CNN

So what Huckabee is Christian. The real "bigots" are the ones that wouldn't vote for him because of his faith. Listen to him talk. He has great ideas and preaches tolerance and conservative values. As presidental nominee he could easily beat someone like John Edwards. As Vice President to Giuliani or McCain, the Republicans will be able to win against any Democratic combination.

Huge difference. Gov. Dean was a man with some integrity. Huckabee is a hate filled Bible banging bigot who will say and do anything for money and power.

Shhhhhh,

Republicans! Just ignore this. There's nothing to see here. Just go on an vote for Huckabee. It's the "Lawds" will.

C'mon. Don't you want a real Conservative this time? Hmmm? C'mon. Ignore Rich. He doesn't know what he's saying. Just go on and vote for Huckabee.

"HowlayLouYuzzz!"

Keep laughing Paul Haters. He just raised 6 Million dollars in one day.

Mr. Lowry, editor of the National Review, is correct - Mike Huckabee may be a pleasant and personable and likeable guy, but he comes with vulnerabilities that make him essentially unelectable to the broad base that would be necessary to carry a National General Election.

Unfortunately the National Review fails to appreciate that Mitt Romney is similarly unelectable for the very same reasons. Say whatever one may please about how a candidate's personal brand of faith shouldn't affect his electability, Romney's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) can and will have a negative effect on his ability to appeal to voters. There are far too many "skeletons" in that closet, and the answers and assurances Romney has been able to offer have been transparently oblique with far too many double meanings.

Sorry, but this isn't a repeat of 1960. Mitt Romney is no JFK, and the LDS Church is not Catholicism.

Hey Tom,your simple-minded attacks and juvenile manner hasn't made your master's degree worth the paper it's printed on. What was it in? Theology or theatre? Every time you attack,you confirm your inferiority complex. Does "carpet-bagger fit your Governor Mittster? Whomever you support will lose anyway. Even if you picked a democrat,it'd be the wrong one. You really are in love with Hillary though. You can't hide your obsession.

An un-educated liberal is still far smarter than a conservative. Conservative thinking is a mental handicap that has been proven by brain scans. No more mentally deficient politicians.

Posted By Ed,Ellenville,New York : December 15, 2007 7:11 pm

How you been Ed, have you been out long?

Your typical and same as usual postings were not missed.

I forgot more than some nitwit from NY like yourself will ever know.

Take your medicine and stay warm, I know this because I happen to have a masters degree that I earned and I PAID for.

Anyone from NY that votes in a carpet bagger with NO EXPERIENCE running anything and votes for her because of name only is not allowed to speak at the grownup table.

If you want another "Christain Nazi" as president, then this is your guy.

RonPaul2008(dot)com.

Good Luck, America.

Peace.

"Romney is the kind of PROVEN LEADER we need..." blah bla bleeh

Posted By Marti San Diego, CA : December 16, 2007 2:24 am

You say the same "leader" thing in every thread.

What's with this "leader" fascination? To the authoritarian wing of the Republican Party (most of the party now): Sieg Heil!

If the GOP does not nominate Huckabee. Millions of people, me included, will write his name in. Wouldn't that be a historic event, to win on a write in?

You bet they will. Huckabee hasn't a chance in a national election. His conservative credentials are questionable among conservatives, but his I'm Mr. Christian Leader persona has no chance of winning over swing voters.

Let's get back to what is most important – PROVEN LEADERSHIP ABILITY, vision and experience to tackle big problems, bring people together, and get things done.

Top of the list – IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID! and that means out of control Federal spending, tax cuts that need to be made permanent, and a trade defecit that is running the dollar right down the toilet. We also have a bankrupt Social Security program, a potentially devastating housing crisis on the horizon (already bad, could get much, much worse), an educational system that still lags much of the developed world, and no cohesive immigration and border security plan. We have a lot of big items that need to be addressed.

Forget the social issues. Forget which church the candidates go to or don't go to. Forget whose voice is more charming or who has the best one-liners. Let's get serious. Who has demonstrated throughout their life the ability to (1) tackle big problems, (2), lay out a clear vision for solving them, and (3) put the right people in place while rallying people from both sides to get something ACCOMPLISHED?

Mitt Romney brings the most complete set of credentials, accomplishments, leadership skills, and fresh vision to the table. He has been incredibly successful in everything he has done–from 25 years in business, to balancing a budget deficit without raising taxes as Governor of MA, to turning around a scandal laden and financially distressed SLC Olympics.

Mitt Romney is the kind of PROVEN LEADER we need to tackle our big problems and actually get something done.

All I hear is Huckabee is a good communicator,a Baptist minister,former governor and play bass quitar.But there appears to be more bad news about him than good ones.His commutation records of dangerous criminals are over the fray.He is believed to be the main force behind the release of Wayne Dumond a Rapist that end up killing two teenage girls after rapimg them.This is serious staff and one would seriously consider Huckabees' stand on Family Values given the horrow,pain and suffering the families of these precious teenage girls went through because of a lack of commitment by the governor to honor and stand firm in protecting the lives of members of the public from dangerous criminals.

I just know that Huck will be able to use his knowledge of the Bible to become a basis of knowledge to construct an economic plan. It would definately be better than someone who has 2 degrees in both Harvard and BYU, in both business and law, with top honors in both, along with numerous successful business ventures.
Afterall, Huckabee could hire the swift boat veteran guy to drive a swift boat to barter and sell Bibles to the Chinese, so that they won't just dump all of the trillions of dollars that they are thinking of dumping. And if they refuse, then another Huck supporter, Chuck Norris, could beat the excrement out of them to comply. This would be great. Then he could send some of those other supporters, like the old pro wrestlers, i.e. Ric Flair, to back him up. They could then sell cheese whiz in a can by the case loads, Red Man Chewing Tabacco, cloudy Arkansas diamonds, along with Nascar posters. Then we will be able to get more free trade and balance our trade deficit. This will definately get us out of our impending financial crisis next year. After all, the whole world will be charmed by Huck's "authenticity" of character that the common folk in Iowa and South Carolina are looking for. Well America, your finally waking up.

The dems have not been able to squash one blessed thing in the last eight years,, how will this be any different ? one of you lefties will have to explain in long winded elite minded fasion so we all roll our eyes up in are heads fall into a semi concious state and can be mind-melded into following you BS story

An un-educated liberal is still far smarter than a conservative. Conservative thinking is a mental handicap that has been proven by brain scans. No more mentally deficient politicians.

Iyt is interesting to see that the principles of the far right majority of the GOP are the ones tearing apart any chance they have of winning. Their inability to tolerate any beliefs other than their own (in this case religious)will be the end of their party as they know it. So keep worrying about the Ten Commandments, prayer in school and which one of you is a Baptist vs. a Mormon. Meanwhile, the Dems will have the White House and the congress, which with the current GOP options and the previous administrations baggage probably is for the best anyway.

Don't voe for Mike Hichupbee, he's just a liberal democrap in the wrong party.

Was this is sneaky jab at the Dynamic Duo – Barackman and Oprah?

http://www.golden-lamp.com

I lost all faith in Huckabee when he brought on board Chuck Norris...
http://celebrityscraps.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/mike-huckabees-election-campaign-chuck-norris/

Does the man have no common sense???

What arroagance – Lowry calls people who won't support Romney because of his religion bigots, but it's protecting the GOP to oppose Huckabee because of his.

I feel like the nation needs a president that is not concerned with the "parties" needs but the needs of the nation. Creating “an act of suicide for the party’’(Rich Lowry) should not be the next presidents biggest worry or a worry at all. I feel like we need a president that is going to do what is right for the nation as a whole, not just a party of the nation. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?

GO HUCKABEE!!

He was a sleaze-bag when he was governor of Arkansas. this doesn't suprise me at all.

I don't think the "average joe" is ready for either Hillary as the first female president (efficient shrillness anyone?), or Obama–(as smart and appealing as he is–I'd pick him way over Hil)– a black with Muslim sounding name–to be the head of America.
If the Dem's nominate either of the two–which seems likely–I think it will exponentially increase Huckabee's chances.
On his website Huckabee says "As Governor of Arkansas, I cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million. I left a surplus of nearly $850 million, which I urged should go back to the people."
Is this true? I'm up for balancing the national budget, cutting taxes and getting something back! Dan C. posts in his comment "He rose over $500 million in taxes."
Sooo... which is correct? Anyone know?
His tax plan has great appeal to me–and I like his Secure America Plan–he just GETS it.
I decided to vote for Huckabee– way before there was any real talk of him running- when I saw him on TV during the Katrina debacle. He was the only governor/govt official who was prepared to deal with the influx of refugees into his state. He thought ahead, got ready and provided solutions . He was the only one who looked like he knew what he was doing and did it. He communicated in a sincere, non-self-promoting way.
I'm tired of the dog and pony show that most career politicians put on. Huckabee is fresh, real and intelligent. He seems like a strong leader without being an egotist. Moral, without being "religious"–despite his pastoral background. I have come to despise the evangelical brand of self-righteousness or sham put-on-for-the-campaign religion that most candidates seem to have. He's not shoving his faith down people's throats–He just seems to have a strong foundation and solid moral compass based on his faith.

He doesn't make excuses for his mistakes or ignorance–but shoots straight. Doesn't waffle or flip flop. Sounds like he knows both his strengths and weaknesses, will admit when he is wrong and isn't afraid to ask for advice.
PLUS he has a sense of humor about himself–a touch of genuine humility which goes a long way in my book.
The pundits need to pay attention–he has a Regean-esque appeal–I predict he will win.

If Romney is a superior candidate, why is NH about the only state in which he is leading in the polls, despite spending millions of dollars over the last year?

A "superior" candidate doesn't change his personal convictions to coincide with whatever office he happens to be running for at the moment. Mitt "I was for abortion before I was against it" Romney isn't somebody I can trust. Mitt "I was for gun control before I was against it" Romney tells voters whatever he thinks they want to hear, not what he really believes.

Romney needs to drop out and throw his support behind Huckabee, a man who is not only a consistent conservative, but can also appeal to independents and moderate democrats in the general election. Huckabee can appeal to independents and traditional democrats because he can relate to everyday people – something Romney can't do.

I tire of being told what is wrong about the other candidates. Tell me what you believe and will do. If the best you offer is trashing others, that is not good enough. I don't agree with everthing Huck supports, but he is up front about his beliefs and I know what I am getting.

The other candidates talk as if they would tell me anything they thought would sway me. I am not buying a used car. This election is about the future my children will live in one day.

John is right. This kind of article is mere filler. As meaningless as it must be easy to write. There is no particular insight here, just a routine rehash of standard bits of speculation that we've all read ten times before. It's the stuff political journalists keep themselves busy with on slow news days. The Prospect should be better than this, leave this kind of thing to the talking heads on the TV networks

To Ryan in New York, the pain democrats have faced with GW in the White House is minor compaired to the pain from the slap in the face the democrats put on the US Armed Forces by electing a "DRAFT DODGER" to be Commander In Chief and now they want to elect that "DRAFT DODGER"S WIFE" who wanted to ban military uniforms from the White House since it upset her daughter because the military did not like her dad. I do not like Huckabee because of the sales tax proposal and that he has not learned the lesson that 70% of American Citizens do not want Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants. McCain has learned that lesson with lots of pain and he is willing to admit it. I am voting republican because I am middle class and do not want to pay higher income taxes as I had to in 1994 on the last raising taxes on the rich by the democrats. Maybe I'll send the dems my bills to pay instead of filing for bankruptcy. You think the foreclosures are bad now they will be worse, since the dems give away programs will help everyone except the middle class.

"...Huckabee is an under-vetted former governor who is manifestly unprepared to be president of the United States..." Kind of the Republican way, no?
Bush, Jr. was/is of the same ilk and yet look how people voted. Maybe they were 'manifestly unprepared' to be good voters. Oh woe is America!

Social conservatism has to be part of the Republican message

No it doesn't. Republicans need to learn the difference between a sin and a crime just like the Democrats need to learn the difference between a requirement and a virtue. The only reason social conservatives have made an impact in previous elections is because they are highly motivated to turn up at the polls. When the rest of us do the same, they are as much a liability to the GOP as the welfare-staters are to the democrats.

Lowry is right: Dems will squash Huckabee, but he is also wrong: Any Democrat will squash any Republican in 08. Period. The public is sick and tired of anything what this party has to say.

GO HUCKABEE

REAL AMERICANS VOTE REPUBLICAN

Gov. Huckabee is the Republican's Jimmy Carter, and like President Carter (Iran Hostage Crisis) is similarly unprepared to defend the United States against militant Jihadists.

Posted By Lee M, NJ : December 15, 2007 8:23 am

You are an uneducated liberal who thinks they know what ALL Republicans think and want in a candidate.

Lowry is totally correct here and MANY of us NON-BIBLE THUMPING smart folks who HAPPEN to also be conservative leaners will leave the GOP and vote for someone other than Clinton and Edwards on the other side if this FAKE Conservative is the nominee.

Iowa DOES NOT represent ALL Republicans and if they are foolish enough to have him win the caucus and maybe SC, that's about it.

Take a look at his numbers away from these areas, he is a nobody and RIGHTFULLY so.

Huckabe supporters are you happy with licenses for illegals, in-state college tuition, pardons for 12 MURDERERS, an average of a pardon every 4 days he was in office, check out his own words on taxes, he never met one he didn't like.

If you vote for him because of his faith and won't vote for a SUPERIOR candidate (Romney) because of his, "Ya'll" will hand the election to the Democrats.

This guy has skeletons big time, and if the best you can do on Romney is his changing some ideals over a PERIOD OF YEARS, "Ya'll" are as dumb as the Democrats say you are.

As an independent, Democrat-leaning voter, I resent Lowry's comment and similar comments made by these know-it-alls who believe electability is everything. Last time I checked, this is a presidential election, not a popularity contest. We're not supposed to vote for someone based on how presidential they look or act, or how they look, or what faith they are, or if they're a smart choice to have dinner or a drink with. We're supposed to choose a candidate based on their ideas and beliefs and the other traits necessary to run the country.

Look at the last four elections we've had. We've picked the most "electable" candidate each time, and what has it gotten us? In Clinton, we had a very competent fellow, but also someone who talked from both sides of his mouth, and couldn't define what "is" is in a deposition about extramarital affairs. In Bush, we have a very charismatic guy with little competence and a knack for doing the opposite of what a specific situation warrants, or what the general consensus calls for, or refusing to compromise on anything. And in both cases, they acted in such a manner that made their opponents hate them passionately and refuse to work with them, thereby driving the country further and further apart.

That's what voting for a candidate who is the most "electable." You might win an election, but you don't win anything else.

Maybe Huckabee is another Howard Dean, or maybe not. But these pundits have no say in that; the people do. Let the people make their own decisions on their candidates. Don't tell them, "Don't vote for so-and-so because he's not electable." That's completely irrational; if a candidate can win a nationwide nomination race, then a candidate can win the general election, too. Once it's a one-on-one race, in this day and age, anything goes.

Enough is enough. Enough with this "electability" nonsense. Who died and made these pundits the kingmakers? Last I heard, this is a democracy, and here the people rule. So let them make up their own minds on a candidate. Let us make the choice on who is the most "electable."

Clinton Andrews, Grosse Pointe, Michigan:

Oh yeah! Ross Perot was a huge winner. Don't kid yourself.

Save America! NO Huckabee in the White House!

Pretty sad that a conservative newspaper would have the gaul to openly criticize a candidate as under-vetted after it endorsed another candidate. Maybe this will open the can of warms that is known as Mitt Romney's record. Huckabee is a good man with good convictions and his record has shown that he has the capability to be a centrist leader which is what we need.

Oh and wasn't there an undervetted Governor that the conservatives hailed in 2000?(Think "W")

The Republicans deserve a Huckabee nomination in return for what they have visited on this nation, since the 2000 election.

As a life long Democrat, let me plead with my GOP brethren to nominate Huckabee. Then it won't matter how much blood Hillary and Barack Obama leave on the ground, one of D's will be our next President!

Posted By Bill Maloni, Chevy Chase, Maryland : December 14, 2007 11:06 pm

WE'RE JUST PAYING U BACK FOR 8 YEARS OF CLINTON – AND WE HAVE CONTROL OF THE SUPREME COURT NOW REGADLESS OF WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT IT. LOL

Is it just me or does CNN have it out for Huckabee? Recently, they have a video link to Glenn Beck, a mormon, trashing Huckabee on his NYTimes interview. By the way, ask a Mormon if they have never heard that in their secret temples.
This story authored by Lowry has resurfaced to the top of the ticker even though it is an older story/development. Wow, guys, you must be peeing your pants right now. You see how good he is and are scared to death with your left-wing agenda.

Why is Lowry so concerned if he did not have a problem with George Bush? What about Dick Cheney? As CEO of Halliburtom, Cheney acquired Dresser Industries – even though Dresser had a well-known asbestos (liability) problem. That cost my fellow Halliburton shareholders over 3 billion (US$)in lost share values. The republicans have a history of nominating incompetants. Why stop now?

Anti-Huckabee doesn't me for Romney.

We have to stop thinking the world is just black and white.

I will trust our Oval office to either McCain or Ron Paul.

You see, Democrats are driven by animalistic emotion, while Republicans think through things rationally. Therein lies the difference.
Posted By Jeff Jones : December 14, by 2007 8:42 pm

This was the laugh that I needed first thing today. Rational, Republicans, are you joking, intoxicated, just stupid? Which party contains the faction of the US that still refuses to accept reality and supports Bush? Which party contains that big percentage of society that's trying to remove evolution in favor of creationism?

I'm sure you can find some issues where a percentage of Democrats acted irrationally, too. That's not the point that I'm making. I just can't believe how some people are so blinded by hate for the other party that they're unable to look in the mirror and find the same flaws that they're complaining about possessed by a majority of their own party.

"Lobbyists and corporations know they're wasting their time trying to buy Ron Paul. His campaign donations are coming from ordinary people like myself and thousands of others who are angry and sick of the BS coming from Washington and seeing their country's sovereignty being sold out." –
Posted By Joseph H, Warner Robins, GA

Absolutely! Ron Paul's vision for change for the better simply dwarfs Obama's change. Dr. Paul is also from the South, but he thinks for the whole country. No race, gender or religion card for Ron Paul! He has lots of brilliant common sense. Corporations will not even try to buy him. He will make the best president in decades.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

Agree 100%.

The only reason Huckabee has ascended so quickly is that the single-issue Republican voters are having trouble convincing themselves to support Giuliani.

The problem is that Huckabee will have trouble getting any support beyond the single-issue evangelicals.

The moderates will no doubt support Giuliani who fits their ideals to a T.

The independents will not even consider voting for Huckabee because they don't vote along religious lines. Independents are very discerning voters and they will not support a former preacher who doesn't believe in evolution, suggests that AIDS patients be isolated from society, advises women to serve their men, etc. etc. The fact that Huckabee has a very bad taxing record and has no foreign policy experience further impedes his chances with all voting segments.

Needless to say, Huckabee would get NO support from Democratic voters due to the religious issue.

Bottom line: The Democrats would KILL to go up against Huckabee in a general election. If the Republicans nominate Huckabee, they are basically guaranteeing a win for the Democrats.

Lowry is right – Huckabee is not capable of winning. The only two choices that have a chance are Mitt Romney or Rudy. Can you imagine what the dems will throw at him?
1) They'll say – "he'll overturn Roe v.Wade". Most Americans support Roe v. Wade
2) They'll say – "he's a bible thumping, do gooder". Most Americans fear self righteous people.
Whether these statements are true or not won't matter – because they will resonate with voters who have preconcieved prejudice about fundamentalists. he's a baptist preached for crying out loud.

I'm a Republican and there's only one candidate that I'm supporting in this election. If Rudy doesn't win the primaries, I'll be supporting a Democrat.

And, quite frankly, I'm tired of recent US presidents being from either the "Deep South" or California. Let's see...Lyndon Johnson (Texas); Richard Nixon (California); Jimmy Carter (Georgia); Ronald Reagan (California); George H.W.Bush (Texas); Bill Clinton (Arkansas); George W. Bush (Texas). No wonder the world has grown weary of us.

Have voted Republican for many years, but would not vote for a Baptist minister for president. Lowrey is correct. There are many Republicans out there, like me, who will only go so far with the christian conservative right. Huckabee or any other 'religious" figure oversteps that boundry. Be careful my GOP.

"I must either be an anomaly or an idiot in this discussion, probably the latter. I'm a life long Democrat and an atheist for the past 5 years. Yet, I would vote for Huckabee over all but two of the Democrat candidates. My thoughts and beliefs aren't in line with all of his. However, he comes across as the genuine article.

My frustration runs deep with bought off and rehearsed politicians. America has been over run with lies bought with corporate dollars for so long, that a candidate who is true to himself is what this country needs. We need to get out of the mindset of accepting crooked and paid for politics.

Posted By Mike, Stevens Point, WI : December 15, 2007 8:02 am "

Mike I have to disagree with you when you stated: "a candidate who is true to himself is what this country needs". We NEED a candidate who is TRUE to THIS COUNTRY!

I believe Mike is very well qualified for Penn. Ave and would make a GREAT national/world leader in addition to being a GREAT family leader; our country is only as strong as the family unit and his proposals are the ones that the country is now realizes will keep us strong in the future. In addition, Mike's faith is the same God-given gift that the founding fathers designed and built this great country with and most of our problems are the result of our failure to live out the faith. I pray for God to strengthen and direct our Pres, regardless of his party. I SUPPORT HUCKABEE 100%

Mike Huckabee just did a great Exclusive Interview for millions of potential Catholic votes on http://www.catholic.org.

Let's begin the first theocratic rule of law in this nation and take down the sinners once and for all! I can look past his liberal leanings so long as he brings us back to a true Christian nation where we can dominate the political atmosphere once and for all.

Posted By Jonathan, Westboro KS : December 15, 2007 2:33 am

I can see why the Republican party courts this evangelical section of the country. You really don't have to address any of the important issues, HEALTH CARE, IMMINGRATION, OR THE ECONOMY. Just pander to their religious beliefs and they will follow you anywhere.

This great nation can't afford another 4 years not addressing what is impacting the nation. Look at the past 7 years of this type of ?leadership?, know that we can't afford to go down this path again.

Hellloooo – Has anybody else besides me noticed this creep's eyes? This is one crazy-eyed, bible thumpin' mother-_____er !)@*$
What a sad state of affairs that a bunch of zombies are giving this creature ANY recognition.

It seems that our liberal friends are becoming somewhat alarmed that a true conservative, principled leader who dares call himself a Christian, could possibly overcome all the left wing armament that they can muster. Go Mike!

I am not a Huckabee supporter, but could Lowry not write nearly the same critique of Bush in 2000? Afterall, we all know now that Bush was over qualified for president. What a waste of a vote in 2000. Seriously, Lowry do you have any reason and credibility left in your?

What's wrong with a president who has Christian values and believes. If we look back at many of our now famous presidents we will find most had a relationship with God. That is one of the reasons our nation is having so many problems, little by little we are losing the blessing of the Lord because of our secular liberal believes in which we try to govern oursleves without His help. America needs to return back to Godly values and honoring Him. A president who has a relationship with the Almighty is an asset not a debit.

Posted By Al Horta : December 15, 2007 8:57 am

A RELATIONSHIP with GOD? Now that's scary!

Romney is basically dishonest–he has no problem in changing his position if it is expedient to his election (e.g., his changes on abortion rights, among others.) Romney goes negative at a drop of a hat, and is another G.W. Bush albeit with more intelligence. Huckabee is refreshingly honest.

wonder where Rich Lowry is getting his information about Mike Huckabee appealing to "niche" religious voters? The latest polls show rising support among moderates. Also, how does this theory explain Huckabee's rise in the national polls? I also find troubling his statement that the country shouldn't have a religious president. Would he prefer an atheist?

Yes Laura, I would prefer an atheist…

Posted By Jose, Orlando, Florida : December 15, 2007 9:12 am

Me too...

Peter, Sandwich, MA:

You say you will only vote for Mitt or Rudy in the general? If they don't get in and it is Huckabee on the ticket. Abstaining will simply be a vote for the democrat! Remember – elections are also a contest in some ways. You have to have a President.

The establishment sure doesn’t like to have their authority challenged. You see it in both parties; four years ago they said the same thing about Howard Dean on the Democratic side, this year they are saying it about both Obama and Huckabee. What happens if it’s Huckabee versus Obama in the General? Will people just refuse to vote and our democracy will completely collapse? This is ridiculous rhetoric from a political establishment on both sides of the aisle that is way out of touch with main stream America.

Replace "Hucakbee" with "Bush" and this article could have been written 8 years ago.

Rich Lowry is indeed correct.

“People FEEL they can TRUST Huck?”

What people? Where? Doesn’t anyone in this country THINK anymore? Is every decision based upon FEELINGS and BELIEF?

What informed, intelligent person TRUSTS any politician?

Rev Huck-A-Buck will NOT eliminate the IRS, although it does sound good. He will bring the intolerant GOD TRAIN in full force into the White House.

During the next 11 months Americans will inevitably discover that Huck is simply Allen Keyes without the steroids… failing that, my Republican Party is doomed!

This is 100% correct, and it perfectly decribes the biggest problem with our presidential electoral process. Primary elections are dominated by the hardcore/extreme elements of both parties, and the way to win either nomination is to appeal to those voters. For this to change, more Americans need to vote in primaries.

I am a Republican and I will leave the party and become an Independent if they nominate this clown.

I doubt he will maintain his momentum once Republicans take a look at his record and listen to his idiotic comments.

Those of you who are Democrat or Independent please know that many Republicans like myself think Huckabee is a moron and would never vote for him.

The one good thing about Huckabee's rise is that it takes some of the steam out of the Ron Paul campaign. We aren't hearing/reading much from the moRON PAULtards.

Every decent Republican has abandoned the ship. Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove are to blame. The mess the Republican administration and former congress left is deplorable. Because of this, the candidates are all flawed. Nobody in their right mind wants the job cleaning up one of the most blundering administrations in history. Every Republican candidate comes across as just continuing the poor decisions or inactions of the last 7 years.

PLEAAASE nominate Huckabee. He's the most fitting candidate the Republican party has offered up in decades. He, more than any candidate I've seen, represents the values and viewpoints the Republican party espouses. Why claim to have these values if, when push comes to shove, they are abandoned in favor of a more "electable" candidate. After all, isn't it hypocritical to claim to have values, but be unwilling to support them in the general election?!

To know Obama is to love Obama. GET FIRED UP, GET READY TO GO!

Mike Huckabee's head of the Health Department argued that women could not get pregnant if they were raped, because they were not "receptive." Huck agreed. Please nominate Huckabee, 'cause when all of this nonsense is exposed, the Democrats will win in a landslide!

Lowry describes Huckabee as a "Baptist pastor running on his religiosity". This seems overblown to me. From what I've seen of him on C-SPAN, this candidate hasn't made his faith the central issue that the media are making it out to be. Its the media who are running this candidate on his religiosity, not Huckabee himself. Let religious people run on the strength of their ideas, not on the basis of stereotypes that make eye-catching headlines on cnn.com. Just because the guy is an ordained minister doesn't disqualify him from being considered for public office, and I think the American people are smart enough to realize that in a general election.

Randall Huggins, Kinston North Carolina : December 15, 2007 8:27 am

The problem with your statement is that the only person out there who is trying to make his campaign into a religious crusade is Huckabee. Not surprising since his training has been as a minister. Do you expect anything different? Only recently did he drop the "Christian Leader" moniker – very timely since now he believes he has the evangelicals locked down and doesn't need to wear his religion on his sleeve as much. If that's not flip flopping I don't know what is.

Jeff Jones, you might want to change your "Democrats are evil" setting, to "Improved Reading Comprehension" setting...Lowry is not a democrat.

And yes, if it will get America out of the hole it's digging itself for the past 7 years, we need an Elitist (read: SMART) Republican or Democrat to get us out of this mess.

If Huckabee was such a great Govenor and a man of his word,and campaign promises, how come we still have the disgraceful food tax in Arkansas. That was the main reason a lot of folks voted for him. How he got in the second time shows the mentality of the ultra conservatives voters.

This nation does not need or will it survive being lead by the social conservative wing of the GOP... some of the conservatives are fanatics about religion and it is apart of every decision made...most of them do not care about the values of the individual as long as they spit out their right wing conservative message..

That editorial is off base. As an attorney, it is crystal clear to me that this is an attack. You do not back up your statements- they are mere pronouncements that lead one to your favored position. That is, "my man is getting beat in Iowa by Huckabee so don't like Huckabee". You then speak of a conservative surge. How do you know why the polees of Iowa are going toward Huckabee? PS I am voting for JM who should have won in 2000

I watched one evening as the CBS evening news lady asked the same question to many of the candidates and most of them like mindless, brainless, and castrated individuals named Iran as a nation that concerns them.

The problem with right wing nut jobs like Lowry is that they fear someone ethical and morally upright will not go along with their motto: "let's invade other nations and kill and maim people for pleasure and economic greed"

Mike Huckabee seems to be getting the message over that he has the right credentials for the job.

Heck if Bill Clinton can come along from Arkansas and win why not Huckabee?

one more time..Yes American voters, vote against your best interest! "Aww shucks the Earth is only 6,000 years old! Aww shucks what's the NIE! Aww shucks let me pardon 769 rapists and murders (look at his record) Awww shucks my son tortured and stoned a dog to death when he was a camp counselor! (look it up) Awww shucks but I DID Stay at a Holiday Inn!)

America...wake.the.heck.up.

Never heard of Rich Lowery. Is he somebody who considers himself important?

The man has run a marathon and managed to loose a lot of weight. He is an example of what we should be doing. He obviously knows what is at issue in this election: Health care and responsibility for our own quality of life. That's why he is so popular – not because of his religious background.

The so-called christians condemn Huckabee for having done what Jesus would have. Go figure. These GOP christians prove time and again that they have no integrity. GO START A THIRD PARTY, HUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr Lowry, So you mean like the manifestly unprepared former governor we have had to put up with for the last seven years?

The Dem's want to push Huckabee to the forefront in their media outlets becuase they know he doesn't have a chance against Billary (or possibly Obama). A Giuliani or Romney GOP nominee would be much more problematic for the Dem's. It's calculated, and not too difficult for the discerning to smell it from afar.

I love the diverging and contradictory statements continually made by the anti-Huckabee crowd.
First he's too Christian, but then when refering to Romney "religion shouldn't be a litmus test".
Next he's too conservative, but then people (mistakenly) lambast his record as being "tax and spend liberal".
Then he has no experience, yet he has more executive experience than any other candidate running. He's probably been to more countries and brokered more trade deals than any other GOP candidate.
I'm also noticing around my neck of the woods that he is really appealing to all the old "reagan democrats" who don't want to vote for a Hillary or Obama, but couldn't bring themselves to vote for any of the establishment GOP candidates either.
Huckabee is the ONLY GOP candidate that can win and I wish people would realize this and get on board before the infighting tears us apart.
Go Mike Go!!!

huckabee is too good for GOP and its sheeple. he should start a third or fourth party if ron paul goes for a third party. or a fifth if kucinicci and gravel have started one. lowry style of power grabbing for self-serving purposes should be defeated this time!

Ron Paul is the only Republican that can easily defeat the dems and the only republican or democrat that is telling the truth!

Look what happened the last time our Electorate chose someone they would "most like to have a beer with!!" Puh-leeze! Wake up, America. You got what you deserved! Let's be smarter and better informed this time. Our credibility as a Nation, our planet and our very existence depend on it!!!

7:45 – Do have anything to show that demonstrates Huckabee is a religious bigot or are repeating party lines without any thinking?

Posted By Tom – D.C. : December 14, 2007 9:15 pm
-------------
Let's see. . . How about Huckabee's recent comment about the Mormon relegion and subsequent apology.

Did you know that Mike Huckabee was the Key Note Speaker at an Anti-Mormon Rally held in SLC in '98? But suddenly he has a memory lapse and doesn't know much about the Mormon faith! Convenience or lie?

Don't you think that a person who would go to the trouble of not only participating, but being the MAIN SPEAKER in a rally meant to hurt and slander millions of people is a hateful and bigoted thing to do?

So Mike Huckabee is not only a BIGOT, he is also a LiAR. DO YOU CARE?

Are you aware that Huckabee's degree in Theology is now under question? It seems that he is not very forthright.

Huckabee supporters will overlook any and every indiscression which tells me that they are about as smart as he is, which isn't saying too much!

http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/

Wow, the rich man Romney is bringing out the big guns. Romney is a coward..
He's outspent Huckabee about 100 to 1 and he still has to resort to slash and burn campaigning.Sad. Romney is the one that will get crushed by the Dems because he is so phoney. He has no core values or beliefs.

This is hilarious. With lies and false promises, Republicans hijacked the Evangelicals to get Bush into the White House, and now the Evangelicals are taking over the ship. I say good for them, they should get something out of this mess.

Come on! Howard Dean acted like a fool. Huckabee is nothing like Dean.
What makes Romney so much more qualified than Huckabee? Wasn't he also just a governor?
And uninformed voters? What about all the taxes Huckabee cut while leaving Arkansas with a surplus? And as far as the tuition breaks for children of illegal immigrants, have the (informed) voters checked the stipulations for that tuition break. Huckabee is the only stable, non flip-flopping candidate that will uphold and act on what the conservatives stand for. He will fight for our rights, not for his own gain.

As a Democrat I have to say it: please, please, please nominate this clown. The only thing better would be Ron Paul.

Huckabee is a dogmatist. This eminently disqualifies him from being President of the United States. This country will NEVER go from an ideologue like George Bush to a demagogue. It just won't happen and the Republican Party better put its thinking cap on if it wants to have a real contender in the next election.

Huckabee is a man who will SAVE the Republican party.

He holds enough moral high-ground to reap the Religious Right's votes without pandering to there extreme platform.

He is a man who has set his own house right after years of debilitating excess...see his weight loss history...and knows about the pain that preceeds the glory.

He is philisophically a moderate. That fits old style Republican ideals and even that Compassionate Conservatism chestnut.

Huckabee is a political monster ready to sweep up a dissolute and fragmened Republican, and restore it to its better self: Community, Commerce, Conservatism.

I'm a Democrat Registered voter myself, and both fear and respect Huckabee....If Hillary p.o.'d me during the election, I might cross and vote for this guy....

So There !

What a shame the Democrat Party has become when Hillary must apologize for and fire one of her own for commenting on Obama's drug use. Since when do we not care that a presidential candidate used drugs, especially hard drugs?

I've never used drugs. Why should I believe that Obama's decision making abilities are so great if he's done something that self destructive and illegal by our country's laws.

Don't apologize to Obama. Bring out his poor judgement in ever having used drugs in the first place. Woohoo, he admitted using (as if he wasn't trying to head off the negative media attention if it just leaked out!). It just shows his poor decision making abilities and lack of respect for the laws of the country of which he wants to be president!

People should NEVER apologize for bringing such a thing to the forefront. The majority of Americans have not used illegal drugs and should not allow such a thing to go unchallenged by a presidential candidate. Bill Clinton was bashed for it and so should Obama be.

Is a former drug user the person we want for president? That would be a resounding NO for most rational, law abiding Americans!

Who cares what a "prominent conservative" thinks? I didn't know any of them had the ability to think for me.

"Why doesn't this guy run on a Democratic side?"

Are you kidding me? He's EXACTLY who the Repubs should nominate.

" He would fit right in. "

Rally? When have the Dems run a religiously-disabled anti-science misogynist?

This is the same Mike Huckabee who declared on national TV that he believed that the Canadian capital building was a giant igloo made from ice. Sounds really prepared for international diplomacy. Search YouTube if you want to see it.

The things I haven't heard the pundits say, and you certinly won't hear it from the Huckabee campaign, is that in a field of Republicans who all want to be Ronald Reagan, Mike Huckabee is George W. Bush. He's a "compassionate conservative", i.e. values conservative friendly to big government. Yes, Huckabee rose from obscurity in sharp contrast to Bush, and he is much more articulate. But the thing Republicans need to ask themselves is whether they would have been happy with Bush's policies if they had been articulated better. For me, the values issues are significant, and competence is crucial (sorry, Dubaya), but given the choice, I'd much rather go with someone like Romney who won't continue to drive the nation toward fiscal catastrophe.

Chilling account on Huckabee's Record. This is a must see!

While I'm on the subject of hubris and humility, this caught my attention:

That is one of the reasons our nation is having so many problems, little by little we are losing the blessing of the Lord because of our secular liberal believes in which we try to govern oursleves without His help.

The belief that God has somehow favored our nation, and that we are losing that favor for some reason, rests on the assumption that we can know what God is thinking. Since, by definition, no finite human mind can comprehend the omniscient mind of God, to suppose that God has blessed us in the past, or even that we are or ever have been deserving of God's blessing, is to commit a sin of pride.

"God Bless America" is not a statement of fact – it's actually a prayer, and every humble, imperfect resident of this imperfect country should add the word "please" in there somewhere.

Thanks to Rich Lowry. When a little geek comes on all afraid of someone who is going to beat his rich benefactors – you know we have a winner like Reagan on our hands. Go Huck 08.

The focus should be on who is best suited for change. Romney might look better on paper or on a stage, but people connect with Huckabee. He feels like one of us and not a professional politician. I for one, would rather have someone that I believe in (Democrat or Republican) versus the same old tune.

"What's wrong with a president who has Christian values and believes?... we are losing the blessing of the Lord .... America needs to return back to Godly values..." by Al Horta

That's easy to say, Al, but the facts are in the details. What are Christian values? I see very little similarity between the God of the Pope and the God of Pat Robertson. No two Christians can agree on the proper interpretation of any verse in the Bible. Jimmy Carter is a Godly man if ever there was one, but Evangelicals hate (not dislike, hate) him. 20% of the Christians who were surveyed say they believe in reincarnation (literally "born again"). I would say that Christians would want to feed the poor, cure the sick, help the widow and the orphan, and share their wealth with the less fortunate, but most evangelicals prefer to let the free market take care of them or not as long as they can't have an abortion. The Bible says men should not sleep with men, and Evangelicals hate homosexuality and homosexuals (don't start; yes you do). A few verses later, the Bible says not to eat pork, but Evangelicals do love that sausage and ham, don't they? A few verses later, the Bible says that a man should take as his second wife the widow of his brother, but we associate polygamy with Mormonism and many Evangelicals hate Mormons (don't start).

In short, while we all support Godly values, there is absolutely NO agreement on what those values are.

And people who don't like God-fearing leaders really should think about moving to another country. Either that or read some accurate history, not the watered down, censored, politically correct trash taught in public schools. Liberals would have serious issues with most if not all of our founding fathers.

Posted By Huck08, WA : December 15, 2007 3:15 am

As a liberal, I don't mind "God-fearing" leaders – but Huckabee talks and acts like someone who isn't so much afraid of God as he is certain that he's God's BFF, and it's leaders who think that they are the particular favorites of God who scare me. Bush claims God had a hand in getting him selected to be President, while Huckabee claims that God is influencing the latest polls and does a shtick where he pretends his cellphone is on God's speed-dial. Stuff like that shows a stunning lack of humility, and we could do with a little less hubris and a little more capacity for self-examination from our next President.

Also, we liberals more than embrace our actual, liberal founding fathers. And I say "liberal" because it's absolutely laughable to look at how they overturned centuries of rule by a hide-bound monarchy whose hereditary ruler was also the head of the state church, replacing it with a completely new system of government based on individual liberty, equality and right to participate in government, and somehow see it as a victory for "conservatism."

barack

"Like Dean, Huckabee is an under-vetted former governor who is manifestly unprepared to be president of the United States,"
What a joke the Republicans are! The above statement describes Bush perfectly! Dean would have made 100 times the President Bush has been! I would not vote for any of the current crop of Republicans! they are all a joke!

The media has been going after Obama about his drug use why don't someone look into Romney's beliefs. The Mormons have very different beliefs than main stream Christians. I'm a black man and I'm particularly concerned about Romney's beliefs. Does he share views of the Book of Mormon which espouse racist doctrine? If not he's a hypocrite and disengenious and should not be trusted as the leader of our nation. As usual you people refuse to even look into this matter!

Allow me to clear some things up for undecided voters. Huckabee is the only reasonable choice. He is kind, likeable, honest, compromising, and intelligent. His past as a Baptist minister should not be of any more concern than Hillary or Obama's faked religious leanings or Mitt Romney's 180 degree flip-flop from radical liberal to radical conservative. Anyone who makes his religion an issue is an obvious hypocrite and bigot against protestant Christianity.

Hillary will never win. Too much poor history. Her foreign policy is no different than that of George Bush. And then there's Bill.

Obama is only liked because no one can find any "accomplishments" with which to bash him over the head. His foreign policy and anti-American attitudes will cost him big in any election.

The current Democrat candidates stand absolutely zero chance of getting elected.

Romney may be the frontrunner for the media, but his 180 degree flip-flop from radical Kenney-esque liberal to good down home values radical conservative will not be believed for a second. People know that when elected, the false conservative front will evaporate. Who gives a hoot about his Mormonism.

Rudy Guiliani? Might as well be a democrat with his social liberalism. He may be personable, but social conservatives see through his charade.

John McCain? Used to be a good, middle-of-the-road choice but has shown his unlikeability and his unfortunate unelectability.

Fred Thompson? Yeah...the guy can't act either. Nobody's going to want this guy for president.

Ron Paul? What? He's a Republican? He reminds me of a liberal Ross Perot! He may stand for "change", but his absurdly naive foreign policy statements (eg. pulling American military bases out of foreign countries) will hurt America's ability to defend itself from foreign attack and destabalize the world far more than any Iraq conflict ever could. Ron Paul, the choice of the "simple" who don't understand that he's not a true Republican (in nearly any sense of the word) and he doesn't have a clue on issues of foreign policy.

Huckabee is the only reasonable choice. The negative information about him in the media is all spin with little truth. The AIDS thing? Ancient comments from a period when AIDS was still barely understood and appeared to many to be a "Gay disease". His views have changed with science. Anti-science? Baloney. Most liberals have little understanding of true religion and believe that Christians are all anti-science. I've got news for them. Most Christians are as intelligent and pro-science as they are. The liberals are just blinded by their misconceptions and misunderstandings. Huckabee is anti-mormon? No. If anyone took the time to look into the context, they would find an innocent question about Mormon beliefs to a reporter (which Huckabee obviously never intended to see the light of day). Huckabee is a sincere man who wants to know the truth about the beliefs of others, not to smear another religion as his comment has been unfairly spun.

Having lived in Arkansas under Clinton and knowing about Huckabee's leadership, I feel quite qualified to bash Clinton (as I did before he was ever elected the first time) and promote Huckabee for his integrity and likeability. He's the choice for America despite the contrary claims of anti-protestant biggots, hypocrites, and those so "open-minded" that their brains have leaked out (without them realizing it of course).

I totally agree with the blogger who posted these comments (I couldn't have said it better myself.):

I’m baffled as to why Iowans are supporting Mike Huckabee. Huckabee says a lot of things that sound good to uninformed voters, but nobody seems to be paying attention to what this guy actually says and what his record is. Huckabee gave out over 1000 commutations and pardons. He rose over $500 million in taxes. He also supported college tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. All of this while Governor of Arkansas. Trust me, though he “sounds good” with his witty one-liners and lip service to stir the emotions…Huckabee is not the guy for the GOP.

wonder where Rich Lowry is getting his information about Mike Huckabee appealing to "niche" religious voters? The latest polls show rising support among moderates. Also, how does this theory explain Huckabee's rise in the national polls? I also find troubling his statement that the country shouldn't have a religious president. Would he prefer an atheist?

Yes Laura, I would prefer an atheist...

Let's begin the first theocratic rule of law in this nation and take down the sinners once and for all! I can look past his liberal leanings so long as he brings us back to a true Christian nation where we can dominate the political atmosphere once and for all.

Posted By Jonathan, Westboro KS : December 15, 2007 2:33 am

And while we're at it, we can practice demonizing other religions while isolating ourselves from our current and potential world allies, right?

Freedom from religion, and the seperation of Church and State is what I believe. And you say 'Take down the sinners'? So, anyone who doesn't have the same moral belief set as you [Stem cell research, same sex marriage, polytheism, etc.] automatically deserve to be ostracized, regardless of their contribution to society?

Even then, who said he would bring a Christian state, Gods forbid? He's a baptist who can't even follow the moral tenents of his own religion, who has taxed the poor and pardoned the guilty of their crimes. For a religious leader, he seems to have a very shifty and uninformed stance on politics and morality.

And a Theocratic Law? Hasn't that been tried before in Europe? Remember what the Dark Ages brought to the world? Over five hundred years of expessive repression and some of the worst atrocities attributed to man. The word of the lord works best as a guideline to daily life, NOT as a unmoving edict that all are forced to follow.

As a native of Kansas currently serving overseas, I am ashamed to share a state with you, sir.

As for Sen. Huckabee, I find that he seems to deny a lot of his past, instead of trying to atone for his mistakes. He may have grown with time, but his experience in the past will be the achilles heel that fails him in the upcoming election, if his religious base doesn't do it first.

Since the NRO has endorsed Romney, Mr. Lowry's opinion is tainted and irrelevant to the general discussion.

How's this for irony?

When Islamic countries elect Mullah's as political leaders, Republican politicians label them dangerous religious extremists. Now the Republicans want to elect an ordained Minister as their political leader.

The arrogance of this man Lowry to tell anyone how to vote is astounding!
There have been plenty of US Presidents who were deemed not presidential material who were great (Truman for example) and many other who were supposed to be great that were horrible.
Someone tell Lowry to shut his yap!

I think a big part of Huckabee's appeal is that he seems to make sense when he is talking. A lot of voters do not believe that borrowing money while simultaneously cutting taxes is a conservative practice. Balancing budgets and cutting costs, that's conservatism. Huckabee seems like he can think outside the tired old Dole-Bush script that we've all grown so tired of.

On a different note, is it now impossible to elect someone who isn't a Southerner? There are 50 states, after all.

You need a republican candidate who can bring people together from all walks of life, including but not limited evangelicals. There is only one candidate who can atrract all voters, republicans, democrats and independents. That candidate is Dr. Ron Paul.

What's wrong with a president who has Christian values and believes. If we look back at many of our now famous presidents we will find most had a relationship with God. That is one of the reasons our nation is having so many problems, little by little we are losing the blessing of the Lord because of our secular liberal believes in which we try to govern oursleves without His help. America needs to return back to Godly values and honoring Him. A president who has a relationship with the Almighty is an asset not a debit.

Huckabee will ultimately lose because he is inflicted with those disease so common to conservatives – a total lack of sensitivity and foot-in-the-mouth.

No, I'm not talking political correctness.

Suggesting "isolating" (his word)anyone infected with HIV, as Huckabee did, goes beyond "political correctness"...it's un-American.

Then there was his tremendous personal support of a convict, who after being released, went on to murder two women.

Huckabee's blindness to anyone that doesn't think, believe and pray like him may play well to the evangelical choir...but America is getting tired of the American Taliban trying to tell everyone else what to do.

So, go ahead, GOP...nominate Huckabee with all his ignorant biases and blatant prejudices.

He'll be quashed and the world will cheer that America finally got a presidential election right again..when we elect Obama.

I AGREE! Huckabee won't be going anywhere in a general election. Hillary 2008!

No, not unless the Republicans decide to torpedo him like the establishment Democrats back stabbed Dean.

Here we go again. The media trying to sway the minds of the voters with who THEY think is the better candidate. Reader's beware, you are being brain washed. This is horrible reporting.

If Lowry's is concerned about how candidates would do in the general election, why on earth is he endorsing Romney who has consistantly faired poorly in head-to-head polls?

LET'S NOT MAKE THIS A RELIGIOUS ISSUE.
GOV. HUCKABEE IS THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIATE FROM EITHER PARTY. I BET THE DEMS WISH HE WAS IN THEIR CAMP.
WE WANT TO DUMP EVERY PROBLEM ON THE PRESIDENT. DO YOU FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS A CONGRESS AND SENATE THAT PASSES AND APPROVES EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT DOES? WHEN DO WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS?
WHAT HAS THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE AND SENATE DONE FOR THE COUNTRY SINCE IT RECLAIMED POWER? I AM A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO VOTE FOR HUCKABEE. I HAVE BEEN A LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND I AM CHANGING MY PARTY AFFILICATION SO I CAN SUPPORT GOV. HUCKABEE.
LET'S ALL THINK ABOUT THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY AND LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CANDIATE AND PICK THE BEST ONE AND YOU WILL CHOOSE HUCKABEE.
I SAY RUN HUCK! RUN! WE WILL BE BEHIND YOU.
DRH North Carolina

Huckabee is not so much Howard Dean as he is Alf Landon in 1936. It would be a slaughter.

"People are panicking on the Repub side because they know an avowed "Christian leader" who's as anti-science as he is pro-war will sink like a boulder in the general election lake, even if nominated. And even the Repubs won't nominate this guy."

Posted By Steve, Lyons, CO : December 14, 2007 10:48 pm

Steve, what are you really saying? That the Repubs would be better off covering up the fact that they are anti-science and would like the church and state mix some more?

Why cover it up! Let's celebrate the fact that it's in the open and so people either for or against it will have a clear choice, rather than dealing with phonies who pretend to be all things to all people.

And "they" are the republican talking heads, the hate radio people, fox news, Glenn Beck, national review etc., who want to fool and use the evangelicals but want to hide what it's really about.

By the way, proving that he is first a politician and a phony "Christian" second, Pat Robertson endorsed Rudy Giuliani of all people, not Huckabee!

All I'm saying is that the backbone of the republican party, the white evangelicals from the bible belt that has given them all these electoral victories, ought to be able to choose a man like them, rather than one of these other phonies chosen by the national review, fox news etc.

I couldn't agree with Lowry more. I have voted republican for 30 years and will bolt the party if he gets the nod.
Run Newt – RUN!

I must either be an anomaly or an idiot in this discussion, probably the latter. I'm a life long Democrat and an atheist for the past 5 years. Yet, I would vote for Huckabee over all but two of the Democrat candidates. My thoughts and beliefs aren't in line with all of his. However, he comes across as the genuine article.

My frustration runs deep with bought off and rehearsed politicians. America has been over run with lies bought with corporate dollars for so long, that a candidate who is true to himself is what this country needs. We need to get out of the mindset of accepting crooked and paid for politics.

Huckabee's experience as governor is a good indicator of what kind of president he will be.

Left the state with a half billion dollar defecit. Fought for special rights for illegals.
Increased taxes 21 times while in office. Increased the cigarette tax 105%. Increased the gas tax 15%.

Huckabee is not a moderate conservative. His record shows he is on the extreme right on social issues and a liberal on economic issues. He has no international experience and no foreign policy experience.

He has MANIPULATED the right with his sly, distasteful "Christian candidate" ploy.

I am one of the many millions who will not vote for this candidate under any circumstance.

Another Romney supporter showing his personal bias against Huckabee. Who cares his bias?

Romney has many weaknesses too – his religion, his lacklustre political records, etc.

Independent of IA says, "3. Home owners will HAVE to invest in state-of-the-art protection systems to safeguard their families from released rapists."

That is an incredibly stupid thing to say, Independent. I will not insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you wrote, so I have to wonder why you are trying to portray Huckabee as "pro rape" and who you support – or work for. Unfortunately for America, some of the lackwits will pick this up and repeat it – again not because it is true, it is an obvious lie. But it is the kind of slur that tars the candidate in the minds of the unthinking.

Aren't the American people tired of theocratic retards?

This country needs freedom from religion!

"His vulnerabilities in a general election are so screamingly obvious that it's hard to believe that primary voters, once they focus seriously on their choice, will nominate him." I'll bet Lowry wrote nearly identical words about Bill Clinton in 1992. Maybe about Reagan in 1980, too.

If Huckleberry wins (by some far stretch of the imagination) the general election, be prepared for disquieting truths:

1. Shoe sales in America will drop dramatically....all the women who now spend hours finding '...just the right style' will be barefoot in the kitchen with one child balanced on her hip and at least one tugging on her dress.

2. Drug manufacturers will have to stop making birth-control pills.

3. Home owners will HAVE to invest in state-of-the-art protection systems to safeguard their families from released rapists.

Is this really what you want?

Unfair politics....people start to prefer a candidate tand the party and press start a campaign against him by saying he would loose. What is this?

Ron Paul would dominate the Democrats. Paul would win in a landslide against ANY democrat. But will the Republican voters be smart enough to elect him?

People like his candid straightforward style. He appears to be authentic and speaks with passion. The guy has real charisma and charm. It's the emphasis on the religious stuff that bothers me. There was good reason our founding fathers wrote about seperation of church and state.

Probably the most interesting and accurate aspect of Lowry's pontificating is that Huckabee has not yet been vetted appropriately.

It's true that Huckabee largely has gotten a pass on questions that don't lean upon his religiosity in all the debates and in most television appearances. Has he really gotten grilled yet on his take on fiscal issues or the war in Iraq, for example? No. He's gotten softballs: questions that ask, for instance, if children of immigrants should be punished, which allow him to go all ethically pedantic on his fellow republicans.

Sometime soon, maybe after a primary win in South Carolina and/or Iowa (folks in New Hampshire won't be swayed so easliy by a Baptist preacher), Huckabee's feet will be held to the fire, and the electorate will get a better look at the kind of guy republicans imagine they could embrace in the general election.

Once they get a clearer and broader view, a big case of buyer's remorse will probably set in.

Target stores shouldn't be adding employees to handle a stampede of people checking into what the Huckabee family has on their gift registry just yet.

I question whether Gov. Huckabee's rise is a result of his religious beliefs so much as his promise to abolish taxes during a debate. That being so, perhaps he should be asked how he intends to do it, and research should sbe done to show how it will affect average families.

"Rich Lowry should know that four of the past five U.S. presidents have been governors, and all but Ronald Reagan were from the South,"

... yes but their widest plank was not "I am a Christian Minister." As you start really looking at the guy's record, look at the gift list, pardons, tax increases, locking those with aids away and on and on.

You want a 23% flat tax? The single issue so-called Christian Evangelical Conservatives, who seldom look at the big picture, may give him a bump in Iowa but as the heat increases, Preacher Mike will have to get out of the kitchen.

He is a Clinton in Huckabee clothing.

he reminds me more of Hillary then Dean.

Huckabee used to be my #2 choice, then he opened his mouth with all that religious crap and all the dirt about him came out, and now he is on the bottom of my list.

And yes that puts him below Giuliani. If its Giuliani in the general election I'll vote 3rd party. But if its Huckabee I'll make sure to vote Democrat for the first time since I started voting, just to make sure the religious nut jobs never see the White house.

I am all for religious tolerance, but you can't have someone in the white house, who only wants religious tolerance for his own religion

I certainly hope Republicans are dumb enough to nominate Huckleberry. He may not be quite as psychotic or dimwitted as Bush, but at the same time he also has no vast criminal empire behind him like Bush did through his family. Nobody's going to go out of their way to rig elections for this ignorant bumpkin – there will be no Supreme Court coup d'etat this time around. And that inevitably means a rational, relatively decent person (i.e., not a Republican) will become President.

Sadly, however dumb average Republicans are, the people who actually make decisions in their party know how to stay in power – it's really all they want or understand. This means that no matter what the rank in file decide, the one who will be nominated is whom the party elite chooses – the one who will safeguard their power and money. I have no doubt they would rig their own primaries if necessary.

When Huckabee was govenor of Arkansas, he acted in a way that served the interests of Arkansas. Every major criticism of Huckabee is because he actually did his job. He represented the people in that state. Arkansas has more democratic voters than republican. Democrats are big spenders. This isn't rocket science. Put two and two together. I have no doubt that if President, he will do his job, and do it well. If he spends a good part of that on his knees and in the Word of God, all the better. And people who don't like God-fearing leaders really should think about moving to another country. Either that or read some accurate history, not the watered down, censored, politically correct trash taught in public schools. Liberals would have serious issues with most if not all of our founding fathers.

I'm sorry, but I will NEVER vote for Mike Huckabee under ANY circumstance. I'm a lifelong Republican, a believer in the ideals of Ronald Reagan and yet I could see myself voting for a Democrat over this man. I'm pleading with my fellow Republicans...PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT NOMINATE THIS MAN FOR THE PRESIDENCY! It will be suicide for our party. He is a bigot, he doesn't like Mormons and homosexuals and a lot of other people. He is not tolerant, he has a record of being soft on immigration up until now and he is a fiscal liberal. Huckabee's foreign policy suggestions are a joke! Even the Democrats wouldn't go so far as to say we need to be Mr. Nice Guy all the time. He has no real vision. We need a solid leader that has fiscal conservative credentials and can lead this nation. We have two perfectly good choices in Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney and two other suitable choices in Fred Thompson and John McCain. Huckabee is the wrong choice for our party. Please don't make this mistake.

Very few actual thinking people can stand this 2008 election ridiculousness, but if we were to circumvent this silly crap for a minute, Governor Richardson and Senator Biden would, on balance, clearly be the experienced, forward-thinking, NON-COMMERCIAL (let's say it together) people who would make fine presidents.

It's unfortunately the case that such will probably not happen, which will only serve to show how we are not only capable but willing to throw elections away for "good vibes" again. Look: a restoration of the Clinton Empire will bring out vultures; Mr. Obama has been sorely ridiculous on foreign issues (he'll be a great candidate in 2016). But I suppose that makes me a "snob."

Pathetic...absolutely pathetic....

Ron Paul would make a great president.He knows what he wants and speaks what many of us are not allowed to say. Political correctness is smothering this country and needs to stop. What ever happened to freedom of speech. we can talk amungst ourselves at work or with friends but if you say anything in public you are a trouble maker. Why should I stop at a road block by our police and have to answer- "where are you coming from" and "where are you going to. What buisness is it to them where im going. Im not doing anything wrong. Ron Paul should run as an independent taking the election away from them all and change this country back to what it is ment to be "free".

There is only one GOP candidate that has a chance of winning. Ron Paul. 70% of the country wants out of Iraq...if the GOP doesn't get on board to that they are doomed to failure, not withstanding that they haven't been the party of fiscal conservatism either.

mikehuckabee.com

Let's begin the first theocratic rule of law in this nation and take down the sinners once and for all! I can look past his liberal leanings so long as he brings us back to a true Christian nation where we can dominate the political atmosphere once and for all.

Yeah, all of you fundies, go out there and have Huck for the GOP nominee. I'll be laughing all the way to the election when the Dems win.

As a Southern Baptist, only Ron Paul has the ability to defeat the Dem nominee. Ron Paul represents real change for this country. He is bringing awareness to a gamut of issues like: the high cost of the war, financially and militarily; the weak dollar created by the Fed Rsv; limiting the size and scope of the federal gov't. Also, NO other candidate, from either party, has the volunteerism as Ron Paul does. Come on, his supporters raised $4.2M in one day (independent of the campaign itself) and will raise more than that on December 16th. Lobbyists and corporations know they're wasting their time trying to buy Ron Paul. His campaign donations are coming from ordinary people like myself and thousands of others who are angry and sick of the BS coming from Washington and seeing their country's sovereignty being sold out.

I do not agree with all of Mike Huckabee's politics.

But I would still like to see him get the nomination because he has shown willingess to accept responsibility, a sense of vision, a sense of morality, common sense and he is a good man who seems real.

He is not Mr. 9/11, Giuliani and he is not the slippery Mitt Romney. He's just Mike Huckabee, the man with the plan from Arkansas.

Go Mike!

Born in the midwest, having lived south of the Mason-Dixon for most of my childhood and the Deep South as a newlywed, and now in NY, I don't know whom I'll vote for, but it would NEVER be Huckabee.

He helped to release a rapist from jail, simply because he was pushed to do it by enemies of Clinton.

He will also appoint the next Supreme Court justices and I believe his choices will be extremely right wing.

I heart Huckabee, however, insofar as he will be a gift to the Democrats as one poster said. I hope he and Fred Thompson run together because it will be the best "get out the Democrat vote" campaign you'll ever see!

I would have much rather seen Dean than Kerry run against Bush.

He was against the war from the start and would not have had that flip flop label attached to him, like Kerry.

American people will never look for a pastor for the White House.

Huckabee will be beaten by any Dem nominee.

Men of God cannot be also men of people in modern days. Look at Iran... Who are in charge? What a country Iran is today!

Huckabee is a very scarey man....how any woman in America could vote for him is beyond me, unless there are more women enslaved in the name of religion in this country than I thought! As far as the GOP goes in the upcoming election...well, we all know they are a joke...bad one, but a joke anyway. (The GOP has brought our country to ruin...and we, as citizens do not even know the half of it...yet!). As far as the Conservatives go...they are half the reason our country is in the mess it is currently in....Conservatives are hypocrites...phony family values, do as I say, not as I do mentality. Sorry Huckabee you will never get my vote...I am still a free woman and can think for myself. Yep...you got it...I AM WOMAN..HEAR ME ROAR!

What Lowry fails to realize, is that Dean would of been a better candidate against Bush because Dean understood the 2004 presidential election was all about one thing; IRAQ. Add that with a candidate who would actually stand up for himself, and things might be different. I'm no Dean or Kerry fan, but Lowry fails to make this distinction. Just because Dean didn't make it to the general election, doesn't mean he was the worst candidate. Huckabee has the personality and charisma to do it. How can Lowry write an objective article while clearly backing another candidate?

Let's see, weren't some Dems hoping for a Bush nomination in 00 because he appeared to be a moron he could never win? Be careful what you wish for.

Huckabee's real persone was revealed a couple days ago when responding to the story about his paroling a rapist who then raped again. He said the parole board folks who said that he pressured them for release were "liars," denied the content of his own letter to the rapist saying "you should be parolled," then blamed–guess who–Bill Clinton for signing the law that allowed Huckabee to have the guy paroled. Surprised y'all missed it.

So much for "Christian values" of humility, honesty and responsibility. Like most zealots, this guy is really dark, a total fraud, and as dangerous as Bush.

Hey Huck. During your time as minister in your church, did you ever show that infamous anti-Mormon film, the Godmaker? We really want to know. I believe the Anti-Defamation League won a lawsuit against a lot of people who showed it in the 80s and 90s. Got an answer Mike?

The only GOP candidate that has any chance at beating a Dem is Ron Paul. If the GOP doesnt figure this out they're flat out ignorant. If 70% of the country has become anti-war or anti-Iraq War, how in the world is a pro-war candidate going to win the white house? Jellllloooooo???????

I sincerely hope the Republicans nominate this theocrat in a three piece suit. Moderates will run away screaming from him, and the Democrats will win in a landslide.

Look, I'll admit it, I'm a Democrat; an Edwards fan in fact. But I would have have a very tough time deciding whether to vote for Huckabee-McCain over any other Democrat. You see Integrity counts! And McCain has it and I think Huckabee does to. I do not agree with them on most policies but I trust them.

I don't read the National Review but i think Lowry is off-base and biased. Even though polls currently show Huckabee losing to the top 3 Democratic contenders, so does Romney. Romney would get no Democratic votes and very little evangelical votes. Republicans would vote for him, but at best Romney would only pull one-fourth of Independents. Romey has a strong resume but a lot of baggage. If the democratic campaign were to throw out 3 controversial Mormon doctrines, many Christians, Republican or Democrat, would rally against Romney.

Ron Paul has been surging longer than Huckabee. As a minister myself, I support Paul over Huckabee, because Huckabee is dangerous, and his views are narrowly construed. He doesn't represent Christianity in a large percentage of thinking ministers.

Ron Paul followers, have love built into their slogan. That is more Christian than anything Huckabee is saying.

Rich Lowry bet on a horse (Mitt), and if the horse doesn't win, Rich loses.
Ed Rollins has a track record of picking winners (some obscure actor with little political experience named Reagan). Rollins has bet the farm on Huckabee. Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets.

The political pundits and party machines would love to pigeon hole the Huckabee campaign as only pertinant to a religous fringe. However his very surge is evidence that there is a huge opening for a believable pro-life candidate, who is also concerned about social and economic justice both domestically and internationally. This has the potential to cut across old political lines, and makes Mike Huckabee very electable. Let the fresh wind blow! It is time for change.

I for one am getting sick and tired of the GOP trying to manipulate this election to turn out the way they want.
If they have their way, it'll come down to Hillary and Rudy. America's best hope is that Obama and Huckabee get to square off. That would give this country the best oppertunity for the change it so desperatly needs.
And that's my oppinion.

This article has it exactly right. There are so many reasons why a two-bit Baptist minister is so wrong as President. His biggest accomplishment was losing 110 pounds.

As a democrat, I would vote for the guy. No one else can honestly answer a question.

Huckabee is the man...all the way to the Whit House!!!!!

Another point i forget to make is that judging huckabee on his religion would be as unfair as judging obama on the color of his skin, its not fair and it shouldn't be discussed. Huckabee has said that he doesnt force his beliefs on other people also.

"[A] Baptist pastor running on his religiosity would be rather overdoing it," – Lowry says?

So. When a Mormon candidate trumpets his faith in a major media suck-up that's a powerful statement of personal principle. But when a Baptist candidate talks about his faith, it's somehow a cardinal political sin. Give me a break.

Want to know what Mitt's chances of getting the nomination are? Just count the number of Mormans that are currently holding statewide offices in the south. Okay, so maybe statewide office would be an unfair test. Count the number of individual state legislators. Okay, Okay. Maybe not legislators. How about county or city office-holders? Sorry, Mitt.

I'm a registered republican but if Huckabee gets the nomination I’ll abstain. This whole Christian America façade needs to end here and now. Never thought I'd look to Europe for hope but we, as a people, really need to keep this crap out of the public sphere.

lowry doesnt know what hes talking about, huckabee appeals to more than just evangelicals because hes believable and likable.

huckabee is a sanitized version of bill clinton.

he's another hillbilly carrying a 15 pound bible.

plus he's a religious bigot.
Posted By deroy WPB, FL : December 14, 2007 7:45 pm

Even IF any of these statements were true he would still be a better president, by far, than any democrat.

This is just another of many recent smear campaigns against Huckabee. Huckabee is likeable, honest, and intelligent. His spike in the poles is simply evidence that people are figuring this out. His religion should not make a difference to those who incessantly (and ironically) harp about tolerance (they simply mean that they want their views and values to carry the day instead).

Huckabee is unquestionably electable and will undoubtedly rise further in the poles. Most people want the economic and environmental liberalism of the Democratic Party with the social conservatism of the Republican Party. Huckabee offers this balance much better than any of his closest competition, whether Democrat or Republican.

All I can say is "Go Huckabee". I'm with ya!

I must admit that I am in complete "awe" of Mr Lowry's physic abilities concerning Mike Huckabee. This one man has discerned each and every vote of millions of people ! I know what my friends and family think about the upcoming vote(s)concerning all candidates. Hillary/Bilary will not win a national election. I also know that Obama has a chance but not much of one. A republican candidate will win the race in 08. NOT because of his party BUT because of the Dems lack of a message that makes sense to me and the rest of America. I personally do not know a single person that supports Hillary Clinton. I, like a lot folks here in Virginia well remember the "Clinton" days. I doubt this posting will appear given CNN's blatant support of Hillary. But prehaps the CLINTONNEWSNETWORK will let this slip by.
L. Browning
Coeburn, Virginia

Sounds like more desperation from the Romney campaign. Why can't his campaign just stick to the issues and show America why he should be president. Instead they waste tons of time and money bashing others. They are trying every angle to bash Huckabee. But I think most people see through it.

I'm also amazed by the bigotry against Huckabee. In this politically correct world how can people call him names like hillbilly and make slighting remarks about his religion (15 lb bible). Are these the same people that preach tolerance? Sounds like the hypocracy they claim to hate.

Wow. So much for the 11th Commandment, "Thou shalt not speak ill of fellow Republicans."

This religious component to the GOP is finally causing them headaches. They've pandered to the Christian right, most of the time have gotten their votes, but never quite delivered on the big promises. So surprise surprise many Republican voters now feel they are entitled to nominate whomever they want to, and now the party's establishment is objecting.

This Republican nomination process is a window into an internal party struggle (social moderates vs. establishment vs. social conservatives) and I have to say I am loving every minute of it!

Honestly, Huckabee's record is MISERABLE. He is truly the "glass jaw" that the dems call him. That's why he has been the media darling for so long. Nobody ever calls him on his flip flops (like his new 8 point immigration bill that completely goes against what he has said in the past and in debates, etc.). He has so much baggage it is coming out of his ears. His days are numbered for SURE.

huckabee is a sanitized version of bill clinton.

he's another hillbilly carrying a 15 pound bible.

plus he's a religious bigot.
Posted By deroy WPB, FL : December 14, 2007 7:45 pm

Even IF any of these comments were true, Huckabee would be a far better president than any of the Democrats. HUCKABEE 2008!

I don't know Lowry, but he is right... I am a conservative – socially, fiscally, militarily, and all. Mike is pro-life... only.

Obama/Huckabee for the Democrats maybe... but my vote is with Fred!

Great point. Huckabee IS unprepared to be president. Romney, on the other hand, may be the best prepared candidate the GOP has seen in a long time. I'm voting for Romney.

Rich Lowry is part and parcel of what is wrong with the current conservative problem: there are too many insiders in the beltway who have lost touch with Americans outside of it.

Lowry whines, then whines some more, and whines a little more after that. He lost me as a conservative when he started hanging around Sean Hannity too much, and his brand of populist conservatism. Neither Lowry, nor Hannity, seem to be clued in to what Reagan believed. Both exemplify what Thomas Paine stated with regard to tolerance.

It's not about shouting down your opposition, or continuously trying to be right all the time; it's about vigorous debate, exchange of ideas, and compromise when necessary.

That's what conservatism stands for.

Republican party is doomed if Huckabee is the one that gets the nomination.

As governor of Arkansas, Huckabee dramatically increased state spending. During his two-term tenure, spending increased by more than 65 percent - at three times the rate of inflation.

The number of government workers increased by 20 percent, and the state’s debt services increased by nearly $1 billion. Huckabee financed his spending binge with higher taxes. Under his leadership, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, including increases in the state’s gas, sales, income, and cigarette taxes. He raised taxes on everything from groceries to nursing home beds.

Huckabee answers these complaints by pointing out that he "cut taxes 94 times" while governor. True. But most of those tax cuts were tiny, like exempting residential lawn care from the sales tax. Some cuts reduced overall state revenues by as little as $15,000. On net, Huckabee increased state taxes by more than $500 million. In fact, Huckabee increased taxes in the state by more than Bill Clinton did.

On its annual governor’s report card, Cato Institute gave Huckabee an "F" for fiscal policy during his final term, and an overall two-term grade of "D." Only four governors had worse scores, and 15 Democratic governors got higher grades, including well-known liberals like Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania.

But Huckabee doesn’t just embrace big government in the form of big taxes. He truly appears to believe that if something is a good idea it should be a federal government program.

For example, having become health conscious while losing more than 120 pounds, he now calls for a national smoking ban. Because he believes that "art and music are as important as math and science" in public schools, he wants these programs funded - and thus, directed and administered - federally.

Huckabee is, incidentally, the only Republican candidate for president who opposes school choice.

He is the only Republican candidate who opposes President Bush’s veto of the Democrats’ proposed expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and he is skeptical of most conservative proposals for entitlement reform.

Calling himself "a different kind of Republican," Huckabee rails against high corporate profits and attacks free trade agreements. As governor, he raised the minimum wage and increased business regulation. He says it is "a biblical duty" to pass more regulation to fight global warming.

Perhaps Huckabee’s only claim on conservative credentials is that as a former Baptist minister, he is more anti-abortion and anti-gay than the other candidates. In many ways, he has been running an overtly religion-based campaign. But even here, his preference is to increase and centralize federal government power.

On election night in 2006, 55 percent of voters leaving the polls said they believed the Republican Party had become the party of big government. Mike Huckabee is doing his best to convert the other 45.

I have a suggestion. Why doesn't this guy run on a Democratic side? He would fit right in. Wake up people!

I don't care whether it's a democrat or republican that squashes Huckabee. This man has to be stopped.

Bush was qualified to be president? I think he's proved he wasn't. How about we elect someone HONEST for a change, and someone who doesn't have a personal agenda?

Comparison chart for Huck and Dean
Mike H Howie D
Republican Demo/crat
Salt Pepper
White Black
Composure Nerve Problems
Going Up Down & Out
Electable Questionable
Rich Lowry has miss the mark a country mile on this one. No comparison
Independant from Iowa

The Republicans deserve a Huckabee nomination in return for what they have visited on this nation, since the 2000 election.

As a life long Democrat, let me plead with my GOP brethren to nominate Huckabee. Then it won't matter how much blood Hillary and Barack Obama leave on the ground, one of D's will be our next President!

this is funny stuff..we've got a republican candidate suddenly doing well who is waaay too far to the Right to stand a chance,we've got a whole bunch of ron paul supporters who still havent figured out his chances are statistically near impossible when Reality is considered (conscience votes are meaningless);and we've got Mitt Romney pouring a ton of effort into explaining his religion when there are roughly 101 things that are more pressing for this country than that ridiculous stuff.
....like i said...funny.

Huckabee's #1 problem?

He is a LIAR. He said he had nothing to do with the release of Dumond and knew nothing about his criminal past other than the rape he was in jail for.

These are obvious lies and many many people has said just the opposite.

Nice guy. Liar. Can't vote for him.

Watch as your American news media chooses your next President. Remember, most conservative talk show hosts are left of Huckabee.

"The Democrat has left the conserative Democrats,..."

?? No comprehende.

"... they are now the party of the left wings and gays. Huckabee is moderate..."

Moderate? Mr. Christian Leader? Mr. Anti-Science? This guy is as far right as Dick "Criminal Traitor" Cheney, hated now more than Darth Vader ever was.

"... and will take the Reagan swing vote."

The Reagan swing vote took a lot of Democrats in. Huckabee has already aliented most Democrats. He'll get zero swing votes. Religious nuts are going out of style. Hail the end of superstition?

" I for one am voting for him.
Posted By Colleen Apple Valley, Ca."

And, of course, that's your absolute right, which I would defend to the death!

Has anyone considered that maybe Huckabee is winning over the independant voters? I myself am an indepandant voter in Ohio (key state for the 2004 election) that voted for Kerry in the last presidential election, but is eager to vote for Huckabee in this next one if he becomes the Republican nominee.

"It's amazing how quickly they are moving to crush the people's choice (Huckabee). They want them to support a total phony like Mitt or Rudy instead."

Who's "they"? Sounds like you're paranoid.

The only "people" supporting Huckabee are ultraconservative Iowan farmers, some of them as brainrotted by over-religion as our friends under Pat Robertson and the late, Good Riddance poster boy for extremist Christian hatred, Jerry Falwell.

People are panicking on the Repub side because they know an avowed "Christian leader" who's as anti-science as he is pro-war will sink like a boulder in the general election lake, even if nominated. And even the Repubs won't nominate this guy.

My POLL says DR RON PAUL IS WINNING.

GO RON PAUL

The talking heads thing Huckabee is only gaining because of the Religous Right. Funny, I'm an Athiest and plan on voting for him. The experts have no idea what they are talking about.

Lowry's warning may very well be accurate. And how ironic it would be if the party that lived by extremist, right wing religion suddenly died by it.

Huckabee is awesome because I love Chuck Norris!

Could there be a better gift for the DNC than a Huckabee GOP ticket?

It's pretty simple really, once the most conservative, religious-minded Republicans figured out that Rudy was pro-abortion and Romney was a Mormon, they weren't left with too many choices.

Huckabee would be demolished in a national election, the man is political Kryptonite. Best of luck.

I wonder where Rich Lowry is getting his information about Mike Huckabee appealing to "niche" religious voters? The latest polls show rising support among moderates. Also, how does this theory explain Huckabee's rise in the national polls? I also find troubling his statement that the country shouldn't have a religious president. Would he prefer an atheist?

How unfortunate. The Republican party is doing the same thing to Huckabee as the Democratic Party to Obama. Finally, we have two decent guys and their own party are beating them up, saying they have no chance because they 'nice'.

As a voter, i want to see a candidate that can stop the inefficiencies of the government, install a sensible tax plan, cut spending (N. Pelosi's jet)etc, create a reform in healthcare cost, and disregard political correctness for overall well being of the nation. NOBODY from the D's has this ability, nor life experience. But, maybe a businessman like Romney can!!!!

Here is a thought for the good ole GOP.
If Huckabee doesn't get the nomination, many thousands of "religious hicks" like myself will stay home on election day. Huck was right, the GOP deserved to get fired in 06. We don't want the same old politics and good ole boy politics. If Hillary get elected...we are getting just deserts. Huckabee is the only new voice out there.

With such a minority position that the republicans have,no candidate can win as a republican. They're just scamming money out of suckers for a failing cause. I hope they get rich off them.

The one way which someone as unfit for office as Huckabee is will be elected is if comments like Colleen's here will be taken as an insult. "left wings and gays", god forbid, someone who respects gays. Better to respect rapists and murderers eh Huckabee!!

I agree with Lowry.
Huckabee is UNELECTABLE. He is a religious fanatic version of Dean. He has no network, no money, no federal experience and is far behind in all but two states. That's 48 to 2 against him as I see it. That does NOT add up to a wise nominee choice.

Huckabee has no business being president.
He doesn't believe in evolution and he thinks
the world is only 6000 years old.

He's either really stupid or a liar.

Am I the only one who gets the feeling tha everyone of the comment boards on these news sites are dominated by campaign staffers.
do you guys really think you're that sneaky?

I say Huckabee get nominated so the Democrats can win. Huckabee is a scary man running around with a bible. The last thing we need in this country is another bible thumping president. I'd rather have someone with experience in foreign affairs, domestic affairs, and can fix this country for everyone not just the select few. Moderate Republicans and Independents, there is a place on the Democratic side for you in '08 if Huckabilly gets nominated.

I am a Republican – we need to understand that the right wing of the party (socially and fiscally conservative) is what is dragging us down – we need a moderate and Huckabee isn't it....his social message is not appealing to the unaffiliated – the only hope he would have would be if the Dems ran Hillary – they might pick a social conserative over a socialist....or maybe they will be like HRC supporters and pretend she actually answers any question...and is not defining policy from Saul Alinskys Marxist handbook...

I have a couple of predictions for Mr. Lowry:

1) If Romney doesn't get the Republican nomination, he won't become president.

2) In the general election, whoever gets the most electoral college votes will win.

Of the People, By the People, For the People

One more thing–America has an inate desire to respect the office of President. For the past 20 years, this has not been the case. The fact that Mike Huckabee has won over many voters due to his general likability is not to be minimized. We WANT to like and more importantly respect our president, an emotion that instantly came over me the first time I saw him speak. If he can win that many people over based on his general likeability, that tells me that he has the potential to influence and sway lawmakers in a more important arena–that of leading our country in the top executive position. Influencing other politicians and being able to choose qualified advisors and cabinet members are two extremely important roles of a president. I haven't felt this motivated by a candidate in a long time–imagine what he could do with this positive influence in Washington. He ranks high in integrity for me (similar to McCain), a quality that you cannot acquire–you must already have it. With that, he's already ahead of the pack as far as I'm concerned, and experience can be acquired!

It's interesting to watch this tenuous affair between the evangelical right (use of gov't to forward social agenda like liberals did since the 1960s) and real Republicans (little gov't interference). It was only a well funded and well orchestrated political machine that turned Southern Democrats into Southern Republicans.

With the implosion of the Bush administration, it seems that symbiotic, if exceedingily hypocritical, relationship of two contradictory worldviews using the other for votes and power has been strained.

I wonder if the evangelicals will return to the party that serves their economic interest (Democrats) or continue to fight for the party that gives lip-service to their social agenda (Republicans). Time will tell.

Mr. Huckabee's appeal goes beyond the religious niche of the Republican party. He is the only candidate whose actions and words display a fully and properly formed conscience. He is someone that people feel they can trust. People are tired of party lines and politicians and investigations. They are looking for civil servants they can trust to look after the best interests of the country and its citizens.

I am a registered Republican who is a social conservative & liberal depending on the issue. I like Richardson, Edwards & Clinton. Over the years I have come full circle on the Bushes & Clintons as far as liking & disliking them. I plan on voting for Clinton. I wish She would have one of those other two as VP. I would never vote for Obama for prez with his lack of experience. I cannot believe the ignorance of people who would vote for him because Oprah tells them to. That is scary. As has been said; let Hillary win this time around. Obama can gain some more experience & then maybe we can elect him in the future. That is just one woman's opinion.

Does everyone realize that if Hillary Clinton is elected, 2 families (Bush and Clinton) will have dominated U.S. politics for 24 years and potentially longer if she serves 2 terms? Mike Huckabee is the only candidate that comes to the table with one real tangible change: ELIMINATE THE IRS. Although it needs to be thoroughly studied, that alone will bring widesweeping changes. A two-time governor is certainly as qualified as anyone else, and everyone knows that much of the President's effectiveness is based on his cabinet and close advisors. Huckabee seems honest, genuinely focused on moral priorities, and most importantly willing to accept he may not be perfect, but eager to seek the right answer when needed. I don't feel that he would choose cabinet positions based on favoritism, but rather on qualification. That's an important message that is represented by the way he has run his campaign. The fact that he has been able to come this far on a shoestring budget tells me he's got an eye for fiscal conservatism, and not the same old game that has dominated U.S. politics for my lifetime. I'm watching him VERY closely, and like many, I like what I hear and see!

I sooooo want the Republicans to choose Huckabee as their nominee. Huckabee will never play well in California, New York, etc .... Huckabee is a niche candidate ... he appeals to the minority Christian fundamentalist sect. Come on .... Democrats win in a landslide especially after Huckabee's comment that "women need to submit to their husbands." LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sooooooo want the Republicans to choose Huckabee over Giuliani. Huckabee is supported by a niche of psychotics, the Christian evangelicals, which won't translate into popular support in the presidential contest. Giuliani is more of a mainstream candidate.

I think in order to win presidential elections the candidate has to bring independent votes without discouraging his or her base. That's the reason why, say, Hillary is playing it both ways and try to position herself in the middle rather than extreme left.

Huckabee, imho, plays it exclusively for the evangelicals who mentioned that they will not support Romney because of his faith.

I am a registered republican in the people's republic of Massachusetts, so I know what a tough political discussion looks like But I am scared of a candidate who bases his political decisions exclusively on his faith, this is not the right way to run the country or any civil enterprise, imho.

I will be voting for Mitt in primaries and only for Mitt or Rudy if they win the nomination. I will not be wasting my time on any other republican nomination, in my opinion they are just not electable and Huckabee is CERTAINLY not my candidate.

7:45 – Do have anything to show that demonstrates Huckabee is a religious bigot or are repeating party lines without any thinking?

Ron Paul is the only Republican that can beat the Democrats? C'mon Tim, was that a serious comment? Atleast it would have made more sense if you said Ron Paul is the only libertarian who can beat the Democrats. In any event the man is irrelevant.

Rich Lowry is scared. Anyone who reads the ticker and thinks for a minute he would say anything kind about any candidate other than Romney should join Lowry's losing campaign. I was undecided until doing some serious research on ALL the candidates and Mike Huckabee has far more executive experience and aplomb that Mr. Romney and he certainly is a better communicator, not to mention more honest and consistent than Flip Flomney.

Huckabee as a governor stunk and I would hate to see do worse as President. As a student in Arkansas' failing education system, Huckabee has managed to land us 49th out of 50 in education. While he may impress many with charm and a sudden "Jarrod" syndrome with his weight, his ability to speak can only take him so much further than his track record as governor. Ignore his southern charm as it is only to get into OUR house.

Trust me. The Clintons are just waiting for Huck to get in. Just read the Drudge Report. The Clinton machine will do stuff you will not even imagine. They're just holding back for now.

Huck, doesn't represent all of the base. I don't support his anti-mormon reteric and his running on a religous stance. He has week support out side of Iowa and most of that support in Iowa is from "one nich" as stated in the obove article. A vote for Mike is a Vote for a DEM. Wake up Iowa you don't represent all of the U.S.A.,nor do you represent all of the Republican base either. We want to win. This election is bigger than 2000 and 2004.

Unprepared? You can disagree with Gov. Huckabee's policies, but to say he is not experienced is a stretch. His ten years as governor give him more executive experience than anyone else in the Republican presidential primary. Gov. Huckabee is a considerably prepared candidate so much so that his fellow Governors selected him to chair the National Governors Association in 2006.

Howard Dean my eye. He is Ross Perot + Gomer Pyle, and yes, you nominate him and the Presidency belongs to Clinton.

How amusing that Democrats have the audacity to condemn even a single Republican candidate. Don't they even begin to realize that nominating Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the primary is the beginning of thier demise in the general election. How blind can liberals be. America WILL NOT elect Hillary Clinton or a black candidate who has a name that sounds like it was ripped out of an Al Qaeda handbook. Democrats, get a grip, Huckabee will destroy your top leading candidates in a general election. Democrats love to ride the emotional roller-coaster. In 2004 it was a banshee-screaming Howard Dean. This election cycle it is a cynically youthful candidate who presents canned speeches. You see, Democrats are driven by animalistic emotion, while Republicans think through things rationally. Therein lies the difference.

I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with anything printed in the National Review, but I think Rich Lowry is right on the money here. The Republican party is already in serious difficulty, perhaps in its death throes. Nominating Huckabee could be the nail in the coffin.

It shouldn't all be about winning, it's about principle first...

If all the polls were right, why should we spend the money for an election??
i thing before we start naming the next president or even the candidates we should wait for the votes to be counted.

I just can't undertsand why the Republicans are out to blur the lines between Church and State. Go ahead and nominate looney right winger.. just helps elect more Dems next year. It won't matter who they nominate, the next elcetion as it stands now is the Dems to lose.

CNN: This story on the H is disgraceful. You do not have to give vent to people who have already indicated which side they are on as the gospel. The man said he supports Mitt. What do you expect? Same with G. Beck today. The guy is a Mormon, what do you expect? Use your panel. Caferty etc

Again caught wrong footed.

Huckabee and Romney are BOTH 100% guaranteed LOSERS in the general election. If the REPUKES hope to win they will not choose either of them. Their single best candidate lies in RON PAUL who would easily defeat anyone the democrats put on the ticket.

Amen!

NO, HE'S THE WINNER!!

Supporters of Mitt Romney are wearry, like the ignorant Glenn Beck who know basically zero about politics or any thing else for that matter, are saying that Huckabee doesn't have what it takes but the fact is that Huckabee is the most honest and down to earth candidate of the bunch.

Sorry Mike, one loser from Hope, Arkansas is more than enough.

Neither advocates a strong national defense and neither served their country in uniform, and we saw how Clinton decimated the military.

Two capitulators from Hope would be absolutely nuts!

Ron Paul is the only candidate that can take down the welfare/warfare statists.

America needs Ron Paul to help her.

Oh yes, the Democrats will certainly squash Huckabee. It's obvious given the overwhelming success of women and minorities in previous presidential races. For Huckabee, with conservative "friends" like Lowry, who needs enemies.

But with all these sudden attacks, CNN/Hillary must be afraid of Huckabee..

Lowry's correct that Huckabee is a voice for the Evangelical niche within the Republican Party, the antithesis to Rudy Giuliani in their eyes. What's ironic is that they both embrace so many socialistic approaches to policy. Even as a member of the so-called niche, I could not vote for either one of them.

Right now,Huckabee is the only Republican candidate I would consider voting for.

huckabee is a sanitized version of bill clinton.

he's another hillbilly carrying a 15 pound bible.

plus he's a religious bigot.

Yet another "conservative elitist" bashing Huckabee...Look at the polls, look at the nationwide surge...Huckabee is beginning to draw in more than just social conservatives. These guys are just miffed that they didn't see this coming months ago, when they were trying to coronate Rudy or Fred a year and a half before the election.

Ron Paul is the only republican that can beat the democrats.

Couldn't agree more, except that goes for the top two or three in both parties. They flat stink!

Couldn't agree more! As a registered Independent, there isn't any candidate that I feel can take this country out of the mess we are in, and getting into deeper. But, Hillbilly Huckabee, he really is clueless; it does give me comfort knowing that at least he stayed at a Holiday Inn last night...
Get real! We should be demanding, and getting better!

Huckabee would further damage the GOP come November 2008! What you may have would be more moderate or liberatarian Republicans feeling alienated by the presence of a baptist minister on the ticket and in turn go to the Clinton camp or just stay home. As a result you could easily see a huge landslide defeat for Huckabee! I wouldnt be surprised if it was a 410/128 (Electoral votes.) in favor of the Democratic candidate! Plus a popular vote of say 54%/44% and more seats lost in the house and senate for the GOP!

As a Democrat that makes me wanna scream

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Huckabee!!!

Of course Lowry is writing this. Hello it says he's a Romney supporter. LOL LOL LOL What do you think he's going to say... gee I love Huckabee and think he could win the Primary. LOL LOL

mikehuckabee.com !!

WE THE PEOPLE !

I call BS. The Democrat has left the conserative Democrats, they are now the party of the left wings and gays. Huckabee is moderate and will take the Reagan swing vote. I for one am voting for him.

There they go, the republican establishment trying to crush the obvious people's choice (republican people) who skyrockets up without the money, organization and media backing Mitt and Rudy had.

It just goes to show you that they wish to simply USE the social conservatives and evangelicals come election time, but really are not serious about it. They prefer it much better if the evangelical voter would simply act like sheep and just vote for the "frontrunner" that the republican media appoints and anoints.

Their agenda is simply preserving inherited wealth and all they want the evangelical's vote so they play lip service to that every time elections come up but their agenda, and the agenda of most republican voters through the bible belt and south are quite different.

It's amazing how quickly they are moving to crush the people's choice (Huckabee). They want them to support a total phony like Mitt or Rudy instead.

To clarify . . . I was the 10-year resident of Arkansas . . . not Huckabee. LOL

Lowry is obviously out of touch, and is only swayed by career politicians. I am a fan of Romney, but I'm torn between him and Huckabee. Romney has laid his convictions out on the table for everyone to see. If elected, there will be no surprises or flip-flops. I think the same can be said of Huckabee. As a 10-year resident of Arkansas, Huckabee did a lot of great things. He stood up for the things he believed in . . . whether everyone else agreed or not. It's time to elect someone who knows who they are and are not just defining themselves as they go, like Billary Rodham Clinton tends to do. With either of these conservative candidates, you'll at least be able to vote knowing who they are and what they stand for.

Yet this joker thinks that Romney has a chance of beating the Democrats? Aren't most polls showing each of the top 3 Democrats (Clinton, Obama, and Edwards) beating all of the Republican nominees in the national?

After the country's watched Bush and his Republican supporters all through the last painful 7 years, does the GOP really think it's got a shot in '08? Their best bet is to hope that the country continues to fall apart from 2009-12 and maybe they'll have a shot to recover the White House in 2012. We're well on our way with the economy that the Dems will surely be blamed for since they'll be in office at its worst.

I'm not so sure. As a registered Democrat, Huckabee scares the heck out of me. Here's a guy that got 40% of the African-American vote. He has a quite a bit of baggage, but if he's up against Hillary, it's not like she won't have baggage of her own. Huckabee is one of the few religious candidates that come across really well. He doesn't seem like he wants to force his religion down your throat, and to top that he's very personable and even funny, in my eyes. I don't think he's nearly as unelectable as Lowry suggests.

The one other thing I've been wondering about is this notion of Democrats running for change. Unfortunately for us, we're not going to be going against a guy who's been in Washington for years and years. Giuliani, Romney, and Huckabee, the three leading contenders on the Republican side are all Washington outsiders, while our two leading candidates ARE currently in Washington. I will be interested to see how that plays out.

Nominating Huckabee would be a total gift to the Democrats. One day Republicans with brains will realize that winning in Iowa and South Carolina marks a candidate as ultra-conservative, and completely unelectable. It is a pity that our candidates are selected via such flawed system.

What an A hole. The only similarities I see between Huckabee and Dean is that your own party will take you down.

Governor Dean steadily rose to the top, where he deserved to be. He was the clearest opposition of the Bush and Republicans the Dem's knew if he won the Primary he would WIN the General and they wanted their DLC friends there, Hillary and Obama (the anti Hillary). Obama showed he was loyal when he couldn't wait to bash Governor Dean when Governor Dean became Chair of the DNC.

Governor Dean was vetted well and stood up to all that. The only problem was the weak minds of the voters that they bought the DC folks and the Media's "electable" crap. HE was showing he was electable because they were supporting him. But, that and every single candidate and the Republicans got involved even because they didn't want Governor Dean...they wanted (like now, Obama) Kerry.

I agree that Huckabee's last min surge will probably not hold, because he isn't a strong candidate, but trying to draw a false comparison to a tru blue Dem with an outstanding record as Governor Dean, is inaccurate.

I’m baffled as to why Iowans are supporting Mike Huckabee. Huckabee says a lot of things that sound good to uninformed voters, but nobody seems to be paying attention to what this guy actually says and what his record is. Huckabee gave out over 1000 commutations and pardons. He rose over $500 million in taxes. He also supported college tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. All of this while Governor of Arkansas. Trust me, though he “sounds good” with his witty one-liners and lip service to stir the emotions…Huckabee is not the guy for the GOP.

I totally agree in every respect! Come on America, lets all wake up here, we're not electing someone just becuase he's a nice guy, we need to elect someone who will lead the United States of America!!! Get on it and wake up! This isn't a church issue, this is AMERICA, and he will be squashed!

I think Lowry is off base and stupid in comparing Huckabee with Dean. There is none.

Huckabee would make a great President, I am hoping he gets the nomination.
Huckabee and Romney as his running mate with no doubt Obama and Clinton, as their challengers; who do you think will win? Yes Huckabee will!

We're talking landslide now.