The Huckster's out!

[River Hippie]

He seemed like such a personable guy but the talk about his links to Reconstructionist and Dominionist types scared me.

[gravitycrash]

God told him not to run.

The polls may have had something to do with it as well, but mostly God.

[River Hippie]

Reuters link .

[Snowboarder Bo]

AP story here.

gravitycrash isn't kidding, either.

Huckabee painted the decision as a spiritual one.

"Only when I was alone, in quiet and reflective moments, did I have not only clarity but an inexplicable inner peace," he said.

"Being president is a job that takes one to the limit of his or her human capacity. For me, to do it apart from the inner confidence that I was undertaking it without God's full blessing is simply unthinkable."

ETA: I wonder how many other Republican candidates will use this excuse, and then somehow backpedal when it's pointed out that it must mean that God wants Obama to be re-elected?

[gravitycrash]

Yeah I know but mainly through name recognition and lack of credible candidates.

Also I'm hoping the Republicans are trying to steer clear of the social issues this election since the economy seems a little more important right now to most people compared to school prayer or evolution or whatever else the nutters are on about.

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by gravitycrash

God told him not to run.

The polls may have had something to do with it as well, but mostly God.

He'd been polling pretty well for someone that wasn't trying. And his particular side of the conservative movement is pretty under-represented amongst GOP primary candidates, so he could probably grab a bunch of the vote. But he seems to have decided a while ago that he's happier raking in the dough at Fox and for writing his book then spending all day every day for the next year kissing babies in Iowa. Can't say I blame him.

Deep thought for the day: The GOP had built up a pretty impressive infrastructure of well funded think-tanks, publishing outfiits and media outlets for getting their message out. But I wonder if its not too well funded, so that the money lures people like Huckabee and Palin, who've had successful but short political careers, away from actually running for office. And as a corollary, also lure all the various "vanity candidates" into running for office despite the fact that they have no chance of winning, just so that they can get their names out there to access the cash cow.

[appleciders]

He's only 55. He can take a run in 2016, easy, or even 2020. How beatable Obama is depends greatly on the economy, which is hard to predict right now.

[Lord Feldon]

Originally Posted by gravitycrash

Also I'm hoping the Republicans are trying to steer clear of the social issues this election since the economy seems a little more important right now to most people compared to school prayer or evolution or whatever else the nutters are on about.

The problem with that is steering clear of social issues in the election doesn't mean that they'll steer clear of them in office.

[River Hippie]

Originally Posted by gravitycrash

Yeah I know but mainly through name recognition and lack of credible candidates.

Also I'm hoping the Republicans are trying to steer clear of the social issues this election since the economy seems a little more important right now to most people compared to school prayer or evolution or whatever else the nutters are on about.

It seems like despite thier promises to focus on "jobs" during the 2010 campaigns, they have spent a large part of thier political capitol on the same old Republican issues, stopping gay marriage, busting unions, eliminating Planned Parenthood and funneling money upwards.
I think Daniels got a spanking from the right for suggesting a truce on social issues. If he wants the nomination he will bow to thier pressure.

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by appleciders

He's only 55. He can take a run in 2016, easy, or even 2020. How beatable Obama is depends greatly on the economy, which is hard to predict right now.

Maybe, though history hasn't been kind to candidates that spend a long period out of public service and then run for Prez. Nixon is pretty much the only example I can think of in the last century who spent a full eight years sitting out before he tried. And Nixon was a far more established national figure then Huckabee before his "wilderness years".

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

God did tell Pat Robertson to run for president (and told him he would win) and now he is ordering Huck out. Pretty impressive for a guy who can't even vote.

[Captain Amazing]

I think Huckabee is just really content with his life right now. He's got a fairly successful TV show, he's got time to write books, and he has a lot of free time, so he figures why give that all up for the risks of a presidential campaign.

[Little Nemo]

Has God announced who he will be endorsing yet?

[aceplace57]

It's unfortunate. Huck was my Governor and he did a pretty good job. His personal views are very conservative, but he tended to govern from a moderate position. For example he's against abortion, but he didn't lobby or pressure the legislature for any bills hindering abortions. As Governor I rarely heard him take any very conservative positions. There wasn't a lot of controversy around him at all.

I rather see a moderate candidate from either party. I like people that govern from the center or at least close to it.

I agree. Plus I think Huck is thinking about what would happen if he won. That's potentially an 8 year commitment. He's not getting any younger. One look at George Bush and it's obvious what the stress of 8 years in office does to someone.

I think Huckabee is just really content with his life right now. He's got a fairly successful TV show, he's got time to write books, and he has a lot of free time, so he figures why give that all up for the risks of a presidential campaign.
Reply With Quote

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by Captain Amazing

I think Huckabee is just really content with his life right now. He's got a fairly successful TV show, he's got time to write books, and he has a lot of free time, so he figures why give that all up for the risks of a presidential campaign.

I tend to agree here. I think he saw the winds were not blowing his way this electoral cycle, so there wasn't much point in giving up a good gig for a campaign that was not likely to succeed. The last couple of weeks I figured he wasn't going to run.

[Manda JO]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

Maybe, though history hasn't been kind to candidates that spend a long period out of public service and then run for Prez. Nixon is pretty much the only example I can think of in the last century who spent a full eight years sitting out before he tried. And Nixon was a far more established national figure then Huckabee before his "wilderness years".

It's not the same "wilderness" anymore, though: between book tours, TV shows, spots on other people's TV shows, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and speaking engagements you can stay much more in people's minds.

[Paul in Qatar]

Originally Posted by River Hippie

He seemed like such a personable guy but the talk about his links to Reconstructionist and Dominionist types scared me.

Exactly. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. I would not want him the oval office.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by appleciders

He's only 55. He can take a run in 2016, easy, or even 2020.

Not if he doesn't lay off the cheeseburgers.

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Not if he doesn't lay off the cheeseburgers.

He can't haz cheezburger?

No, he can't. Ed Rollins, I think, in laying out his case why Huckabee wouldn't run, cited the thirty or forty pounds Huckabee had put on as evidence that he wasn't going to run. There seems to be some thinking that voters won't accept a fat candidate--too personallly undisciplined to serve as CinC, perhaps? "What's that you say? A plane just crashed into the WTC? Mmmm, that piece of cake looks tasty, must have a bite..." Bad news for Chris Christie?

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

He can't haz cheezburger?

No, he can't. Ed Rollins, I think, in laying out his case why Huckabee wouldn't run, cited the thirty or forty pounds Huckabee had put on as evidence that he wasn't going to run. There seems to be some thinking that voters won't accept a fat candidate--too personallly undisciplined to serve as CinC, perhaps? "What's that you say? A plane just crashed into the WTC? Mmmm, that piece of cake looks tasty, must have a bite..." Bad news for Chris Christie?

I think it may tank Newt's run, also. People don't trust fat politicians or fat priests. How can you run a lean, mean government, when you can't discipline yourself?

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

He can't haz cheezburger?

No, he can't. Ed Rollins, I think, in laying out his case why Huckabee wouldn't run, cited the thirty or forty pounds Huckabee had put on as evidence that he wasn't going to run. There seems to be some thinking that voters won't accept a fat candidate--too personallly undisciplined to serve as CinC, perhaps? "What's that you say? A plane just crashed into the WTC? Mmmm, that piece of cake looks tasty, must have a bite..." Bad news for Chris Christie?

Huckabee's weight-loss was part of how he sold himself last election (I think he wrote a book about it), so gaining weight would probably be more damaging for him then it would be for other candidates who hadn't made a big deal out of their self-discipline in saying no to cheeseburgers.

Originally Posted by MandaJO

It's not the same "wilderness" anymore, though: between book tours, TV shows, spots on other people's TV shows, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and speaking engagements you can stay much more in people's minds.

Maybe, though I'm not sure the public is going to take a candidate seriously that they know primarily through eight years or more of "Obama is a jerk" Twitters and appearances on reality shows. I imagine we'll see more people try in the next couple cycles though (this year we already have Newt and Gary Johnson), so I guess we'll find out.

[gonzomax]

Originally Posted by appleciders

He's only 55. He can take a run in 2016, easy, or even 2020. How beatable Obama is depends greatly on the economy, which is hard to predict right now.

The Repubs know that. That is why they will do everything they can to stifle the economy and increase the debt. Then they will blame Obama.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

...
Deep thought for the day: The GOP had built up a pretty impressive infrastructure of well funded think-tanks, publishing outfiits and media outlets for getting their message out.....

I think this needs a but of tweaking. My version:

Rich conservatives have built up a pretty impressive infrastructure of well funded think tanks, media outlets, and Republican elected officials/candidates.

[njtt]

I actually got a robo-call from Huckabee a few weeks ago. Robo-Huckabee wanted my support in his efforts to repeal Obamacare. I feel he does not really know me as well as he seems to think.

[Skammer]

I'm almost certainly going to vote for Obama again, but Huck was easily my favorite Republican despite a couple of flaws. I probably would have voted for him in the Republican primary (probably no point in voting in the Democratic primary next year).

I doubt it had to do with his poll numbers, which were actually very good. But he likes what he's doing now and recognizes that Obama would be tough to beat. Plus I don't think he likes raising money for campaigns, and he would need a LOT to race against Obama.

I believe him when he said he feels called by God to do what he's doing now. Good for him.

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by Skammer

Plus I don't think he likes raising money for campaigns, and he would need a LOT to race against Obama

He runs his own PAC to raise money for GOP campaigns even when he isn't himself running, so I don't think he has any problem with fundraising (see njtt's post). Or at least, he doesn't dislike it enough to forgo the perks that come with having money to distribute to GOP candidates.

[Boyo Jim]

He should try to convince Stephen Colbert to use his new Super PAC to fund him. It would certainly be a sound investment in comedy gold.

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

Originally Posted by River Hippie

He seemed like such a personable guy but the talk about his links to Reconstructionist and Dominionist types scared me.

Again, any proof?

Anyway Huckabee was after Romney and perhaps Pawlenty one of my favoured candidates. Sad to see him not run.

[Boyo Jim]

Proof of what, exactly? He said every young person in America should be forced at gunpoint if necessary to pay attention to David Barton.

David Barton is a revisionist of history. Here is a NY Times article about him.

One of the more telling passages is :

“The problem with David Barton is that there’s a lot of truth in what he says,” said Derek H. Davis, director of church-state studies at Baylor University, a Baptist institution in Waco, Tex. “But the end product is a lot of distortions, half-truths and twisted history.”

[River Hippie]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

Again, any proof?

Anyway Huckabee was after Romney and perhaps Pawlenty one of my favoured candidates. Sad to see him not run.

Proof that there is talk that Huck has ties to Dominionism

Proof that there is talk that Huck has ties to Reconstructionism

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

Originally Posted by River Hippie

Proof that there is talk that Huck has ties to Dominionism

Proof that there is talk that Huck has ties to Reconstructionism

I don't find this much of a concern since our current President has associated with a terrorist and was the member of a church whose preacher spoke treason. *Shrugs*

[Marley23]

You forgot to mention that he's Kenyan. Or Indonesian, depending on what day you asked Huckabee.

[Boyo Jim]

You have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

I don't find this much of a concern since our current President has associated with a terrorist and was the member of a church whose preacher spoke treason. *Shrugs*

You asked for evidence. So what that someone else does something that you think is bad?

Are you denying the validity of the evidence?

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

You asked for evidence. So what that someone else does something that you think is bad?

Are you denying the validity of the evidence?

So, yes, he associates with Christian Reconstructionists and perhaps is sympathetic to their ideas. What's so wrong with that-Obama has not put the far more insane ideas of Ayres into practice, neither will Huckabee should he be elected-he did not when he was governor of Arkansas.

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

the far more insane ideas of Ayres

I'm not sure what ideas you're you're talking about here, but I'm not at all persuaded that they're "far more insane" than the ideas of Christian reconstructionists.

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

I'm not sure what ideas you're you're talking about here, but I'm not at all persuaded that they're "far more insane" than the ideas of Christian reconstructionists.

Ayers has no economic sense, no concept of real social order, while Reconstructionism would mean a return to the days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

So, yes, he associates with Christian Reconstructionists and perhaps is sympathetic to their ideas. What's so wrong with that-Obama has not put the far more insane ideas of Ayres into practice, neither will Huckabee should he be elected-he did not when he was governor of Arkansas.

First of all, writing a book with one of them is quite a bit more than "associating" with some of them, and WAY more than going to some cocktail party with a leftist academic.

Second, virtually EVERYONE who sit in a church listen to preachers preach is listening to big lies, because that's what priests do. And Obama has at the least pulled away from the preacher, Huckabee continues to embrace his set of madmen.

Last, you ASKED for evidence, and two of went to the trouble of finding it for you. And then you dismiss it because you don't care in the first place. That is just plain rude. Next time, if you don't care about evidence, don't ask for it.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

Ayers has no economic sense, no concept of real social order, while Reconstructionism would mean a return to the days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Is that not insane? Tell me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't we all have to be members of their church? Wouldn't there be witch burnings? Women who couldn't vote?

You find this reasonable?

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

Is that not insane? Tell me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't we all have to be members of their church?

On the contrary church membership percentage-wise was actually lower than to-day because they wished to make sure you were saved before you became a church member.

Wouldn't there be witch burnings?

Which was condemned by all major clergymen and politicians within months.

Women who couldn't vote?

That is a debated point within such circles.

You find this reasonable?

Not my ideal society, but better then Ayers' version of utopia.

[Marley23]

This is really irrelevant. Qin Shi Huangdi, you asked for a cite on the Dominionist issue and you got one. The whole topic may be irrelevant, but if you don't care about it in the first place, it doesn't make sense to continue on the tangent AND drag Obama into it.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

On the contrary church membership percentage-wise was actually lower than to-day because they wished to make sure you were saved before you became a church member.

Which was condemned by all major clergymen and politicians within months.

Ooh, months! A little slow for the people in the bonfires.

That is a debated point within such circles.

Yup, debated until, ... um was it 1926?

Not my ideal society, but better then Ayers' version of utopia.

Ok, I'm going to ask YOU for a cite about what Ayers sees as uptopia. Not what someone else claims he says, but what HE says.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Marley23

This is really irrelevant. Qin Shi Huangdi, you asked for a cite on the Dominionist issue and you got one. The whole topic may be irrelevant, but if you don't care about it in the first place, it doesn't make sense to continue on the tangent AND drag Obama into it.

Oops, read this too late, and I have to say I agree. Forget it, Qin, we a re hijacking a thread.

[Try2B Comprehensive]

Considering the personal problems I've had with evangelicals, combined with how annoying they became when encouraged by W, I would not have voted for Huckabee unless he were running against Satan Himself.

Now that he is no longer threatening to hijack our political system, well, he is kinda cute isn't he?

[Locrian]

You're a baptist preacher (former or current), you shouldn't be allowed to run, vote or raise a family. You have the right to keep your delusion, you DON'T have the right to force it on other people, even "at gunpoint", and you're not allowed to futz up the education system either. Just let people who can think for themselves take care o' that, preacher.

I've never been more happy to hear he's not running THIS time, but just wait for 2016.

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

By 2016, he'll make Chris Christie look like Kate Moss.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Locrian

You're a baptist preacher (former or current), you shouldn't be allowed to run, vote or raise a family. You have the right to keep your delusion, you DON'T have the right to force it on other people, even "at gunpoint", and you're not allowed to futz up the education system either. Just let people who can think for themselves take care o' that, preacher.

I've never been more happy to hear he's not running THIS time, but just wait for 2016.

Religious people shouldn't run for office. Gotcha. Too bad. I liked Obama.

[Chronos]

I'm sure that Locrian is trying to whoosh somebody, but I'm not sure whom. I mean, surely he doesn't think that religious people (or maybe just Baptists) shouldn't be allowed to raise a family.

[gonzomax]

Originally Posted by Qin Shi Huangdi

I don't find this much of a concern since our current President has associated with a terrorist and was the member of a church whose preacher spoke treason. *Shrugs*

That was intended to big big whoosh wasn't it? I sure hope so.

[Steve MB]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

Next time, if you don't care about evidence, don't ask for it.

Also, folks; program one of your function keys to type "Qin Shi Huangdi is on record as not caring about evidence" with a link to that post. I'll save time by enabling you to focus on people who are actually interested in ideas.