SC GOP Debate - Jan. 10, 2008 - Part One

Fred took his shots at Huckabee tonight!

It was sad to see Fred at the end of the stage asking, "can I answer that... can I address that?" Thompson insisted he wanted to talk about the Reagan coalition. But when Fox News gave him the opportunity he attacked Huckabee with the usual Club for Growth Bull $^!t. (Thompson's SC Press Secretary, Josh Gross, runs the Club for Growth's SC office) I wonder if Thompson has any positions or ideas of his own, every word I've heard from Thompson's mouth came right from a paid consultant or Republican special interest group.

I'd like to encourage grassroots social conservatives to show up for this battle for their party and movement. We've stood by and allowed the Wall Street Republicans run our party for 10 years, look where that got us in 2006. Democrats have sold out to MoveOn.org and the Republican elites have sold out to Wall Street and their paid consultants. I know several of these consultants and most would do about anything to get a pay check playing the political game. Let's face it, most aren't employable in industry; and other than the long hours on election night "it's not bad work." Most consultants aren't even behind their own candidates.

Fred did say something that social conservatives should pay attention to - something indicative of how he thinks. Thompson, when talking about he Reagan coalition, mentioned the fiscal and defense coalitions but didn't mention the social or second amendment conservatives. He certainly didn't mention the cross over Democrats that helped President Reagan get elected. If Thompson is the conservative he claims to be how could he overlook the evangelicals and pro-gun Republicans in his comments. (Because he's written them out of "his" coalition) My friends, Governor Huckabee is the only candidate in the race that can honestly build a winning general election campaign with coalitions of pro-life, pro-family, pro-2A, pro-defense, fiscal and social conservatives in the Republican and Democratic Party. I've talked with several Democrats that see Governor Huckabee as someone they could support in the general election.

Thompson took another cheap shot at Huckabee in talking about the NEA. I don't know why Thompson has a problem with getting an endorsement from a teachers union. The union may tend to be liberal but not all teachers are. (especially in SC) Huckabee understands that the only way to change those opinions is to have an open and honest dialogue about education. Huckabee is the only Republican to even engage the NEA - not that they shouldn't endorse Huckabee, but the NEA had no choice but to endorse him for the Republican nomination. Huckabee understands that the President needs to represent all Americans; not just those that he agrees with. Thompson claims that the NEA endorsed Huckabee because (Thompson claims) Huckabee is against school vouchers. (not true) In contrast the leadership (and money) of South Carolinians for Responsible Government and Conservatives in Action is working for Thompson for the simple reason he does support vouchers. SCRG & CIA is willing to overlook Thompson's record on McCain-Feingold, No Child Left Behind, gun control, and working as an abortion lobbyist; because Thompson promises to support Federal legislation for school vouchers. These priorities seem a little backwards to me. They are not acting responsibly nor conservatively - but with big money supporters - they sure are profitable. It's ironic, that in crafting McCain-Feingold, Thompson claims he wanted to reform campaign finance; but Thompson has 527 groups (with paid employees) working full time on his campaign staff in SC. (Conservatives in Action)

In conclusion, I wonder if anyone is really paying attention to Thompson. At the end of the day Thompson is unelectable. Even the participants of the Frank Luntz Focus group, who said Thompson won the debate; said it's too little to late and that Fred doesn't stand a chance of winning. Thompson isn't able to raise money. (These days, Huckabee is raising more than Thompson) Thompson isn't polling well, anywhere. Thompson is considered an after thought by the media. The turn out at Thompson events is a fraction of that of serious candidates. I think Fred should go back home to Virginia (not Tennessee) so he catch up on his sleep. It's obvious he's lacking sleep, he probably hasn't been able to take his morning and afternoon naps for a week or ten days.

You know folks - Fred was the last candidate in the race but the first to go negative against the other candidates. Why is that? Because he has no real record and no real message. When he was a Senator in Washington, what legislation did he introduce that reduced taxes, secured the borders, or reduced the size of government?

Mike Huckabee Viewed as Threat by Democrats

I am traveling on business this week to Charleston, SC. What a great city and SC treasure!

Earlier this evening I met another self proclaimed "political junkie" named Mark. Mark is a young African American that works the front desk at the hotel where I am staying. I've extended my stay through Thursday. Mark mentioned the hotel was sold out this weekend but he'd put in my request. We then talked about what is going on in Charleston this weekend that would cause the hotel to sell out. Before giving it much thought, I asked if he thought it could be the debate in Myrtle Beach Thursday night. He said not likely but went on to say he should try going to the debate. That was a natural opportunity to ask about who he liked in the candidates.

But the first thing out of Mark's mouth was, "Mike Huckabee scares me." When I asked why he said, "because he's obviously a good guy and could beat the Democrat". Mark went on to say he's rooting for Barack Obama. He's not yet an activitist, only an observer.

We didn't get to talk much more... other customers were lining up for assistance.

Post Debate Analysis in NH

I am blogging this as I watch the post debate analysis of the NH Fox News Presidential Candidate Forum. The first thing Fox did was cut to Frank Luntz's focus group of "undecided voters" who gave the debate victory to Mitt Romney because of his "command" of the debate. These pollsters had two criticisms of Governor Huckabee - both of which I find ironic.

While one pollster said that Romney's pro-life position was most believable, (Huckabee was never asked the question.) the other pollsters berated Huckabee for wearing his religion "on his sleeve". During the entire debate Huckabee never mentioned his religion AT ALL. Maybe the pollsters weren't so "undecided" as they claimed coming into the debate. They seemed to have decided who they weren't supporting. Some New Hampshire Republicans seem to have foibles about faith that most South Carolina Republicans don't.

Secondly, Huckabee wouldn't answer a question posed directly from Mitt Romney. While Romney admits to raising "fees" in MA he accuses Huckabee of increasing taxes. To the person paying money to the government what's the difference between a tax and a fee - nothing? The truth is that Huckabee was the first Governor in AR history to pass a broad based taxed cut. He cut taxes 94 times as Governor in AR. There were however; the legislature did pass eight different tax increases during Huckabee's tenure as Governor, seven by referendum (for conservation, roads, senior centers, etc.) and one by court order (to increase spending on education)

Another irony for me, the Luntz pollsters thought Romney would be the most capable of beating the eventual Democratic nominee in the general election. The truth is that Romney didn't even run for re-election as Governor of MA because everyone knew he couldn't win. (Their opinion may have a bit of home grown New England bias.) Huckabee has taken on the Clinton machine four times in AR and beat them every time.

Outside of New England - most Americans (especially South Carolinians) would consider Mitt Romney badgering during the debate rude. None of the other candidates chose to engage each other with their own questions during the forum and Mitt seemed out of order. It seemed to me that all the candidates were annoyed by Romney's "me next -me next - school boy approach" to the questioning and just got the point of looking past him. I thought Governor Huckabee did a remarkable job of NOT loosing control and messing up Romney's hair. (Romney made the same hair joke we've been hearing since the County Convention Straw Polls in SC last spring - of course Fred Barnes says he heard it for the first time last Thursday in Iowa).

Ha! I am typing this blog as I watch the post debate analysis on Fox News Channel. Fred Barnes just said he's an undecided voter - what a joke! Fred your bias toward Mitt Romney has been obvious for a long time. It's a funny thing when Barnes calls out the other media outlets for their bias he bashes them for NOT asking them tough questions. Chris Wallace teed up the debate from the first question for Mitt Romney. The format started with a question on Romney's attack ads on taxes where the Romney ads were played - Romney was allowed to talk for 3 minutes and each of the attacked got one minute with Romney badgering them as they did. Hardly the right approach.

I actually think Mort Kondrake just hit on a key differentiator that the other Republican candidates are missing and Mike Huckabee is not. Huckabee was the only candidate that even mentioned what Americans are talking about at the dinner table. Romney, and some of the others are using the same old conservative talking points published by the Washington think tanks. It's funny, Romney claims to be a Washington outsider but his whole platform is put together by Washington political consultants. Most Americans have never heard of most of these special interests nor do they trust their agendas. Romney did get one thing right tonight, "Washington IS broken" and while Americans are talking about $3 gas, double digit increases in health care and worrying how to send the kids to college; Romney is talking about the same stale ideas that liberals are using against us. Huckabee is the only candidate that understands whats happening on Main Street and will represent all Americans, this is what's resonating with voters.

While campaigning yesterday, I was asked how Huckabee won re-election in AR with such a larger percentage of the minority vote. (The questioner seemed to have a veiled cynicism about minorities supporting conservative candidates.) The answer to that question was and is that Huckabee understands what goes on around the dinner table, Huckabee represents all Americans; not just the special interests and the Republican elite on Wall Street. Whether one is a Republican or Democrat speaks to their approach to problem solving, it should NOT speak to who they represent as public servants.

The Wisdom of the Republican Party Elite

Early in 2007, as many in the Republican Party elites were picking sides in the 2008 Presidential race; some sided with Mitt Romney because...

1) Romney was considered an alternative to the more socailly liberal Mayor from NYC, Rudy Giuliani. Romney would make a good alternative to Giuliani in winning the Republican nomination.

2) With Romney's wealth, he would have the financial means to subsidize his own campaign. With Republican's struggling to raise money, Romney's wealth would reduce the fundraising burden of his supporters. Unlike Democrats, Republicans don't traditionally like raising money ten dollars at a time.

3) For the elites, Romney is a comfortable candidate. His Mormon faith would give him appeal to the Main Street social conservatives while his investment banking experience would appeal to the Wall Street Republicans.

4) During the 2006 Campaign season, Romney's PAC financially supported hundreds of candidates (and local parties) in key states, while the Governor himself spent days and days campaigning for many of these same candidates.

With the Iowa caucuses just days away - we are beginning to see the wisdom in their reasoning because Romney is able to use his wealth to pay for creative (half truth) attack ads against Mike Huckabee. (I don't know how lying is justified by his faith but that's another posting)

1) Giuliani is not even in the running in Iowa and the early primary states. (btw - neither is Fred Thompson)

2) Romney has invested over $20 million dollars of his own money in his campaign. As he's lost ground in the polls to Mike Huckabee, he's been able to use much of his campaign wealth for attack ads claiming Mike Huckabee is really a liberal. Huckabee, with limited resources is under pressure to respond.

3) If not for Mike Huckabee, Romney would be the socially conservative candidate. The faith community, desparate for a pro-life, pro-family candidate would forgive Romney the inconsistencies in his record. Because of his financial position many social conservatives "have" forgiven him. (Bob Jones III, Paul Weyrick, Gary Bauer) For "Wall Street Support" Romney is splitting the vote with former NY City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Except for Pat Robertson, Giuliani would tend to have the support of those Republicans that are fiscal conservatives but don't care for the social conservative wing of the party.

4) This blogger contends that Romney is still buying support. Why would Tom Tancredo, the anti-immigration champion, endorse Romney after dropping from the race. After all, Romney had illegals mowing his yard and "was for" the McCain-Kennedy amnesty plan before he was "against it". (Must be something in the water in MA.) Could Tancredo, who is considering a run for U.S.Senate for Colorado, be influenced by future fundraising promises? How much money could the Romney family contribute to such a race? Or the how much money could be raised by the Mormon church? Worst case, Tancredo could end up with a cabinet position in a Romney administration.

So caucus goers, primary voters, and Huckabee supporters are thinking, "what's my point?"

To make my point, readers need to understand two things:

1) Our conservative ideals and Republican Party doesn't belong to an elite few; but to all of us. (This is validated by the grassroots effort to right our party after the 2006 election results. a.k.a. The McCain Kennedy Amnesty revolt)

2) The elites have forgotten (or don't want us to realize) that elections are won not by bank account totals but by counting votes on election night. Republicans win when they are consistently conversative and defend these values by winning over actual voters. One on one grassroots campaigning is still the best way to win over voters. Any one of us has more credibility with our friends and neighbors than a TV talking head, a TV ad, or a negative direct mail piece. But, we need to be willing to put "it" on the line to be successful. We need to engage in the conversations. Remember, people are more swayed by the depth of conviction than the heighth of logic. (How else can one explain the Ron Paul effect?) To be successful, you need to be equipped with the real facts - not Romney's, Thompson's, Club for Growth, or Ron Paul's version. Research the issues and Huckabee's positions on the issues. Equip yourself to defend the Governor against the negative attacks. (Separate blog coming on special interests and professional political consultants) Volunteer to make phone calls, phone banks are up and running all over the place. Write letters to the editor. E-mail your friends and neighbors. Remind them that the upcoming caucuses and primaries are important. It's time we change directions in this country and we can do that through participation - remember 90% of Americans don't vote in primaries and 60% don't vote in general elections. Apathy is our biggest challenge.

In closing, everyone needs to get involved. Contact your friends and family and talk about the Governor's optimistic campaign for America. Contribute financially to the Governor's campaign.

P.S. - I heard a funny rumor tonight. The local Romney campaign leadership is suggesting that a Romney/Huckabee ticket will be coming out of the Republican Convention this summer. Why would they be saying this to Huckabee supporters three days before the caucuses and only weeks before the SC Primary? If you believe what Romney is saying in his ads - Huckabee would be a liability to his adminstration. Of course, I've heard that Huckabee is the VP favorite of McCain supporters and even Ron Paul supporters. What I don't understand is how the other candidates "hate" Huckabee in the primaries but would be happy with him as their VP in the general election. Then again, in the case of Romney; maybe they are conceding defeat in saying Romney will be happy to be VP on Huckabee's ticket.

Newsmax and Huckabee 2 great articles

Newsmax has two great articles about the rise of Governor Huckabee and him being the last social conservative in the race.

These are great articles and Political Insider: Dick Morris has the first one you can click here to read the article.

The second story inside cover talks about his amazing strength, and overcominung all odds, But then again Mike Huckabee is a fighter for what is right. So to read this article please click here

Enjoy both these articles it may open some eyes and show you that Mike is the electable candidate that can beat Hillary

Mike Huckabee on the move in Iowa again!

Monday, September 3, 2007

Fred Thompson versus Mike Huckabee= Huckabee in a walk

Senator Fred Thompson, We know now that you are planning to announce of September 6th 2007, the day after the New Hampshire debates. I am sorry that you are going to miss the opportunity to be on national television next to Mike Huckabee. I also wanted to thank you for coming to South Carolina earlier in the year to raise money for the SC GOP. Senator Thompson, be for warned, South Carolina is a conservative state, be careful you don’t spend so much time here and that your real record turns voters away. Don’t stick around long enough to let South Carolina voters learn that you endorsed Lincoln Chaffey’s .

Mr. Thompson you’re a fantastic actor, we love you on Law and Order. But voters in South Carolina understand that being a skilled actor doesn’t automatically make you a great President. President Clinton was a great actor too.

Mr. District Attorney Branch, America is at a crossroads and we need true optimistic leadership to take us into the future. Like many other candidates for President, you are trying to convince South Carolina and America that you are the Reagan type candidate on the Republican ticket. As republican presidential candidates go, Senator Thompson you are more like Bob Dole then Ronald Reagan.

Reagan ran with energy, optimism, and renewed hope. But Bob Dole ran a campaign of the same tired ideas and vote for me to stop the democrats. Senator Thompson America faces to many critical issues, and we must think creatively with big ideas and with optimism in the American people. (Fair Tax, Education and Health care reform)
We can’t have the same inside the beltway rope a dope that we have now. We must return the Republican Party to the American people; we need a people’s candidate not a Hollywood or establishment candidate.

We look forward to seeing you on TV in the debates next to Mike Huckabee, we feel certain that Governor Huckabee will gain exposure through your candidacy. Also I believe that Governor Huckabee's message will continue to resonate with the people, because his message isone of Hope,one that will change the lives for all Americans for the better.

Senator Thompson, I will remind you that the greatness of Ronald Reagan was not only his eloquent speech but his revolutionary ideas. The Reagan Revolution returned optimism to America at a time when the previous President blamed Americans for a sluggish economy, high interest’s rates, and our lost greatness. It was Reagan’s optimism, conservative ideals, and fresh ideas that returned us to greatness with one our greatest periods of prosperity. You see Senator, you’re a great speaker and a good actor, but when it comes to reform or new ideas, you seem to be more of the same-o-same-o. Having actor on your resume doesn’t make you Ronald Reagan.


1.) Mr. Thompson during the last primary that Lincoln Chaffee was in during his Senate race you said that you and Mr. Chaffee agree on most issues, The War in Iraq, Traditional Marriage, Immigration and Abortion. Well Mr. Thompson , Mr. Chaffee was against the Republican Party on most of these issues I named, he is a RINO does that make you one too since you agree with him on MOST ISSUES? Well let’s see Mr. Huckabee, is Pro-life, Traditional Marriage, Against Amnesty and Supports our troops and says we have to keep tyranny away from our shores. Why you sat there and supported a man that was against almost everything True Conservatives believe in. Sounds almost like Mayor Giuliani!

2.) Mr. Thompson if you were to win, you would be Americas first registered lobbyist to become President, You lobbying has been a good investment for you, Since those days as top minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee, You Mr. Thompson have collected more the 1 million dollars in lobbying fess, which now your campaign is full of staffers and advisers who were part of Phillip Morris. While Governor Huckabee, was a proven Executive who served 10 years as Governor of his state promoting and helping the people of Arkansas, His record as Governor in one year has provided more leadership then you have in all the time you spent in Senate. You have no executive experience you have been part of the Washington cliche that needs to be changed and shouldn’t seek this office because you were known not to get anything done while you were there. We need a leader that has executive experience and not someone that his fame to claim was the McCain Feingold bill... Which everybody knows that targeted the NRA.

3.) Mr. Thompson, but what about campaign finance? The McCain-Feingold bill that irritated a number of conservatives and has badly hurt John McCain's fundraising was supported strongly by you. In fact, you helped write the bill and then Mr. Feingold sent you a letter thanking you for your support; He basically thanked you for going against those who you worked with and relied on your support as a conservative. What would you do on an issue as judges; abortion and even immigration as President would you let the Conservative base down then too. Governor Huckabee would have never supported such a bill nor would he abandon his party...