have, former Senator Bob Dole:

Dear Governor,

I’m puzzled by your gratuitous slaps at the President in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs. By the way, I have no special ties to President Bush and I’m not involved in any presidential campaign.

Why have you joined the “Bush bashers?” I know Iowans fairly well and doubt those attending Republican caucuses will appreciate your critical comments. President Bush gets more than his fair share of criticism from the other side and many in the “mainstream” media. They all really must be heartened by your comments.

As a veteran, I worry about the future security of the good people of Iowa and all other Americans. We are engaged in a global war on terror which will not disappear because you imply a willingness, without any preconditions apparently, to sit down with the enemy. Sure we can all find fault with President Bush and his Administration on policy matters and phases of the Iraq policy. I doubt however Iowans will applaud second guessing more than five years after the agony of 9-11, particularly since you have been either silent or supportive during the interim as far as I can determine.

The Foreign Affairs piece is a perfect example of 20-20 hindsight, and wishful thinking in most instances. You make knotty foreign policy issues sound so easy if we would just change our ways. I never was a foreign policy expert though I followed it closely for nearly three decades under Democrat and Republican Presidents.

The great majority of Americans regardless of party, place liberty, freedom and security as top priorities. I’m certain you do too but I am troubled about some of the statements attributed to you in the Foreign Affairs article.

The administration is certainly not perfect, I cannot recall one, but I do not believe it should be your primary foreign policy target. We are a great, compassionate nation and I know you want to keep it so.

To win in 2008 we need to multiply, not divide

- Bob Dole

Bob Dole may not have been the best politician, but he is a great man, and a wise one. Next, Governor Huckabee decided that his administration will not put us up against the world, but against the terrorists. He doesn’t seem to realise that fighting the terrorists will not stop the car bombs, the anger, or the hatred for the United States.

Now, let’s refresh our memories with some of the fine characters that make appearences in Governor Huckabee’s essay:

Brer Rabbit…

Brer Fox…

Coca Cola…

Kentucky Fried Chicken…

Sun-tzu…

To use a quote that I read today but don’t remember the link to… It’s time for Mike Huckabee to get serious. This type of stuff may work on a campaign trail or a silly formatted Youtube debate, but it doesn’t belong in an article written to outline your identity on foreign policy. In my previous article, I also mentioned a passage from a speech that Huckabee gave in September:

“We haven’t had diplomatic relations with Iran in almost 30 years, my whole adult life and a lot of good it’s done. Putting this in human terms, all of us know that when we stop talking to a parent or a sibling or a friend, it’s impossible to accomplish anything, impossible to resolve differences and move the relationship forward. The same is true for countries.”

I said, “this idea sounds like a foreign policy agenda based upon the Golden Rule. It’s just not realistic, and the fact that he’s in contention for the presidency makes it dangerous.” The criticism still stands. Huckabee’s mangles over the last few weeks have made me even more skeptical of how he would approach dealing with Iran. Isn’t the Iranian government the same one that swears to “wipe Israel off the map” and to continue to argue the Holocaust-as-myth propaganda? Is the United States’ relationship with Iran really akin to that of a relationship of siblings, friends, or parental guidance? This is coming from the same person who was unaware of the NIE.

A more successful U.S. foreign policy needs to better explain Islamic jihadism to the American people. Given how Americans have thrived on diversity – religious, ethnic, racial – it takes an enormous leap of imagination to understand what Islamic terrorists are about, that they really do want to kill every last one of us and destroy civilization as we know it. If they are willing to kill their own children by letting them detonate suicide bombs, then they will also be willing to kill our children for their misguided cause. The Bush administration has never adequately explained the theology and ideology behind Islamic terrorism or convinced us of its ruthless fanaticism.

Joe, my head is spinning. I know the American public is uninformed, but I’d be willing to bet they understand the ‘theology’ of the terrorist mindset. That isn’t going to win any War on Terror. Does Huckabee really believe that he can convince those on the far left who haven’t already figured this out?

Here is my all time favorite quote from the article:

I want to treat Saudi Arabia the way we treat Sweden, and that will require the United States to be energy independent.

Now, I’ve heard it all. Becoming more energy independent will help ensure a relationship with Saudi Arabia like the United States’ relationship with Sweden? If we understand jihadist psychology and have energy independence and our relationship with the Saudi’s will be on par with that of Sweden? While Huckabee criticizes Bush’s communication, he seems to buy into the idea that the world is run by “good guys and bad guys.” The world is a much more complicated place than that.

Ronald Reagan was hated in the Middle East. President George H. W. Bush was hated in the Middle East. Bill Clinton was hated in the Middle East. George W. Bush is hated in the Middle East. I wasn’t old enough to remember Jimmy Carter’s presidency, so I don’t know how they felt about him. Does Governor Huckabee think that being nice and following the Golden Rule will get others to love us?

Iran has never been truthful with us, and they aren’t going to start now. In dealing with Iran, Huckabee writes:

When one stops talking to a parent or a friend, differences cannot be resolved and relationships cannot move forward.

This is coming from the same guy who has flip flopped on the Cuba embargo. I guess he didn’t understand the mindset of those dastardly commies back in 2002.

I am of the opinion that Huckabee is running on personality and social issues, alone. The establishment, or “The man,” is not trying to hold Governor Huckabee down. It’s is lack of substance.

Joe, it’s not like I’m alone in my criticism. I’m not an agent of the man, like the people the Huckabee campaign tries to lump together when they criticize the governor: like these folks, and I even left out Ann Coulter for you:

here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here
here

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHoXkCprdL4[/youtube]

Fast forward to 2008. Romney runs a contrast ad, with no hyperbole and nothing untrue, delineating the solid differences between himself and McCain. McCain responds with a personal attack ad calling Romney a phony. No substance on the issues, no answer to any of Romney’s points, just a personal attack at the man who has led his entire life with honor, conviction and integrity. It’s actually beginning to look like McCain is more concerned with personal attacks and labels than talking substance with the voters.

McCain implied in 2000 that attack ads are signs of desperation. Judging his latest commercials with his logic, one could conclude McCain is equally, if not more, desperate. His numbers are still behind Romney despite the MSM working for him and his all-or-nothing New Hampshire gamble. Also, let’s not forget that this is certainly his last stand. Should he loose the nomination in 2008, I doubt he will have another chance to run again. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if he retired from the Senate shortly thereafter.

McCain is a war hero, but really needs to think through the logic he is using to justify his campaign tactics.

From Bloggernewswire:

Fred Thompson’s Campaign Picking Up Key Iowa Conservatives
December 28th, 2007

Key Undecided Iowa Conservatives Start Move Toward Thompson: Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Iowa State Rep. Gary Worthan

A late movement by Iowa conservatives toward the Fred Thompson campaign was spotlighted by today’s announcement that noted Iowa conservative leader, State Representative Gary Worthan, had endorsed the former Senator from Tennessee.

Many Iowa conservatives have been undecided and Worthan’s endorsement was an important one for the Thompson campaign, which got a late start in the 2008 election process.

“Gary Worthan was one of the key Iowa conservatives that had been undecided.” stated Bob Haus, Thompson’s Iowa Executive Director. “Gary’s endorsement is one we were hoping to pick up in these days leading up to the Iowa Caucuses. We’re humbled to get it.”

Haus stated that the campaign expects to pick up more endorsements from Iowa conservatives. Conservative support has been encouraging and “the movement on the ground here seems to be toward Fred Thompson.”

“Events overseas the last few days have helped highlight Senator Thompson’s foreign policy experience. While some of the other candidates, including the front-runners, seem a little perplexed, Senator Thompson’s steadiness in his statements and steel in his spine has helped swing some key support to our campaign.”

” We’ll have some more announcements a little later on. We expect more undecided Iowa conservatives to gravitate our way over the next week.”

Followed up by Committee member Loras Schulte:

To all my friends,

First, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, but for those of you who live in Iowa , I need not tell you that in little more than a handful of days … we will make a monumental decision at our Caucuses: who leaves Iowa with the chance to gain their Party’s nomination for President, and all that means to the future of our Country. Because I sit on RPI’s State Central Committee, I have remained neutral in this year’s Caucus process, but now I feel compelled to join with the likes of: Cong. Steve King, Bill Sailer and what appears to be the entire Iowa leadership team of Tom Tancredo, Representatives Kraig Paulsen, Jeff Kaufmann and Sandy Greiner, and scores of other notable Iowa Republicans in endorsing the candidacy of Senator Fred Thompson.

Fresh from my inbox:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick Davis

December 28, 2007 Common Sense Issues

1-202-251-4439

Media Advisory

Common Sense Issues and TrustHuckabee.com

to Make Major Iowa Announcement

What: Common Sense Issues and TrustHuckabee.com will hold a news conference tomorrow in Urbandale to announce a major new initiative to better inform Iowans on their choices for President.

Who: Attendees will include a representative of Common Sense Issues and a special guest.

When: Saturday, December 29, 2007, 10:00 a.m. (Central)

Where: Holiday Inn – 4800 Merle Hay Rd., Urbandale, IA. (515) 278-4755

The endorsement was announced at a press conference in Florida today:

Rudy Giuliani wrapped up a three-day swing through Florida today by picking up the endorsement of a national association of state troopers…

The GOP presidential hopeful, accompanied by National Troopers Coalition chairman Dennis Hallion and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, spoke briefly to a handful of supporters almost exclusively about terrorism …

Giuliani met with veterans’ groups during visits to South Florida , Largo and Orlando this week … hammering on his anti-terrorism platform …

The former New York City mayor went on to praise law enforcement officers whose jobs have transformed from “first responders” to “first defenders” as terrorism spreads.

He called the troopers’ endorsement “a great strength for me because of my own personal involvement in law enforcement all through my career.” Giuliani previously served as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan . …

Hizzoner also discussed Terrorism, military strategy, and campaign strategy in his swing through the Sunshine State:

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani seized on terrorism Thursday as he condemned the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, saying it underscored the need for increased military spending to continue fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We have to redouble our efforts in that area of the world to make sure there isn’t a slip back into terrorist control in that region,” Giuliani said …

“It does remind us of what we’re facing.” …

After the stop in Fort Lauderdale, the former New York mayor addressed an association of retired New York City police officers living in Broward County … He also visited the Bay of Pigs Museum and Library in Miami. …

Giuliani said Americans scored a huge victory after the Sept. 11 attacks with the defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but he said the United States cannot afford to let terrorists seize control of that country again.

“We need to secure that victory so they don’t re-emerge,” Giuliani said. …

Giuliani invokes the 2001 terrorist attacks in a new TV ad campaign that is scheduled to launch this week …

[G]iuliani said he thought the ad was appropriate and that the images have been used by other candidates.

“It’s a part of my life that helps define me,” he said. “It’s not the only thing that defines me.” …

[G]iuliani made no apologies for targeting larger states like Florida. …

“I wouldn’t have been down here two dozen times if Florida wasn’t important to us,” he said. “It’s important to us because it takes us into Feb. 5. Whoever wins in Florida will have an advantage on Feb. 5.” …

I will have much more to say regarding my thoughts on the state of the 2008 race in a future post.

It’s on:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUdMJIKnTs[/youtube]