With the reports that have surfaced this week regarding Gov. Huckabee’s motivation for entering the 2012 race, I will refrain from classifying this as “friendly advice”:
Mike Huckabee tells the Brody File that Mitt Romney needs to admit that his healthcare plan in Massachusetts was a disaster.
Huckabee made the comments to me earlier this morning. You can watch the video below and read part of the transcription as well.
In essence, Mike Huckabee is giving advice to Mitt Romney on how to handle the whole “RomneyCare” issue. Isn’t that nice! I’m sure Romney will be taking notes. (Actually maybe he should)
Huckabee mentions and rips “RomneyCare” several times in his new book, “A Simple Government”. In the interview, I asked him why he used the word “RomneyCare” (as in “ObamaCare”) rather than Romney’s health care plan.
Watch the video interview here.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
What mistake?
- Premiums dropped significantly following the approval of the law.
- The uninsured pop. in Massachusetts has dropped to 2% – likely the very rich who can pay their own way.
- The program is only a small contributor to whatever budget problems the state does have.
- Courts have recognized the right of Massachusetts to require residents to maintain insurance.
The fact that Mr. nanny-state who thinks that the government should be telling people to eat less junk food suddenly tries to claim the mantle of anti-Romney libertarianism is a reflection on Huckabee, not Romney, and certainly not his healthcare program.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Sage pastoral advice.
And it’s not like Mitt has ever been shy about shedding his skin before. Shoot, I fully expect Mitt to condemn RomneyCare, and then lecture the rest of the field about how he is the only true and consistent anti-RomneyCare candidate.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
…..at which point, I fully expect every Rombot here to be the most adament opponent of mandates I have ever seen.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
As Chuck on Huck, I mean Craig for Huck, would put it, Mr. Nice (That would be Huckabee in case you didn’t guess) must feel that Romney is his real competition.
Now if I had a Huck-o-nut mentality, I would be going crazy about Huck’s negative campaigning against Romney, but why bother…
February 24th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Mitt doesn’t need to take advice from the Huckster. Just weather the storm on the mandate as he is doing. As soon as the GOP gets over its temper tantrum over a mandate that CHANGES NOTHING for 98% of the electorate, we can all move on.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
MWS continues to give lessons on how not to win friends and influence people…
February 24th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
MWS: Then you are likely to praise our predictable consistency , because rigid consistency is the virtue you admire most, aside from snarkiness. This could be a win-win situation with the right attitude.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Huck is an expert at admitting mistakes. The state constitution MADE ME raise taxes! How could I know those murderers would kill again? Huck should focus on his own house first. Mitt doesn’t need your advice.
February 24th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
keeping it vertical lol
February 24th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
lulz, mws, lulz
February 24th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
I love how Brody stuck that “Actually maybe he should” in there.
So, who so far has told Romney to apologize or back away from RomneyCare’s mandates etc. etc. etc.?
Partial List:
Huck
Rove
Perry
Santorum
Pawlenty
February 24th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
Why is socialism OK in Arkansas when it comes to feeding the poor, but its not OK in Massachusetts when it comes to saving lives? I thought Huck drank a different kind of Jesus juice.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Frankly, the difference between a mandate and a tax incentive nearly escapes me. I get a tax break for owning a home. I absolutely have to live somewhere. We could call this a “mandate” that I live in a home I own. I either buy a home, or I lose a tax incentive and pay higher taxes as a result.
Romney was playing longball and the jury should still be out on whether 100% insured population saves money over the long haul because we don’t have enough years yet to know if this leads to a healthier overall population, and better handle on costs as a result.
I’ll meet Mr. Metaphor Mouth Huckabee with one of my own: You’re supposed to wait to shoot the clay pigeon until after they pull the little trigger that launches the thing.
We don’t know the long term deal here.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
The only people affected by a mandate are financially capable individuals who refuse to purchase health protection. That is it. Nobody else is impacted against their will in any way, shape, or form.
So – irresponsibility and freeloading. That is what you defend when you oppose the mandate.
We’ll see who has a storm to weather when someone points that out to the general population.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
#11….Looks like the 2012 competition is turning out to be a bunch of one-trick ponies (except Palin).
The toads (Huckabee, etc.) are all lined up for the 2012 race croaking in turn, “RomneyCare… RomneyCare… RomneyCare…”
February 24th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
And if the slow brains in the Party make it impossible for the risk takers in the Party to try things that are 1) market based and 2) potentially beneficial and 3) Republican initiated from ideas generated in conservative think-tanks that 4) have the potential to preserve market foundations in a huge sector of our economy,
Then let’s just drop the pretense to being Conservatives and nominate Ron Paul. Shrivel government to border patrol and garbage pick up and let the poor fend for themselves.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Well, we can tell how Huck is going to go after Romney in the primary. I think his strategy as far as his main opponent Romney will be to go after him for Romneycare. That is a sound strategy considering that Romneycare is Romney’s major weakness, and one that could sink him with the party. I hope Huck is also prepared for the bloodthirsty hordes that will obviously come after him.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Today,in a single day,the liberal baptist
preacher from Arkansas succeeded to defend
his good friends Mouchelle and Barak and as
a bonus he gave “friendly” advice to Romney.
Wow!What a guy!
February 24th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
The plan was based on personal responsibilty and free markets. And because Obama and the Dems took the plan and loaded it down with unaffordable subsidies, Romney is the one who must pay. This is a wrong that needs to be righted. At least Newt Gingrich has the courage to tell the truth about this issue. There will never be another new idea implemented by a Republican governor, as long as Democrats are able to distort it. Remember this plan was authored by the Heritage Foundation, the same Heritage Foundation that Rush Limbaugh endorses every day on his radio program. If Huckabee had done this, we would be hearing about how “Christian” it was of him to care for the poor.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Bingo, Matt! That’s Mitt and his followers M.O. for years.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Mike Huckabee should admit that pardoning a convict who went on to kill four police officers was a mistake.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
20 thats a flat out lie and I won’t stand for that. You tell me one aspect of his record that Mitt Romney has “condemned”. It’s Huck that has constantly apologized and blamed others for the spotty parts of his record. When killers are set loose, it was the parole boards! When taxes were raised, it was the AK supreme court. You are either a hypocrite or ignorant. I’m guessing both.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Jerald,
“MWS continues to give lessons on how not to win friends and influence people…”
I practically wrote the book on it. Trouble is, some other jerk is getting all the royalties……….
February 24th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
watch,
“because rigid consistency is the virtue you admire most, aside from snarkiness.”
You know me well.
BTW, it’s poker night tonight. Don’t be late.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I take this as subtle evidence that Huckabee is truly disinterested in running again. He obviously has no intention of courting those portions of the Republican party that do not swoon when rural metaphors are employed.
And has there ever been such a one-way blood feud in politics? Honestly, I so badly want Romney to do a Top Ten reasons he won’t invite Huckabee to dinner on David Letterman. Something, anything, instead of continually taking these cheap shots from a small caliber mind.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
“When taxes were raised, it was the AK supreme court.”
Blaming the judicial body of another state, over 1,500 miles away, would indeed be a new low for Huckabee.
But the abrv. for Arkansas is AR, not AK – thats Alaska.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
.26
they all have to blame Palin somehow…it’s congenital I think.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
26 lol whatever, “what are two states where no one wants live?” and I include Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, who have both conveniently moved out of state.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Oh,I forgot.
Huckster attacked anybody(Sarah Palin) who in 2008
wanted to expose the screaming,anti-American,America
hating,the “black liberation theology”,Farrakhan best
friend,Jeremiah Wright.
Very impressive!All that today,and the day is not
even over yet.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
I thought Huck was a “good pick for [Sarah]“, so why do the ‘nistas come here and trash Huck?
February 24th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Get used to it, Rombots.
Every single Republican candidate not named “Romney” is going to be savaging your guy over this for the next year.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
“Every single Republican candidate not named “Romney” is going to be savaging your guy over this for the next year.”
…and every single Republican candidate not named “Romney” conveniently opens themselves up to savage attacks on their support for irresponsible freeloading by financially-capable individuals who still refuse to buy insurance.
Doctors are required to treat patients who show up at the door – when said paitents are not required to buy insurance when they can afford it, the bill is passed to your average, responsible American.
We’ll see how that plays with the population.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Its a good thing nobody seems to want the job then. Romney will have Christie and Scott Brown in his corner. Daniels has already failed his audition, and Thune and Pence are out. All we have left is a boring Pawlenty, a fossil in Newt, and an unhinged Sarah Palin. Who’s the adult that’s going to take Romney out? The party should be focusing on jobs, jobs, jobs. But they are foolishly talking about health care when they don’t even have the votes to do anything about it.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
32,
We will see.
But if Romney DOES flip flop (as he has in the past) and disavow the mandate – are you going to be as tough on him as the other candidates?
If the “freeloader” problem is as awful as you say it is, shouldn’t Romney be pitching his plan to other states?
What happens when the other candidates ask Mitt if other states should do what Massachusetts did?
We’ll see how THAT plays with the population.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
30. asparagus Says:
February 24th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
“I thought Huck was a “good pick for [Sarah]“, so why do the ‘nistas come here and trash Huck?”
===
They simple-mindedly want Huck to step away so they can finish of Romney themselves.
The problem with that scenario is, they are so blinded in a cult-like trance that they cannot see Romney would almost certainly SWEEP the first FIVE states if Palinites had their silly little wish.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
It was a rhetorical question. I know why they come here. They are as obsessed with their queen as she is.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
But they are foolishly talking about health care when they don’t even have the votes to do anything about it.
Why do I think that if we were debating HuckCare instead of RomneyCare, it wouldn’t be so foolish?
February 24th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
.26 the Palin’s still live in Alaska. Todd is in the middle of the Iron Dog race right now.
What the heck is this on the Fox Nation page?
http://nation.foxnews.com/
February 24th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I can’t wait for Sarah to run. She’s never run in a primary before. When she implodes it will dwarf the Dean scream. I fear for Todd, though. He will need firm control on her Blackberry at all times.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
“If the “freeloader” problem is as awful as you say it is, shouldn’t Romney be pitching his plan to other states?”
Romney has said that he supports mandates…though not at hte national level, where he does not believe the federal government has the power to require them.
What more do you want?
======
Either Healthcare will or will not be a major issue at the time of the primaries.
If it is a big issue, Huckabee and co. will be forced into offering their own proposals – which seem unlikely to compare favorably with Romney’s plan. Completely apart from the fact that any plan different from Romney’s would require strong national action, no potential candidate has managed to reduce the size of the uninsured population remotely on the scale that Romney did – all without a takeover hte sytstem.
If healthcare is not a big issue…then all the squawking from Huck and others is going to look ridiculously distracted from the real issues.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
asparagus Says:
February 24th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
“I know why they come here. They are as obsessed with their queen as she is.
===
Asparagus,
Yes, but they are also obsessed with Huckabee. If he runs, she doesn’t even get to first base.
Scratch that, she doesn’t even get to bat.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
I cant stand Huckabee. He is a tool.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Romney has said that he supports mandates…though not at hte national level, where he does not believe the federal government has the power to require them.
What more do you want?
I want to know why Romney isn’t out there talking to other governors in other states about how best to cope with this festering problem, at the state level. To hear you tell it, this is a monstrously important issue that needs to be dealt with.
The fact that he is being very very very coy suggests to me that he isn’t nearly as confident as you are that his full throttled defense of his project is going to reap electoral rewards.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
What is really interesting to watch is how some of the very long shot candidates are actually making inroads here in Iowa, as we have kind of a vacuum right now.
Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann are working the state hard, and are picking up support. I wonder how loyal that support will be once the big dogs get in. I think they are making some solid converts.
This bodes very well for Romney.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
I think he is focusing on jobs, where he should be focused. It was healthcare that derailed Obama and cost us a jobs recovery. Why should we fight over this when the issue isn’t a winner for Republicans? It reminds me of ’08. We spent the entire primary battling over Iraq and social issues, and nominated a guy who knew jack squat about the economy. So we fight over health care, and Huck gets to say “I was the best at doing nothing to improve health care!”. How is that a winner for the party? The focus needs to be on jobs and fiscal sanity. Romney and Daniels are the only ones who get this.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
The only place for liberal baptist preacher Elmer Gantry
to run are the hills of Arkansas,to hide and get away
from screams coming from the graves that he caused,directly
or indirectly.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
chuck needs to apologize for HIS chuckcare system of pardoning people and getting healthy police officers killed!
February 24th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Why should we fight over this when the issue isn’t a winner for Republicans?
So we should nominate Romney because (as resident Rombot Jeff Fuller tells it) Romney is the only candidate who can effectively debate Obama on health care…
AND….
We should nominate Romney – but it would be a mistake to talk about healthcare?
If you don’t want to talk about health care then you don’t want to nominate Romney. A Romney candidacy is going to be totally focused on health care. Every Republican is going to bash him over it and he is going to be on the defensive. Then, he is going to have to weasel his way out of his past support for mandates and play the “Obama is bad because he wanted to do this nationally” game – that will cause most nonpolitical voters to roll their eyes?
Romney is a disaster.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
If the Republican Party nominates Romney it deserves to lose.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Any criticism about government being too involved coming from huck is always rich.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Tex,
I noticed that you
didn’t start ripping
into Huckabee until
your girl saw her
numbers tank into
single digits.
Worried a little,
are we?
February 24th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
50,
Except that Huckabee never expanded government power. All he did was tax a little here and there.
The inverse of that is that any limited government talk from Romney is rich.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Governor Palin has some common sense ideas for our health care issues. Tried and true conservative solutions, which are what the country wants. No big government take over, no unconstitutional mandates. It’s kind of refreshing.
Of course, the vast majority of Americans share her values and positions on the issues. Of all the potential candidates, she is the one closest to representing the wants and desires of the what the American people want from government.
I guess that’s why she was so popular as Governor, and why she has been wildly successful in every position she’s held.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Adam is back in full force spewing his nonsense. He continues to look under every stone to find something to slam Romney with. “Why isn’t he pitching his program to other states????”
February 24th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Wait! I think I get it now.
Huckabee would NEVER raise taxes or let criminals free on the FEDERAL LEVEL!!!
I’m sure if you asked him, that’s what he’d say. Right? And all we need to do is hear him say it. That’s good enough for the Rombots in regard to Romney so it has to be good for Huck too.
The actual record – be it raising taxes or forcing mandates – doesn’t matter. Right, Rombots?
Y’all should feel fine about a Huckabee candidacy.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Looks like the Huckster is going to try to take Mitt down from the sidelines this time around.
It will make Iowa more interesting, but I like Romney’s chances in the state.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
54,
Well it was a great plan, right?
Romney wants to be PRESIDENT OF ALL THE PEOPLE (regardless of who let the dogs out…).
MatthewK helpfully informed us of just how serious the freeloader problem is. So it stands to reason that someone believing that and aspiring to be president would want to help the people.
Why not?
February 24th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Adam,
Huckabee raised the number of state employees in Arkansas by 20%. Romney lowered the number of state employees in Massachusetts.
The reason for that is that Romney is an anti-statist and the Huckster is a statist. Translated: Your #50 is a lie.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Yet another example of why I can’t support Huckabee. He knows as well as anyone that apologizing for MassCare would be the end of Romney’s presidential aspirations. Since Romney is his biggest competition in the polls right now, it’s very disingenuous advice.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Heh, well this just indicates that Romney is going to have trouble with this issue, whether it’s Huckabee bashing him on it or someone else.
Personally I just find this whole Romney-Huckabee feud to be at the very least, good entertainment value. It probably doesn’t do much to help either man. After all, how many Huck supporters would consider Mitt as a second-choice and vice-versa? What it might do is turn off Republican voters not committed to either man and get them looking at other contenders.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
58,
So Romney used the power of the state to force a health insurance mandate on the folks, EVERYONE IN THE STATE – and that’s not statist – but Huckabee (assuming your figures are accurate) hired a few state employees and that makes him MORE of a statist?
Ok…
February 24th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
60,
I’d vote Huckabee if the election were today but I’m not married to him (Don’t worry, Max. You can have first dibs).
At this point my ideal candidate is named, Anyone But Romney Or Palin.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Heh, well this just indicates that Romney is going to have trouble with this issue, whether it’s Huckabee bashing him on it or someone else.
Health Care is basically going to be Romney’s political Herpes.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
53.teledude Says:
February 24th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
“I guess that’s why she was so popular as Governor”
===
LOL! So popular that she quit on them half way through, and today her favorables remain so dismally low that she finishes behind Huck, Mitt and Newt in her own state of Alaska in recent polling.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
As I explained many times on this forum,in 2008
I never cared who won republican nomination.
All the candidates were boring,corrupt,spineless
GOP hacks and flacks RINOS.
Sarah Palin changed the political world in America.
As far as I knew(and I never bothered to research),
Huckabee was a nice,likable portly guy.
Then,Huckster became very insulting to Sarah Palin
and very nice and complimenting to Mouchelle and
Barak.He revealed his liberalism so much,he became
the favorite RINO to despicable Joy Behar.
I never changed,I just found out who Huckabee is,
a liberal baptist preacher,phony,fake and a fraud.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
#62:
“At this point, my ideal candidate is named Anyone But Romney Or Palin.”
Exaclty my point. The spraying contest between Romney, Huckabee and their supporters is probably going to alienate the rest of the GOP. Palin is simply unelectable and the vast majority of Republicans know that. That leaves an opening for one of the 2nd tier candidates to move in and make their case.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Matthew Kilburn: “Romney has said that he supports mandates…though not at hte national level …”
Not true. In the original version of his book, he said that his plan should be a model for the nation. That sentence has been scrubbed from the new version.
At the conclusion of the section discussing his plan, the original said: “We can accomplish the same thing for everyone in the country, and it can be done without letting government take over health care.”
Now it says: “And it was done without government taking over health care.”
Interesting bit of editing. Why do you suppose he changed it?
February 24th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
The data shows that a lion’s share of Palin’s supporters will come over to Huck’s camps. Of course, Tex won’t. He hates every Republican not nicknamed Sarahcuda.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Teledude: “Governor Palin has some common sense ideas for our health care issues.”
And when she had the opportunity to actually enact all these great ideas, what was it she did?
Nothing.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Adam,
A 20% increase is far worse than “hiring a few state employees.” Romney reduced the size of the state, and not just in the number of state employees…..he lowered the state budget in constant dollars…..while Huckabee vastly expanded the size of the state.
If your candidate is a statist, what’s your raison d’etre for being a Republican??
February 24th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Jonathan
“Palin is simply unelectable and the vast majority of Republicans know that. That leaves an opening for one of the 2nd tier candidates to move in and make their case”.
===================================
The last and the only talking point of all
Libs and squishy,backstabbing,stand for
nothing RINOS.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
If your candidate is a statist, what’s your raison d’etre for being a Republican??
HA!
I dunno, Dave. What’s YOUR reason?
Seriously though. I’d love to see your statistics. A 20 percent increase over a 10 1/2 year governorship isn’t so damning. I’d be curious what Romney would have done had he been governor for the same amount of time. Except that Romney never maintained the same position (or even if you don’t want to admit that, then the same TONE) long enough to be reelected.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
The data shows that over 40% of Huckster’s
supporters will go to Sarah Palin De Facto
Leader of conservative America.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
#25..There is an old Chinese proverb:
“The wind may howl, but the mountain moves not”
February 24th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Adam,
Had Romney continued being Governor for another 6 or 7 years, he would have cut the state budget and workforce even more. That’s what people who believe in individual freedom do.
Romney generated an internal ROI at Bain Capital of more than 100% a year for 18 consecutive years. That’s why he’s a legend in the industry…..add the number of years at the original Bain management, and it’s longer than Huckabee ever stayed in one position by a pretty good margin.
BTW, The length of Huckabee’s tenure in Arkansas is simply reflective of his passionate desire to be paid by taxpayers. Romney didn’t take a salary as Governor of Massachusetts.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Dave:
“BTW, The length of Huckabee’s tenure in Arkansas is simply reflective of his passionate desire to be paid by taxpayers. Romney didn’t take a salary as Governor of Massachusetts.”
Sounds to me like you’re saying that only those who are rich enough to refuse a salary should be in public office.
Also, shouldn’t the fact that Huckabee won two statewide elections in Arkansas show that he was willing to face the voters about his policies? Couldn’t it be said that Romney was ducking away from letting the voters judge him and his policies by refusing to run for another term?
February 24th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
73.
Except the divisive Palin loses to Obama in historical proportions throughout the states.
While the likeable and 10 1/2 year governor Huck, who gains even more Palin supporters in droves after she drops out, gives Obama quite a battle while winning all the Bush red states while trading Iowa for Colorado.
Palin on the other hand gets creamed all over the map..
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/
February 24th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Had Romney continued being Governor for another 6 or 7 years, he would have cut the state budget and workforce even more. That’s what people who believe in individual freedom do.
You don’t have a crystal ball to tell you what Romney MIGHT have done had he been reelected.
AND people who believe in individual freedom don’t diminsish their constituents’ individual freedom.
The length of Huckabee’s tenure in Arkansas is simply reflective of his passionate desire to be paid by taxpayers
Huckabee lived in a trailor during part of his tenure. And Romney didn’t need the cash.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Tax Freedom date in Arkansas during Huckabee’s 10-year tenure as governor started and ended on April 21st. Between 1996 and 2006, the Tax Freedom date in Arkansas moved back as much as 10 days earlier.
Huckabee = Net Zero Days
For further comparison, the Tax Freedom date in Massachusetts under Romney’s single term as governor (2002-2006) moved from April 24th to May 4th! Taxpayers had to work 10 days longer for Romney by the end of his term!
Romney = +10 Days
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22328.html
February 24th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
oops..
I didn’t mean to start the post numbers over.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Kelsey
MIKE GALLAGHER PRACTICALLY ENDORSES PALIN for PRESIDENT
================================
El Rushbo,Mark Levin,Gallagher….
The true conservatives are lining up very
enthusiastically behind Sarah Palin The
de facto conservative Leader of America.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
I also have a chart that shows on a per year basis that Governor Huckabee’s spending increase were slightly less than Governor Romney’s when you look at 10 1/2 years versus Mitt’s 4.
But I’ll save it for the good folks of Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida when we at Huck’s Army goes door to door.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
*go
February 24th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
The problem with the idea of Romney jettisoning his support for Romneycare is that Romney has to take a different path to win the nomination than the Palin or Huckabee side of the party. Romney’s not going to win by being the most doctrinaire ideological conservative in the party. He’s not going to win by being the canidate who gets the votes of ditto heads, or the far social right. Those positions will go to a Palin or Huckabee. Romney’s route is to be the results oriented conservative who takes a cold hard look at the data and makes results oriented decision.
There’s a chance that this will appeal to independents and moderates who think that Republicans are ideological fundamentalists who would drive America off a cliff if it meant sticking up for doctrinaire conservatism. These are the types that will be crossing the line to vote in the NH primary. If Romney wins NH the battle likely becomes between him and the winner of the Iowa primary. Romney then goes on to win NV while the other canidate wins SC, and the battle is on. At this point Romney will win a good deal of the West and he’ll win blue states, and he’ll have a shot at taking the nomination.
Now in a year of tea party fervor and after the party nominated a “Common Sense” conservative the last time, this may not be a winning route to the nomination, but I think its Romney’s best route as he’s simply not going to out-doctrinaire conservative the rest of the field.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
TEX,
Whoopeeeee! Palin’s got talk radio! Ask Romney how that worked out last time!
February 24th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
John Mark,
I agree with that. I just think Romney’s problem is that it’s one thing to be a results-oriented conservative who calculates the best decisions, with little concern for the red meat issues. That in itself isn’t damning. But when you combine that inability to connect on base issues with support for a program that is out of ideological bounds with the GOP, then it probably becomes a bridge too far.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
John Mark:
That’s a very good analysis.
I completely agree that Romney simply isn’t going to win the talk-radio primary as long as there are the Palin, Huckabee, and Bachmann types. He’s going to have to beat out Pawlenty, Huntsman Daniels/Barbour for the Competency Primary. If he does that, he has a good shot at the nomination, especially if the hard-core right types are divided.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
8, Perhaps, but I think Romney has a great shot at New Hampshire (especially considering the Dems and indys will be heavily voting in that primary )and then he’ll be one of last two canidates standing. If the other canidate is Palin he’ll have an excellent shot to go the rest of the way just based on electibility, and Huckabee also has some serious political liabilities that have not yet born full fruit. I’m not saying its going to be a cakewalk for Romney, but he does have a shot and it doesn’t involve him dropping support for Romneycare.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
9. Jon,
Huckabee has never had the talk radio folks on his side. They treated Huck and McCain most unfairly in ’08 (when they overwhelmingly preferred Romney) and will very likely again oppose Mike in ’12 for the most part.
Until the general versus Obama
February 24th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
My #90 was for #87 not #9.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
“He’s going to have to beat out Pawlenty, Huntsman Daniels/Barbour for the Competency Primary”.
===========================================
Competency at what?!
Being a corrupt,GOP hack?!
Get it in your heads:Not this time,No more RINOS!
Sarahcuda and TEA Party will make sure of that.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/24/florida-threatens-start-2012-primary-stampede/?test=latestnews
More evidence we need national primary legislation…the arrogance of Florida is shocking.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
88, Yes if Pawlenty, Huntsman, Daniels, or Barbour wins New Hampshire I’d say its likely over for Mitt. And even if its Iowa they win I think it will be much more difficult for Mitt as they don’t have the same political liabilities as Huck or Palin. Mitt’s best hope is for Huck or Palin to win Iowa and then to win NH himself – except for the hope of winning Iowa himself which I’d say is unlikely.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
#93:
New Hampshire is Romney’s do-or-die state this time, no question about it. He survived losing New Hampshire last time because of the unique candidacy of John McCain “New Hampshire’s Third Senator”. He has no excuse this time. Pawlenty, Hunstman, Daniels nor Barbour has the connection to New Hampshire that McCain had and Romney is from next door.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
More from yesterday’s Gallup 2012 Republican Nomination Survey –
February 24th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Thursday, 5:15 am: KTUU caught up with Team #11 in Nome and talked to Sarah Palin who is there supporting her husband:
“It’s stay out of the way,” Palin said as her husband Todd Palin and his Iron Dog teammate, Eric Quam, worked on their sleds on a blustery Wednesday night in Nome. “Those who are closest to these guys know what they need to do.”
Spousal support at the Iron Dog is more than just a happy wife cheering her husband on from the sidelines. At the Iron Dog, a race from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a stop in Nome, where average speeds can approach 80 mph on ice-covered rivers in Alaska’s remote Interior, spousal support means trekking to Nome for the halfway festivities — sometimes with snowmachine parts in hand…
“They’re out there and it’s 70 below sometimes, pitch black and they’re on a frozen river fixing a sled, but these guys can do that…I look at the life lessons in this race,” Sarah Palin said.
“I think these guys are the toughest men on the planet,” Palin said. “Girly men don’t ride the Iron Dog”.
=========================================
Who would you like to face and deal with dictators in
the world:
SARAHCUDA or some squishy “pragmatist”,”moderate”?!
This will decide the future of America.
Steady decline to oblivion under “moderate pragmatists”,
or revival to previous greatness under Sarah Palin.
American people will decide and get what they deserve,
either way.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Imo, Romney has to do what McCain did in NH & SC. Win both.
And Huck must win in IA & SC.
If Florida goes immediately after South Carolina (and I think it will), the momentum of a win in SC will carry to Florida. Ask McCain and everyone since 1980.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
I think huck needs to win iowa and sc while romney needs to win nhamp and nev. Than fl will pick the winner if it does indeed come down to those two.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
97, Nah, if he he wins NH and NV and Huckabee or Palin are the winners of IA and SC Romney will become the canidate for the big blue states.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
John Mark/Jonathan:
I think the difference in the Competence Primary will be that the other entrants are not encumbered by the RomneyCare albatross.
Not a prediction, by any means, but a thought that has periodically occurred to me: I will not be surprised if Romney does not survive to New Hampshire.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Romney wins two states in a row — NH and NV. Then comes SC. Who knows what will happen after Romney gets the endorsement of Haley, Graham and DeMint.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Blue,
No one really cares about Nevada especially the media and if any of the front runners skip it. And they always do to focus on South Carolina which the media will promote. Winning SC shows your powerful in the South.
Winning Iowa and SC means you’re powerful. Period.
Winning the trilogy of IA, SC, & FL. Game over.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Keep telling yourself that Craig, just keep telling yourself that.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Bob,
I wouldn’t be surprised if Romney doesn’t survive 2011.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50129.html
Lott favors Romney for 2012 – curious, this might very well give Mitt leverage on healthcare.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Conclusion: Palin is not as big in the Tea Party as you think.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
We’ll find out relatively soon. Someone upthread said that if Romney loses NH then he’s done. I’ve got to agree with that.
In ’08, Romney used the “McCain was the president of NH” excuse. He won’t have an excuse for a loss there this cycle.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Conclusion: Hardly anyone really trusts Mitt or Newt when it comes to social issues/moral values. But I coulda told you that. Actually, I have been saying it for a couple of years now.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Bob:
Even if they don’t have the Romneycare albatross, the others in the Competency Primary do have their own issues. Pawlenty has his flirting with cap-and-trade, Daniels has both the truce and the unions, Huntsman’s going to have to have a good answer to being Obama’s China Ambassador, and Barbour has the racial stuff from Mississippi.
Against a different set of candidates, ROmneycare might be crippling. Maybe it still will be, but our other Competency choices have their own milstones to deal with.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Agreed. Romney must win NH. However, he’s FARRRRRRR ahead of any of the potential nominees in the current polls. And Huckabee, Palin, Gingrich and Giuliani are all well known. I don’t see anyone who has the organization, energy and overall appeal to surpass Romney in NH.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
You know who is going to do surprisingly well in New Hampshire?
Rudy.
Take it to the bank.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Leave it to Craig to bring up tax freedom day, which compares the entire basket of taxes between states, as opposed to taxes at the state level. Mitt didn’t have any influence over county and municipal levies enacted by hard-core Leftists, almost to the man.
The fact is that Huckabee raised taxes…..lot’s of taxes, during his administration. Mitt NEVER raised a tax.
BTW, He ran to get the state out of a massive fiscal crisis. By the end of his 4 years, there WAS no crisis…..in fact, there was a $Billion surplus, so there wasn’t any reason to run for re-election. Now, the U.S., on the other hand, was moving rapidly into a major fiscal meltdown.
Firemen go where there are fires. Doctors treat the sick or dying.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
teledude,
LOL!! Rudy got 8% in New Hampshire.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Giuliani in NH 2008 – EPIC FAIL!
February 24th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
The reason why the Huckabee people don’t like talk show hosts is because they exposed Mike Huckabee. Huckabee raised taxes and when he spoke to the legislature, he said that a tax on tobacco would be acceptable. A sales tax or a income tax surcharge would be fine. He said whatever mix of tax increases is chosen, they would have his thanks. He flip flopped on school choice. He has supported a large number of big government programs like SCHIP. He supported Arkansas scholarschips for illegal aliens. He did not govern as a conservative.
Here is another statement he made in 2007. “I also support cap and trade of carbon emissions. And I was disappointed that the Senate rejected a carbon counting system to measure the sources of emissions, because that would have been the first and the most important step toward implementing true cap and trade.” He says he was talking about a voluntary system but it sure doesn’t sound like it.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
113. Actually Rudy got 9% in 2008.
He will be better funded this time.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
The reason why the Huckabee people don’t like talk show hosts is because they exposed Mike Huckabee.
But it should be remembered that those talk radio hosts only warmed up to Mitt when they had no other options. After railing about the evils of health care reform for a year and a half it’s certainly hard to see how the likes of Limbaugh and Savage and Ingraham jump on the Mitt bandwagon this year.
I have a feeling the Rombots are going to soon dislike the talkshow hosts just as much as Huckabee fans.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
If Rudy jumps into the race he may indeed to better in NH, as more Independents vote this year because of a lack of a competitive race on the Democrat side.
I have no idea whether or not Giuliani would do better than 8 or 9 percent – but it’s silly to think he COULDN’T.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Mitt Romney’s record of higher fees and taxes as governor
http://romneyfacts.com/issue_tax.php
1Boston Globe, 9/27/06
2http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_candidates_debate_round_2.html
3Boston Globe, 2/26/03
4Boston Globe, 9/6/06
5Massachusetts Municipal Association Research Bulletin, 4/3/06
February 24th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Jonathan (109): Do you really think right-to-work is as big a problem as health care? When was the last time before this week that you heard anyone bring up the subject? In the three years I’ve been hanging out here, I don’t recall it ever being discussed.
And the truce won’t matter as much in a competence debate.
In any case, Daniels can deal with both issues by saying: “Look at my record.”
Romney clearly can’t do the same, because his record is his problem.
The cases aren’t really comparable at all. (Which isn’t to say the issues aren’t there for Daniels, simply that they are nowhere near the size of the RomneyAlbatross).
As for Pawlenty, cap & trade will be a problem, but again not as bad as Romney’s.
How do you win a competence contest when your signature achievement is something voters hate?
February 24th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Gotta agree with Bob. None of the second tier candidates has the baggage that Romney has over health care.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Bob:
Certainly the “Competent Four” (Pawlenty, Daniels, Huntsman and Barbour) have issues that are less potentially crippling than Romneycare, but they are also less well known than Romney. If Romneyites or others start pouding them on those issues, they might never be able to get off the ground.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
122,
Maybe. But Romney’s issue has been at the forefront of all debate for a year and a half. And it will continue to be as the GOP makes repeated attempts to rollback ObamaCare.
I just don’t see how his problems aren’t a significant order of magnitude greater than those of the other four.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Romney would never have been reelected to a second term. The polls made that perfectly clear. And he knew it and left with terrible favorables.
Huckabee also left his state with almost a billion dollar surplus.
But he was “termed out” after 10 1/2 years, leaving with high favorables in the mid 60′s.
Again, who can top that?
February 24th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Mike Huckabee raised taxes, increased spending, increased the number of government employees, opposes school choice, supports cap and trade, and pardoned thousands of criminals, one of which went on to murder four people. But then again, he’s folksy and likable.
Mitt Romney is a self-made millionaire; as governor balanced the budget, turned as $3 billion deficit into a $500 million surpless, reduced unemployment, made zero pardons, and abolished the retroactive capital gains tax in Massachusetts. But he’s too smart, too well-educated, and too good looking, and he fliped (not flopped) on one issue.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Jonathan: Could be. We’ll see.
Chip: Paragraph 1 was a good list of Huckabee’s problems, but in paragraph 2 you left out RomneyCare.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Romney could not have been elected because he misled people.
Whether it was his “tone” or his actions, he alienated people in Massachusetts. He led the electorate to believe he was socially liberal, or at least centrist – and then he acted as a social archconservative (at least from the vantage point of the Mass. electorate) when he became governor. He didn’t campaign on being pro-life in 2002. Independents didn’t trust him after his metamorphasis.
Conservatives don’t trust him because they don’t trust the conversion. They think that Mitt really is a social liberal or moderate – because of how he presented himself prior to being elected governor. They then saw his magic conversion to social conservatism as opportunistic and too conveniently close to Mitt’s presidential run.
There was no way he was going to keep everyone happy. It’s sort of similar to Obama now. Obama was a blank slate in 2008. Now that he’s filled in the blanks – there was no way he wouldn’t lose support.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
#124; because the attitude towards Republicans in Arkansas is different than in Massachusetts. BTW, how was the shape of the Arkansas Republican Party when he left office?
February 24th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Oh Chipper,
CLEMENCY vs. PARDON FACTS:
Hey, Mitt said no to every single one for political purposes.
Even refusing to pardon National Guard Lt. Anthony Circosta, who had been convicted of assault at age 13 for “shooting another boy in the arm with a BB gun, a shot that didn’t break the skin,” according to the AP. After returning from duty in Iraq, Circosta wanted to become a police officer but needed to have his childhood charge pardoned first. Romney said get lost!
Governor Huckabee gave clemencies to approximately 246 convicts in 10 1/2 years. That’s around 2 per month.. after reading, studying, and discussing their individual and unique cases, like a 16 year old black male being given a 108 year sentence for one burglary and the stealing of a purse (without a gun) that Huck rightfully cut in half.
The rest of the 1,004 number were given pardons AFTER they had served their sentences and were released.
They requested a pardon so they could get a job.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
128,
because the attitude towards Republicans in Arkansas is different than in Massachusetts.
That’s not correct. Arkansas was essentially a Democrat state until very recently. The legislature was entirely controlled by Democrats. Massachusetts had Republican governors for 12 years in a row before Romney.
It’s true that politicians generally are more conservative in the south – but that doesn’t mean (or at least didn’t until recently) that they were any more pro-Republican.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
“They requested a pardon so they could get a job.”
In other words, they were not held to the full consequences of their actions.
—–
“Romney said get lost!”
Because Romney promised that he would not overrule the court system in Massachusetts.
What is worse, that someone who was convicted of a crime can’t get a partiuclar job, or setting career criminals lose on the population?
I’ll take inconvenience to deviants over four dead cops any day.
Yes, it was the Parole board who released Clemmons – but if Huckabee had looked at the record, saw the number of convictions this man had already on his list, and opposed release – do you really think he would have been set free?
February 24th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
This is my final take on Romney’s health care “problem”. Romney should frame it as part of his efforts to control the massive Massacusetts budget, not a statist attempt to control health care. The plan used existing dollars to steer the uninsured away from the emergency room and into the health care insurance market.
This narrative fits into how todays conservatives see todays conservative governors attempting to balance their budgets. Romney’s record fares well compared to those of Chris Christie and Scott Wilson, and the health care plan is part of his work to control the budget. The fact that subsequent governors expanded the program should not be laid at his feet any more than a successors’ big spending could be blamed on his predecessor.
The narrative goes as follows: When Romney was elected, he found himself facing a huge budget deficit. Without raising taxes, he overcame the budget crisis and balanced the budget. As governor, he found that the budget paid large amounts to hospitals to pay for uninsured health costs. If everyone had health insurance, more health care would be provided at lower cost, since the emergency room would no longer be a persons’ first place for care. Using existing funds, he was able to use Federal health care dollars to subsidize health insurance for those unable to afford health insurance. The main difference between the two plans is that Obamacare was designed for the entire nation, that the subsidies used to extend coverage result in unaffordable spending, and third, that Obama pushed through a devisive plan at a time when the country could least afford it. Governor Romney helped pass his plan with bipartisan support, and only after the budget crisis was resolved.
That would be my answer in a debate. If asked about the individual mandate, I would not apologize for it, but state that the plan could not work without extending coverage, and would not generate the kind of savings that they were after. If they had to do the plan again, they would work more on reducing costs.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Jonathan Says:
Bob:
“Certainly the “Competent Four” (Pawlenty, Daniels, Huntsman and Barbour) have issues”
==================================================
“Competent four”?Man,that’s a laugh!
T-Paw?What has he ever done that people instantly
remember???!!!
Except not lifting a finger to stop clown Al Franken
stealing the election in his state.
Daniels?!
Bushie Budget Director?Selling Indiana assets to fix
that state budget?That’s competence?!He cooked his goose!
Huntsman,the liberal RINO?!The serial quitter?!Working
for Obama?!Geez!!!!!
Barbour?!The slick back room cigar chomping lobbyist?!
You mean Boss Hog?!
“Competent four”?!.No wonder this country is at the edge
of a cliff!
February 24th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
Romney made no pardons as a matter of principle. BTW, I still haven’t heard your excuse for Huckabee giving clemency to a convicted felon and rapist, only to have him murder four police officers.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
On Clemmons Case:
Mike Huckabee said from Fox News, “I was making it based on the case of a 16-year-old black male who was given 108 years, which was far more of a sentence for a robbery than most people would get for murder. There was a whole string of things that went wrong in the case of Maurice Clemmons. He went back to prison after his parole and he should’ve stayed there. But later, both Washington state and my successor messed up the paperwork, and he wasn’t held.”
You think Obama is going to bring that up? Get real.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
TEX, I’d be interested in seeing how you view the candidates at handling crises. Daniels and Romney have bridged budget gaps, Barbour had Katrina, Pawlenty had a bridge collapse. What were Huck and Palin’s challenges? Too much money in tax revenue?
February 24th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
136,
Huck did well enough by his constituents to be reelected twice. That has to count for something.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
In fact, when America faced a financial collapse, America turned to Sarah Palin for answers. How did Sarah respond? She gave the worst two interviews a Pres or VP candidate has ever given in history. Not exactly confidence inspiring.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
137 Can you specifically think of a crisis that Huck had to resolve? I am genuinely interested. We’ve got a lot of problems in the country and I’d like to see how Huck would react.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Graphic/2011/02/07/020711_prisoners__1297081899_5000.gif
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/07/parole_records_under_romney_patrick_similar/
February 24th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Huck’s calculating here and maybe he too sees that RomneyCare would actually make Mitt the best GOP nominee to take on Obama on Healthcare.
http://mittromneycentral.com/2011/02/22/mitt-romney-vs-health-care-why-romneycare-makes-mitt-the-best-nominee-to-face-obama/
February 24th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
137,
Actually no, I can’t. I lived in Pennsylvania during the Ridge administration and still considered him an effective governor without any real “crisis.”
Bill Clinton certainly didn’t have a “crisis” in the sense that Bush had to deal with 9/11 and two wars and an economic collapse. But the fact that Clinton didn’t have to deal with similar crises doesn’t make him less of a president (though other failures do).
But I’d take a competent executive that did well by his voters in his respective state for decade over someone whose natural instincts is to make his constituents less free any day.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
“a robbery”
It wasn’t A ROBBERY – it was repeated Robbery. When a man can honestly be described as a career criminal before his 18th birthday…I’m not sure that is one I want to let out of jail.
In any case – not many primary voters are going to sympathize with either a repeated teenage thug, or the governnor who let him out of jail.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
108 years?
February 24th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
..that Huck reduced to 50 years.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Wait there was the time when Huck’s son tortured and killed some dogs and Huck’s team had to cover that up. So there was a crisis after all. High marks all around Huck!
February 24th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
“108 years?”
He would not have served the whole thing – but he was prematurely let out of jail.
I can’t remember the exact numbers, but it was either the time he served before he was let out, or the time he would have served before being normally elligable for release, amounted to less than 2 years for each armed robbery.
That isn’t much.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
This is what I find so fascinating.
Governor Palin is more ‘competent,’ by a wide margin, than those four second tier candidates listed.
She can easily win the ‘competent’ vote (is that really a voting block, or did you guys just make that up for the boring candidates)
the Evangelical (social conservative) vote,
The fiscal conservative vote,
the economic security vote (jobs)
The national security vote,
the energy independence vote
the independent voters vote
the women’s vote
and she will bring hundreds of thousands if not millions of new voters into the ranks of primary voters.
You guys are whistling past the graveyard.
I don’t blame you, the reality would be too frightening for you to face. So take solace in meaningless poll numbers.
You will eventually have to make a choice…
Palin or Obama
http://cubachi.com/2011/02/24/huckabee-says-running-for-president-is-too-expensive/
February 24th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I’ll have to look those exact numbers up again….
But read through his record. Bringing guns to school, armed robbery, violent behavior in court, violent behavior in prison…..
This is the man who was considered safe enough to go free?
February 24th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Governor Palin is more ‘competent,’ by a wide margin, than those four second tier candidates listed.
She’s really really not viewed that way, man. That’s the reality. Say it’s not fair. Say it’s because she was smeared – whatever.
But Palin is NOT viewed as competent.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Teledude. Sarah Palin is clearly deranged. Everyone knows it by know. She’s going to have her finger on the nuclear button, even during that time of the month. We all know how thin-skinned and paranoid she is. Doesn’t that make you a bit nervous? Why don’t you move on to someone who displays less traits of the mentally insane? Michelle Bachmann would be a good fit for you. Face it, Sarah Palin will never be President. She is a national joke. When the items from this latest book hit Saturday Night Live, everyone will be laughing at her, again. I mean, its a good thing she will never be President, because she just doesn’t have anything to wear, and God knows it too.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
She’s going to have her finger on the nuclear button, even during that time of the month.
That’s uncalled for, dude.
There’s plenty to say about Palin besides that.
You’re not one of those Mormons who thinks that women shouldn’t be in any position of authority, are you?
February 24th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Asparagus,
Why does Romney have to make a narrative instead of just telling the truth about Romneycare. When the Conservatives hear “mandated healthcare” that will be all she wrote.
How will Romney explain that during his tenure, his state of MA had one of the highest unemployment in all of the U.S. (in the bottom three)? All of the other states, including Arkansas, were having much better success with unemployment. How will that statistic bode well for Romney when all he wants to talk about are jobs? Could be a good ad for his opponents don’t you think?
February 24th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Massachusetts is a wealthy state with a large safety net. I’d probably live better unemployed in Massachusetts than employed in Arkansas. I would say the crisis required leadership to correct the massive budget deficit. Mitt Romney accomplished all his goals as governor. Oh and there’s this thing called structural unemployment. So if the new governor has done better, I’d like you to show me. During this recession I kind of doubt it.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
149.
Adam, you are correct.
But it is a year away from the first caucus and almost two years away from the general.
People have a false idea about Palin due to the three year campaign to smear her.
She has a hill to climb, but it won’t be hard because she has truth on her side.
Once the campaign starts she will be able to turn those impressions around easily.
Just as she did with that mixed audience in Long Island.
She is in great shape because all her ‘negatives’ are phony impressions that have only lowered the ‘expectations’ bar for her.
She has no real ‘negative’ to overcome like authoring a government health plan, or raising taxes, or letting dangerous criminals out of prison, et al.
This is why relying on all these polls now is not really smart. These things change all the time.
There was a reason she had a 90% approval rating in Alaska. You cannot deny her charisma and personality. Her record (which no one ever talks about) is flawless; a perfect example of conservative governance.
Perhaps you’ve forgotten some of the things she accomplished in Alaska. You will be reminded.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Vote for Truth, I would say that Arkansas benefited from Wal-Marts retail success during that time period. I would say that the economy favored service economies during this time as the low value of the dollar allowed us to import goods cheaply and sell them around the country. Why do you think Huck was able to get away with taxing so much? Also, Massachusetts never experienced the kind of housing boom that was happening in other parts of the country, therefore, fewer jobs were created from the housing market than were occurring in places like Las Vegas and Florida, as people migrated to warmer climates. Once the housing bust happened, those jobs dissappeared in those places. So if anything, the job climate in Massachusetts was probably more even than those in other parts of the country that were more affected by the housing boom.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
.150 Assparigus
Congratulations, that was an almost perfect parroting of the liberal narrative that has been spoon fed to groupthink sheep for three years.
You can really pick up on that stuff!
Here is the thing about Governor Palin: She is a reflecting pool of liberal pathology.
Those lacking in intelligence scream, “She’s dumb!”
Those lacking in accomplishment scream, “She’s unqualified!”
Those lacking in sanity scream, “She’s crazy!”
Those lacking in civility scream, “She’s divisive!”
It is amazing to watch the psychological projection.
Thanks for self identifying.
Now we know a little more about you.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
156 it turns out that the left is sometimes right. Everyone has to judge for themselves. Funny how you accuse me of “groupspeak” when you are parroting talking points about Sarah and try to lump me in with the left. You tell me to ignore polls. You say that Sarah, despite being in the news 24/7, will win enough of us over to not only win the nomination, but to beat Barack Obama in a landslide. You have drunk the Kool-Aid big time. I know what my candidates faults are and I accept them. You on the other hand dismiss indications that Sarah might not be our Savior after all.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Asparagus: “Sarah Palin is clearly deranged.”
That may be clear to you, but not to anyone else.
I’m not a Palin backer but that is very uncalled for, and says far more about you than her.
Please do the decent thing and apologize.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
.157
But you haven’t listed any of her ‘faults.’
‘She’s crazy’ is as patently false as saying she doesn’t know how to read, or that she can see Russia from her house.
I’m sorry, but if you parrot infantile falsehoods, what do you expect me to think….that you’re some type of ‘independent thinking intellectual’ LOL
Okay, explain to me how you arrived at these thoughtful conclusions of Governor Plain. (watching Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow doesn’t count)
February 24th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
asparagus Says:
“TEX, I’d be interested in seeing how you view the candidates at handling crises”.
=====================================
When she became Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin
had a choice:
Go along with self described CBC-Corrupt Bustards Club,
corrupt political system,get along with the biggest Oil
companies in the world and get rich,or risk everything
and fight the low life scum.
She fought them,sent several crooks of her own Party to
prison and beat the biggest Oil CO. in the world for
the benefit of Alaska.
That’s a fearless leader,that’s why they call her
Sarah Barracuda!
February 24th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
I’ve read a lot of comments on here talking about how much Huckabee increased government employees and Romney cut them. With all the news going on in WI about how much in debt the state is partly due to state employees wages and benefits – how do Massachusetts and Arkansas compare in their state debt and funding state employee pensions? Supposedly both Romney and Huckabee inherited deficits and left surpluses. Which Gov. left their state in better condition?
This interactive map was done in Nov. I don’t know if there is one that is more updated.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
I will not apologize. She is self-obsessed, paranoid, and extremely thin-skinned, and all that is based on concrete examples that have been well publicized. We’re walking a plank if this woman ever gets near the nomination. She’s proven herself incompetent in handling the press, she quit her only job that qualifies her for the Presidency (yeah, yeah, she was a mayor big deal), and she has proven that she can’t be trusted to handle a crisis. Tell me why we should nominate this person? Its not enough to repeat talking points about conservative orthodoxy. Palin couldn’t even remember her own stance on abstinence education. This is a leader? I would vote for any of the other candidates, even Mike Huckabee to lead this country, but Sarah Palin, I cannot. If you would trust her to lead you into battle, its your funeral. But when she yells charge, and you run up the hill and find that she has run off the opposite direction, you will see that I was right. Just be sure you know where she is leading you, becuase if that anecdote about abstinence education is any indication, I’d bet she doesn’t even know herself.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
The only apology that needs to be given is from Gov. Huckabee to four families in Washington state who will never be the same due to his incompetence.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
162,
She’s going to have her finger on the nuclear button, even during that time of the month.
THIS is what you should apologize for.
Because it made you come off as kind of a misogynist asshole.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
February 24th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Max,
The Maurice Clemmons Case: We Blamed the Wrong Arkansas Governor
Clip from article: (emphasis mine)
February 24th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
assparagus, you are in for a surprise.
When you find yourself sounding just like Kieth Olbermann, it’s time to check yourself.
Just trying to be helpful.
You don’t have to support her, but repeating lies that every republican knows is a lie makes you look bad. Dude.
That is debased behavior, you should try to rise above that if you can.
Think about it.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Craig,
It looks like we think alike – but I do everything in Granny speed.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Wow! Asparagus,
You’ve reached a new low, and that’s hard to do around here.
Perhaps you should apologize to the Palin supporters.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Arkansas and Massachusetts might as well be different countries. It’s practically useless to do any sort of comparison between the two. Labor unions have historically been very weak in Arkansas. In fact, labor unions pulled all the stops in 2010 to stop Democrat Blanche Lincoln from being re-elected, yet, they were unable to influence the election. I don’t know much about the public employee unions.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Teletude, I would like you to point out which lies I have repeated about the governor. Did she not quit her job? Does she not lash out against perceived enemies? Has she not invited the media attention she supposedly dislikes. Again, tell me which lies I have repeated.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:01 am
You’re not one of those Mormons who thinks that women shouldn’t be in any position of authority, are you?
I wasn’t aware of this sentiment among the Mormon community. Thanks for clearing it up. It explains a lot.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:01 am
Granny T,
I barely beat ya.
I almost didn’t post it today but I thought it might help out Max and one or two others here with the facts.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:02 am
172,
Generalizations suck, don’t they?
February 25th, 2011 at 12:04 am
164 its not every woman that I would be concerned about, only this woman, who frequently displays poor judgment.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:06 am
asparagas, You’re making an ass of yourself. I’d stop now if I were you.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:08 am
I’ve often said that Huck got a bad rap on the clemency issue. However, one point mentioned here in his defense doesn’t make sense to me, i.e. the reduction of his sentence from 108 years to 50 or whatever. 50? That would mean he should still be behind bars for another 40+ years, right?
Well, there’s the issue of parole which makes the 100 years or 50 years meaningless. Obviously, the reduction to “50 years” resulted in him being out after a very short period of time. So, did Huck have no idea that parole was possible? Or, did he know and chose to exercise his part of the process that, in the end, resulting in this guy being released when he was?
February 25th, 2011 at 12:09 am
164.Granny T Says:
February 24th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
I’ve read a lot of comments on here talking about how much Huckabee increased government employees and Romney cut them. With all the news going on in WI about how much in debt the state is partly due to state employees wages and benefits – how do Massachusetts and Arkansas compare in their state debt and funding state employee pensions? Supposedly both Romney and Huckabee inherited deficits and left surpluses. Which Gov. left their state in better condition?
http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/20/states-debt-pensions-interactive-map.html
===
Great find, Granny T
February 25th, 2011 at 12:10 am
180,
That’s why I posted #142.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Mitt is “Proud of Romneycare”. So much for Huck’s advice.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50161.html
February 25th, 2011 at 12:28 am
Repent, Mitt!!!
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50161.html#ixzz1EwgSF4m3
February 25th, 2011 at 12:49 am
“I will not be surprised if Romney does not survive to New Hampshire.”
Perhaps it will finally shut up the Rombots with their incessant chatter and adorant worshipping of Romney. Well, whatever comes I guess.
Curious though that Romney felt the need to respond to Huckabee over Romneycare though. Apparently he’s not such a fool like a lot of people here on Race42012 and knows he will be facing Huck.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:57 am
#135 “You think Obama is going to bring that up? Get real.”
Nope, but Republicans in the primary will!
February 25th, 2011 at 12:58 am
asparagus,
You are the slimiest piece of crap that ever
crawled from under the rock and posted on this
site.
I wouldn’t ban you,but a scum like you I would
love to meet in a dark ally.
Go back in the sewer where you belong,and stay there.
February 25th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Tex, you and asparagus and teledude are all cut from the same cloth. The only thing that separates you three is the people you support.
February 25th, 2011 at 1:09 am
Stephen,
What happened?
Still in your mother’s basement?
Can’t get a girlfriend?
February 25th, 2011 at 1:21 am
HUCKABEE: I understand that. They did not support me before. But that’s okay. I mean, I can live with that knowledge, and I understand that.
Again, good personal terms, but I would never expect there to be a rally in which George W. Bush or Dick Cheney came out and stood up on the stage and said “this is our guy” unless they had to.
Why is it that the strongest evangelical President would not back Huck? Why would the former Vice President and conservative icon not back Huck? Perhaps, because he’s not a conservative!?!
This admission that Huck knows he has no big time support comes on the heels of his latest round of fretting publicly about his lack of financial security and lack of political funding. Naturally, Huck’s done nothing to fix his funding problems, personally or politically!
February 25th, 2011 at 2:36 am
TEX, the fact that you have to resort to ad hominems means that what I had to say hit way to close to home for you. If you had any thinking power at all, your last statement proved what I said about you was true.
No matter, its not like you will get it anyway, you have willingly threw away your intellectual capacity in the pursuit of a idol. I have neither the time nor the inclination to debate someone who persists in gradeschool terms.
Max Twain, it is unfortunate you cannot see past money. Oh well, it doesn’t matter for me. Keep talking yourself into irrelevance.
February 25th, 2011 at 2:49 am
If Romneycare was so bad then why wasn’t it a big issue in the 08 campaign?!
February 25th, 2011 at 3:39 am
Mitt Romney is as phony as a 3 dollar bill. He is a multiple choice Republican who always takes the position most favorable to him politically. He gets most of his money from fat cats and Wall Street. His biggest donors are employees of Goldman Sachs. He also meets with K-Street Republicans in Washington DC. This guy is nothing but an insider.
If Palin runs then she will have the opportunity to change the perceptions. She was very impressive at the Long Island businessmen’s meeting that she attended. If she can do that in the debates and campaigning, she has a shot.
The thing about this is that this function was a meeting that had independents, Republicans, and Democrats. When we talk about Republicans we are not talking about Palin Republicans. They are probably closer to Romney Republicans. Yet she connected with the audience and changed some minds.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:17 am
Before Mike Huckabee starts doling out advice to his potential political adversaries, he should take a look at the mirror and acknowledge some of his own less that judicious decisions. Hello 1033 clemencies.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Huck needs to take his own advise.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Teledude. Nix that woman vote. We don’t vote for her just because she has indoor plumbing. She’s pretty much lost the womans vote, and many others you cite as well.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:37 am
The only reason RomneyCare has been able to cover more people in MA is because those who were not formally covered have been given an entitlement –- a hand-out which enables them to work the system to their advantage, but to the disadvantage of everyone else, not just the other citizens of MA, but of the whole United States. Yes, that is right, the whole United States. RomneyCare is subsidized through MediCare and MediAid which are federal programs. RomneyCare is propped up by national taxpayer funds to make it appear a more viable option. Even with this assistance, it is still a miserable failure and has increased the cost of healthcare in MA and at the same time reduced its availability by the resulting restrictions which have and will inevitably come. It is a failure in every respect and has even involved every taxpaying American citizen in funding abortion by means of its national federal taxpayer assistance. It is an evil government program even at the state level, and no pro-life person should ever be deceived to think otherwise.
Without national funds paid by taxpayers in other states, the MA plan promoted and implemented by Romney, could not exist. His argument that states should have the right to implement their own plans is utterly deceptive. From whom would the subsidies come to support the implementation of similar plans by other states? Each state would need national assistance just as his state did, and that is nothing different than ObamaCare and the national takeover of the healthcare industry — and that is nothing less than classic socialism. Thus, every time Romney touts his program in MA, he is touting socialism, just more deceptively than Obama. This is why he must not become the Republican nominee.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Your argument is flawed because the tax dollars that fund Medicare and Medicaid come from taxpayers, and since Massachusetts likely pays more tax dollars to the Federal Govt than it receives, your argument is faulty. The idea of giving Fed Medicare dollars to the states is to give them flexibility in how those monies are spent.
February 25th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Romney Van Winkle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJsiBHYTFg
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/romney-van-winkle/
February 25th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
I guess Romney isn’t taking Huckabee’s advice on Romney care. http://planetromney.org/
February 25th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
“free markets”
Which one of these is a free market aspect to Romneycare?
1. To Citizens: You must buy insurance
2. To Insurance Companies: You must cover people with pre-conditions.
3. To Both: You cannot negotiate for a low-cost catastrophic plan.
4. To Both, Respectively: You must cover drug treatment, mental health problems and pregnancies. You must pay for these things even if you don’t want them.
5. To Companies: You must not raise rates above a certain level.
Matthew K. tell which of these major components are free-market based?
February 25th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
“he won’t invite Huckabee to dinner on David Letterman.”
I didn’t know Letterman offered dinner…
February 25th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Even if Romney did think a mandate was a good idea in Massachusetts, and even if you disagree with him, he clearly doesn’t think the federal government has the authority to impose a mandate. I don’t know what people are worried about. He isn’t going to impose a mandate on anyone because he knows he can’t and doesn’t want to. This seriously is one of the dumbest reasons to oppose Romney that I have heard.
February 26th, 2011 at 12:30 am
If Huckabee wasn’t such a douche bag, he’d come out and say what he’s actually for. He would say that Massachusetts should take money away from helping low income consumers buy insurance plans they choose, and put it into funding programs completely run by government where the money is allocated by a nontransparent politically controlled program. He would also say that Massachusetts should increase its mandates on insurance coverage to pre-reform levels, force people out of the insurance market by raising insurance prices, and then make insured taxpayers cover the costs of the uninsured. He would also say that he is against allowing consumers to choose from any insurance program they see fit, and be forced to choose only from the programs chosen for them by their employer. Hopefully Huckabee will be clear about what he stands for if he runs for President in 2012.
February 26th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
If Huck used the term RomneyCare, then he is an a-wipe.