People actually think there's a difference between the Republicans and the "old USSR?" So sad, yet so funny at the same time.

Hey mb….

Did you know the USSR was for gun control, high taxes, big government, a multitude of socialized programs, radical change, etc. Wait a minute….that is the exact platform the Democrats are running on. Isn't that funny. the old USSR and the democratic party is in bed together. Let me guess, you are an Obama fan? I can gaurantee you that you can not name 3…2…that you can not name 1 thing he has accomplish. You follow like a sheep. He has not been specific about any "ideas" (he got from USSR and WWII Italy) In all of his speeches he only said the word change ( Does that mean I could make a good candidate if I write a speech and put in "Change" 50 times and "Move forward" 25 times? I better start campaigning right now. Bandwagoner

I gave over 20 years defending freedoms and the right to vote, and to have all votes counted. There are many more like me, some who gave their very lifes while defending these same freedoms and rights. Those who take it upon themselves to decide that even a single vote does not matter and stops counting should not be practicing politics under our constitutional law. If Esser was so certain of a McCain vistory, he should have simply kept counting to prove his point. Huckabee may have been cheated politically (that's politics, suck it up) however, approximately 1500 voters (American Citizens) were cheated by their trusted public servant. McCain and Huckabee should stand together, with the people of Washington state and demand that every vote be counted and Esser be canned. The GOP should jump on this band wagon to save the peoples vote if for no other reason than to save face.

to obvious:
They do vote in Russia, google it and find out how you are obviously wrong.

Two words. West Virginia.

If you're just going to rally behind the eventual nominee, why do you bother supporting anybody? They didn't share your beliefs at the beginning of the race but all of a sudden they do now?

Boy as a true Democrate for all of my voting life, this party going on in Washington State over not counting the votes is music to my ears! Ted Olson, bring your lawyers to Washington for Huck, what? you wont do that? So you think the Dems nomination will be decided by lawyers and court action to split the party, but guess what Ted, its happening in your back yard, get a taste of Florida! This is what Obamba needs in November to beat the sleezy evil republicans. I hope to see a campaign commerical reminding independant voters how sleezy the Repubs are and vote Democrate in November!

I couldn't wait to get up Sunday morning to see if Huckabee beat McCain in the Washington Caucus. I was almost certain Huckabee was going to sweep McCain I still hope he does. Only to turn my television on and find out the vote count was stuck on 87% and McCain was called the winner I was furious. I hope the lawyers stick it to whoever was responsible and held accountable. We need more politicians like Huckabee.

Florida Ohio, Ohio Florida, that's all you can think to say? Where are the lawsuits to back up your proof that the election was stolen? Where is the hard evidence. Here we have a man who decided to call off the count (according to the news) and you say Huckabee deserved it. What a bunch of idiots. Most of you shouldn't have the right to vote, and the way you think we won't have it for long. There isn't a glue strong enough to save this Republic. We sound like a third world nation waiting for the next dictator to overthrow the government. Don't worry about the world hating us, they are laughing to hard to care.

How wierd is this I watch Fox and they continue to push for Obama and push for Huckabee to give up. Yet in some strange twist of events CNN actually gives Huckabee a christian conservative republican a fair chance to speak up for himselves, in fact giving him more fair and ballanced reporting then Fox oooh its like stepping into the twigh lights zone. So since its clear that the pundits are trying their best to influence this election does this mean that Conservative leaning Fox feels that it would be easier for them to win if it were Mccain agianst Obama, and Left leaning CNN feels that they would have a better chance if it were Hillary versus a Huckabee. Does this mean that Fox feels its easier for them to win if they are competing against a Black guy, While CNN feels they would have a better chance at beating a Christian. Reading in between the lines of the messages both networks are telling is getting more and more disturbing.

"That leaves, McCain and Huckabee.

The old guy and the preacher.

Which brings up the philosophical question: Which one is closer to God?" –Jay Leno.

I loved it. (…for those religious nuts, aka, conervatives)

uhh, there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabeast

You people don't realize that caucuses are ways the politicians have invented

to nominate whom they choose, whether or not the winner is popular with

the voters. In some states, just 2,000 people decide whom gets the party's

nomination! Washington has a governor who won her office by just 200 votes…

many of them felons, dead people, or illegal aliens! WAKE UP AMERICA…

DEMOCRACY IS DYING UNDER OUR VERY NOSES.

Yea for "MIKE" I love the fact that you believe in "Miracles" So Do I.
The Lord watches everything. He loves everyone, Yes, I hope & Pray
for you, Keep on "Fighting & Believing" God Bless U.

obvious February 11, 2008 1:43 pm ET

there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabee. learn you friggin history. it's a communist country, not a democracy."

You are the one to learn some history. It was voting, but it was unanimous .. a la Obama's caucuses..

Throwing out vote??!! What possessed Esser to think this was okay? Since when does one man get to say that 1,500 peoples votes aren't worth counting? Sounds like Mr Esser is either afraid to count all the votes because he knows there is a valid chance McCain won't get them or he has totally over stepped his bounds as a Chairman people can trust with their votes. Either way he needs to be replaced. NOW!

So what does the republican party plan on doing? Just not counting the rest of the votes in Washington? I am not a republican but this absolutely deplorable. They called this race with 13% of the vote yet to be counted and McCain up by only a thousand or so votes. He had been trailing before. It's like they decided to wait until he was in the lead and then just stop counting.

Several here have made the claim that this is the same as the 2000 Presidential election where the vote was stopped. I would like to remind you of something. Gore payed lip service to counting all the votes, then filed suit to have only three of the six precincts recounted and challenged the votes of American soldiers in a war zone. Anyone claiming that the vote counting was stopped by the Supreme Court (which was liberal, not Republican) is practicing hypocrisy. Gore didn't intend to count all the votes or his legal challenge would have included the three more conservative precincts as well.

What was supremely rich was that, according to Paul Krugman (someone on the left), the New York Times editor that was involved in the after election multi-paper recount, Gore needed all six to win. There was one little caveate to this. You would have had to count chads in undervotes that you would have to ignore in the overvotes, and that with the most liberal of interpretations. They would not have survived any real challenge regarding fairness. Al Gore lost, even according to Paul Krugman. Gore lost because of undervotes and overvotes and Al Gore lost because he did not seek to count ALL the votes. His challenge was confined to the three more liberal precincts, which did not put him over the top. The Supreme Court was right to stop the unfair recounting only in certain precincts, but it gave the conspiracy believing left ammo when the conspiracy believing left dishonestly ignore the fact that Al Gore gave lip service to counting all votes but did not seek to count all the votes. What would the Supreme Court have done if he had sought to count all the votes?

Al Gore lost. He lost in all counts and recounts. He messed himself over by not seeking to count all votes. That was his only shot. Then it would have come down to ballot challenges. Al Gore lost on ballots that that Florida voters couldn't understand but fourth graders could. Al Gore lost when certain Florida voters did not properly go get new ballots when they made a mistake. Don't blame the supreme court. Blame Al Gore and his supposed Florida voters.

If the Florida voters had voted in Seattle, Gore would have won with more votes than residents, living or dead.

Only 242 votes behind with over 1500 left to count! Come on! It is clear to even a preschooler that Huckabee could be the vinner of Washington State! Washington State is disenfranchising and insulting the intelligence of their voters and the rest of this country by prematurely calling this race! This disgraceful conduct is not convincing Americans that their government can be trusted! COUNT THESE VOTES!!!
Trish
Indiana

That is disturbing. Moves like that is what discourages voters from casting their ballots. Every voter deserves to have their vote counted. Especially when it wasn't a landslide.

News flash for Romney supporters: Your candidate bowed out. At no time was he less convincing than when he declared he was withdrawing because he didn't want the US to surrender to Al Qaeda. If Mike Huckabee had had all that money and all that positive attention by the press (especially in the debates), he would have had 1191 delegates by now. Romney may have known how to make money in private life, but why anyone would have ever supported him is a mystery to me.

In fact, anybody can call anything they like before the count is completed.
You just have to take the responsibility of what you have called for.

For all of you democrats jumping on the bandwagon, let me point out three things. First, Hilary is calling for Michigan and Florida to be counted although she previously agreed with the democratic party and other candidates that they would not be counted. Second, it was not the republicans who challenged the Florida count in 2000, it was Mr. Gore. And not only did he challenge it, but (1) he sought to not count the votes being mailed from overseas knowing full well they would go strongly in favor of Bush, and (2) he only sought a recount in the heavy democrat counties, figuring the odds of missed ballots would be greater in those jurisdictions, rather than across the entire state. Finally, this is not uncommon. How many times have you seen races called with there is only 30% of a vote in and the spread is only 4-5% between the candidates. It happens all of the time. So please, be honest.

Huckabee is absolutely right!!!!! All of us voters should be screaming at what has happened here. It IS undemocratic to say the least. Who knows, in what other States has this and other voting irregularities been taking place. If we believe we are a free Nation, and that OUR VOTE actually COUNTS, let them look into this. To not to do so, would mean this country definitely HAS LOST ITS WAY

Tim wrote: You are comlpete fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearly.

Nick, Philadelphia PA February 11, 2008 12:47 pm ET
The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

Yeah…Stalin, Mao, Obama…..What's the weather like in over in the Fruitcake Dimension buddy?
But if it's broke, why fix it…."

Agree. But Americans do not know history so its easy to fool them with empty discourses.

The Soviet Union??

I didn't know Huckabee had a foreign policy agenda.

Chelsea, Columbia Falls, MT You have no proof of that…He would be out by now if he only stayed in to keep Romney out.

I WRITE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF AND YOU NEVER PUBLISH IT. SHAME ON CNN

Republicans sure whine a lot when when then tables are reversed. Maybe they just want to start another war , maybe because their candidates were so horrible this election time. At least they dropped out like flys very quickly. My cold heart goes out for them, corruption can only can last for so long. Next time pray harder. Huckleberry can stuff his pom-poms back were they came from now. ( in the wide stance area)

Thank god for Clinton and Obama

I find it interesting how half the people here are attacking the candidate and not the principle.

Not counting votes and declaring a winner is ridiculous. What makes America great is because everyone has, or should have, a chance to speak their mind. What's happening in Kenya and in places in the Middle East is because of fraud elections.

Huckabee is standing up for what is right. Yes, the 2000 election was a big controversy and this one is probably minute, but it was just as important that Gore stepped up for a recount in Florida as in any election, big or small. I'm sick of people criticizing candidates for the party they hold…grow up! These candidates all have different views and it only makes it worse when we cannot respect other people and their opinions. This country cannot survive as long as people are butting heads and attacking people personally.

If something is wrong, you do what you can to make it right.
Thanks Huckabee!

I see that the corrupt, lying, vote rigging Republicans are at it once again! Luke Esser is beyond arrogance, just who does he think is? This man should be held accountable to American citizens for his brash, illegal ( or it should be) action. To me, it is nothing short of vote tampering. I am not A Huckabee fan, nor would I ever again vote for a Republican, but all votes need to be counted. No election should be called by a single individual's whim, and I would really like to see the media stop predicting winners. All votes need to be counted and the elections themselves need to play out to the very end without interference from anyone or any political party.

I realize I am a Canadian and my view is not of consequence but I'm really shocked at the comments here!
Apparently, some feel because this took place 7years plus ago between Bush and Gore it should be just old hat if it happens again to a Republican as that evens the scale !

Fact is from where I'm sitting - wrong and corrupt is still the same regardless of what year, who is running, what party they belong to, or what name they have!

Give me a break!…Pundits call the projected winners all the time…I would like to see Mr. Huckabee's so called outrage directed at real honest-to-God issues like: The Economy, Iraq…How about some outrage at how the residing 'President' is the only one in the history of this country to be appointed by the Supreme Court -and the quagmire that has since ensued…I can think of all kinds of stuff that merits his 'outrage'.

Daniel F., who stated: :Why do conservatives have to be so extreme and senseless in their comments? Why do they always have to be so angry?" Because they're the ones, while they yell a lot about "freedom" are the ones who really want to take it away from the rest of us. This little bit of vote tampering a la the Stalin regime got a little too close for comfort for Huck.

This is for Jody Jones . . . Why would you want to vote for a president (Mitt Romney) who believes the Garden of Eden is in Independence, MO? I mean come on . . . you want a president who actually believes that??? You must be as ill informed as he is. You can look that up too. . . that's their belief . . . yep, that the Garden of Eden is in Independence, MO. No wonder they want Church and State separated; they want no one to know the depth of their delusions. (It was on a documentary that I watched . . . or you can look it up or perhaps you believe that also.) well you keep right on believing that . . .

Lynda we are NOT a democracy, thank God for that too, we NEVER have been a Democracy nor, hopefully will we ever be one! We are a Republic, as planned by our founding fathers, for a very good reason the mob mentality would otherwise drive us to some very bad directions. We see it now after the 6 years of the "rubber stamp" Congress and the rush to war against any reasoned odds (remember if you did not support ther Iraq war you were labelled a TRAITOR by our own Government). So please, while I feel it is improper to not count the votes in the system you have, realize what our country is based on and stop crying about a lost democracy. I urge you and others to read your constitution and see what were REALLY stand for and do not trust the stories you have been fed your whole life! I spent 21 years in the military (US Navy) to keep America safe FROM Democracy and do not want to see that effort wasted.

Huckabee is just whinning to get more TV coverage. He must be a "filler" for all of cable News. The last time I saw the count on Washington, Paul had 21 % an Romney had 16%. What happened to those votes?? Maybe Romney should have given his to Paul, after what McCain an Huckabee did to him in WV. My guess Huckabee is staying in long enough to get more delegates then Romney, then declare himself the best person for the VP slot.

I don't get it–Huckabee wins all/most of the counties according to CNN's county results, but McCain wins the state? The bad thing is that even if McCain did win fair and square, all the irregularities taint his victory. The party did McCain no favors, and I'm inclined to believe Gov. Huckabee probably did win the state pretty handily if your county level results are correct.

We should be outraged. My man Huck deserves to be heard.

Mr Esser should be ashamed and resign. The US preaches and forces democracy on the world yet doesn't practice it themselves. Perhaps voter turnout is low because people don't want to waste time voting when their vote isn't counted and a single person decides who wins. Perhaps Mr Esser couldn't count high enough to count the other 1500 votes.

All WA voters should be ashamed at this.

If Huckabee becomes president (very unlikely) we can then compare him to British rule back in America's early days. Huckabee wants to change the Consitution to reflect HIS religious preferences. This country was based on freedom from religion and Huckabee has his greedy fangs ready to sink into our most sacred documents and rule of law.

Buck-up Hucakbee. Nobody likes a winer.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY??????? Let the People of the United States of American VOTE…. It is starting to look like Florida Chads, The Republicn Party does not need the news trash, (good for the party) sounded pretty for Rommey, what makes you think if he hadn't run for office that Huckabee would have gotten and won some of his states? CNN let us voice, you have been against Mike Huckabee from the start, you jumped to McCain only after Rommey bailed out. he could have finish, just spending to much of his own money. Wolf, let the people VOTE> Vicki

To sophia nyc,

Hi, if you were referring to Mike Huckabee's reference to the "Soviet Union," I don't think you should worry about anyone being offended. The Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore. It broke up in the 1990s into the nations of Russia, Belarus, and others.

well said heather brewer!!!! everyone should be outraged as americans!!! it's time to expose all of the dishonesty that is involved in election results! i have a feeling this is been going on for awhile………………we need to not accept it as "dirty politics" as usual!

Esser apparently forgot he's only supposed to throw out votes for the Democrat.

This is to most of the announcers during the primaries and caucasas , that you tend to interupt , give your projectiions from exit polls etyc.

I see you have found a way to give projections (exit polls) even though you have been asked not to project the out comes. I was watching the results the day that the Presidents speech was coming up . Wolf interupted an analyst that was giving some good information to us, to show us the President getting into his car.There were several people watching your program and everyone thought this was rude and who in the hell wants to or cares that he is getting inyo his car anyway.

It seems to me and people I have talked to, that the most important thing to your program is that you are first to project a winner.We like to view the returns on our own , as it is more exciting and fun between friends.I am also tired of a show host asking an analyst a question and then interrupting them in the middle of a sentence. I feel this very rude and shows the incompetenceof the host.

The friends i am referng to are between the ages of 31-72. We have decided that we will find another channel to watch the returns.We are getting real tired of egotistical show hosts.
Goodbye CNN except for Lou Dobbs

I completely agree with Mike Huckabee that every LAST vote should be counted. Votes not being counted is what got George Bush into office for two terms and with him being president for that two terms he really has gotten our country into a really big mess. The worst mistake our country made was not counting votes but just saying Bush got the majority in the last election in some of the states. If votes are actually counted and get the right person (which by the way is a Democrat) in office as president a lot of changes would be made and our nation wouldn't be in or nearing a recession. Also a lot of our military personnel would be alive instead of dead. The war needs to be ended and a Republican WILL NOT DO THAT.

Welcome to Ron Paul's life. No media attention, blacklisted from polls and debates, and generally pooped on. Get used to it Huck! the mainstream doesn't want you or Dr. Paul! Accept it!!!!

Gov. Huckabee doesn't go far enough when he says that all Republicans should be outraged that the result was called before all the votes were counted; he should have said that all Americans should be outraged. One man, one vote is THE most fundamental right we share in our Constitutional democracy. We all need to demand in every instance that every vote be counted, regardless of who's ahead by how much and when.

I really, really, really wouldn't want Huckabee to the next president. However, he is absolutely right that ever vote should be counted. It makes NO SENSE at all that they wouldn't just count them all. Crazy.

This kind of "hype/reactionary" reporting shouldn't have happened. Huckabee needs to quit being a little girl and the media needs to do a better job of getting facts correctly to the public so "paranoia" news doesn't become internet fodder.

It is high time that all officials are elected by popular vote using standardized "absentee ballots" with every single vote counted, regardless of how long this takes. The delegate system must be abolished. Our present system is ridiculous.

Um, I'd like to believe that my vote counts. I think that's why people do not come out to vote, because they seem to think that their vote means nothing. Well, when you see votes being thrown out, as we have seen within the last decade, it does shift this democracy, into a less of a democratic country.

So, about, 1500 people's votes did not count. They took the time to make up their minds, and come out and vote. So, not counting them, IS a BIG slap in the face. All votes should count, regardless of what predictions say.

It's called Karma. Now he knows how Bush got elected. Recount? Please.

The media has tried to kill Huckabee's campaign at every turn. Huck was polling very well about 2 weeks before Super Tuesday. So the media tried to tell everyone it was a 2 man race. They were short sighted and took none of the south into consideration. Im 100% sure that that tactic did cost him Missouri and probably Oklahoma. How different would this thing be if the media and the far right reported the truth? Missouri alone would have been a 116 delefate swing. For all of you Romney people out there your plan backfired badly. We would probaly still have a 3 way race had the reporting been truthful and fair. These votes need to be counted.

Also, this thing is not over. The convention WILL be brokered. Huck only needs 57% of the delegates for that to happen. He will still win Texas, Mississippi and North Carolina. If he takes Virginia it is almost surely a brokered convention.

So, you McCain haters and Roney supporters need to vote Huckabee if you do not want McCain to get the nod. Look at the numbers and do soome research and you will see the same thing.

I am becoming more uncomfortable the way our political system seems to be unfolding this year..first delegates may decide the candidate over the people's will and the delegates are not be required to vote i(pledge) n the peoples voice, and now an election is called before ALL votes are counted? What is going on in America..is this what they call the Greeing of America? Corporate rules over the citizen? Certainly this is not the inital intent of our system…

Practically every day there is something else that arises that point out how unfair this country is getting toward its citizens. To call a race early when there are votes yet to be counted is nothing but wrong.The party that made this decision should be jailed.

I just check Fox Noise and this story is not even on the top page, not even in small print. that shows me all i need to know. When Huck is right, the republicans want to kill his momentum, that's why fox wont give this air time. Thanks CNN for being fair and ballanced….. Ooopps. I mean the most trusted name in news.

Just a thought, if this was November, and this was Florida, wouldn't the press be yelling foul? What happened to every vote counts? I just came from a Huckabee Rally in Virginia Beach. The crowd voiced it's displeasure with Washington's vote counting or lack of counting. He needs to stay in this race, he is the voice of reason, the voice of the true conservative, he has my vote tomorrow, and my vote will mean something. There is no such thing as a wasted vote, and shame on the press for insinuating that there is.

Huck - you should consider changing your party affiliation and running independant. A lot of people would support your agenda and you could make the Republicans lose the election as a spoiler. This would teach the Republican party to handle things democratically.

Huckabee 2008 on the Independance Ticket

Welcome to the world we Ron Paul supporters have been living in ever since New Hampshire.

It does ring a little hollow to us, however, when Huckabee says "all Republicans should be outraged." He has not been outraged until the vote didn't go his way.

Huck is Right! I'm a resident of Washinton and this is not the first time the Republicans in this state have trided to rip off an election. remember the Gov race? If I could I'd vote Huck just to screw the party. Besides, he is the only nice person still running.

Hey huck. what do you expect freom the low life republicans? think florida, ohio. supreme court.

Funny that Huckabee wonders about vote counting and questions how it's done. Does he not remember the presidential election of 2000 or does it just depend upon who is involved?

This guy is such a hypocrite and scary to boot!

I wasn't aware that there was a lot of voting going on in the former Soviet Union.

Thanks Mike!

YES…actually it is somewhat like the Soviet days…the ruling party controlled everything, irregardless of the peoples wishes…somewhat like the (Super deligates) that we have…doesn't matter what the people say or how thay vote, these SD step in and nominate the candidate of their choice….after all, the "People" don't know what is best for them….yeah !!!! just like the Soviet Union…

I agree with Huckabee, to tell him to drop out, is like the communist party way of doing things.
Because of this, My vote will go to Huckabee when our turn here in Ohio comes around. We will show that dishonesty is not tolerated in USA elections.

Let's Go Huckabee!

Alabama's Primary was open until 7 pm. At 5:00, news agencies projected Huckabee the winner. Whether right or wrong, I chose not to vote when I saw the projected results.

How much money do you think Huckabee has made from religion?

Hucka-wannabe,

Just go away please! You're irrelevant, and have out-lived your 5 seconds of fame. You're not going to win… period.

Why don't you just go back to pushing for higher taxes and more spending (oh, and bashing mormons). You're despicable

At least if Huckabee were to win, the United States would not become the United Socialist States of America.

On the other hand, if Hillary were to win, we would be in HUGE trouble!! Then again, at least we would no longer need to worry about elections after she's installed as our dictator.

When the court's decision is to his benefit, like in the 2000 election when the Supreme Court decided Bush was the winner, Huckabee was all for it.
Now that the court's decision goes against him, he yells 'unfair'.
What a hypocrite.

The fact that we, the American public, allows this type thing to go on, says a lot… Back in the day we would have raised hell-now we sit on our hands and accept these things. WE NEED TO STAND UP & NOT ACCEPT a lot of things, in particular anyone messing with the counting of our votes-one of the few things we have left. I don't know about you, but I want to know now more than ever who really won Washington state. Let's get those 1500 votes counted ASAP! And by the way, Huckabee was my Governor, and he did a very good job. He did a lot for our state & he never embarrased the people of Arkansas like some past Arkansas Governors…..

I absolutely agree that to declare a winner before the votes are counted is outrageous and totally un-American. It shows wishful thinking by the people in charge, which as far as I am concerned, disqualifies them from positions of responsibility. If this is not dealt with rapidly and properly, America is no longer America. Then patriots will have to step forward,and shed a little blood to renew the tree of liberty.

He is losing so he is mad! This is what Romney had to deal with… can't this guy get the message!!!

You reap what you sow…

Let's keep moving to the right and make Joe proud…. Stalin that is.

Surprise surprise. First the republicans stole elections from the democrats gore/ kerry. Now they're stealing it from each other. Way to go….sounds like family values to me.

there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabee. learn you friggin history. it's a communist country, not a democracy.

McCain had better step up to the "do what is right" platform here and make the state count out every last ballot in these caucauses. If he cannot promote a fair and complete election, then he will lose my vote in tomorrow's Maryland primary, and in the general election.

More Mike Huckabee please. He is so exciting & inspiring to listen to without the yelling. John McCain is boring & same-old Washington bureucracy. If Mike has a platform, he can win! We could have a brokered convention & right now, many would welcome it! I'm sick of seeing Obama & Hillary whine & complain with no new ideas. That's nothing new. We have that in Washington now. Nothing will get done because the people don't have a voice. Mike is the real deal.

Is he joking, or does he actually think Republicans shouldn't commit voter fraud against other Republicans? Why all the outrage? Does he still think he's a good guy? Too late, Darth. You turned to the dark side long ago.

Sounds a lot like the early call by the Supreme Court in Florida in 2000.

as a democrat, i am extremely disappointed by the number of my fellow democrats who have

Joe? Joe Lieberman? Is that really you? You don't have to go by "Bob" Joe, we know who you are.

You are what is known as a concern troll. You also fail to grasp the irony of situation.

Are you rady to "get over" the Bush Administration or do you just want four more year of the same?

The results of this count mean absolutly nothing. NOTHING AT ALL. It doesnt matter who wins this. It comes down to how many delegates each candidate have during the state convention. Huckabee could have 20 percent of the vote and McCain with 40%. If McCain didnt get this retarded supports as delegates then Huckabee would win. The kicer is, is that Ron Paul's supporters know how this works and they are own the majority of the delegates. Any monkey can write a name down. The people who do their research are those that make a difference in this sort of election process. Why do you think McCain wins the primaries? Maybe its because they are moron and all they know how to do is push a freakin button.

I'n not for either Huckabee or McCain, but was still very surprised when I saw McCain declared the winner on CNN TV with only 87% of the votes counted and only a couple hundred votes differece. I couldn't believe that CNN accepted it and that no one else questioned the declaration besides Huckabee's campaign.

The fact that they refuse to count the 1500 votes is a clear sign that they do not want Huckabee going into tomorrows race with a significant push. Anyone could take 2 hrs and count them, but I guarantee that right after the voting tomorrow, they will decide to count the votes. Its not so much that Huckabee would sweep Saturday, its more that McCain would get ZERO, and zero sticks in peoples minds a lot more.

It was perfectly fine in the 2000 election and I don't remember Mike Huckabee or any Republican complaining about it. Unfortunately, that's the precedent that was set by that sham of a fair election back then, where any state official can determine which votes will be counted and which won't. You are correct Mr Huckabee, every vote counts and every vote should be counted, however, you have only your party to blame for the shift to more Soviet Union like election procedures.

I agree with "Scott". Huck will not be the party nominee. Someone on CNN remarked the other night that Hickabee will not drop out of the primaries/caucuses because he wants to show up at the Republican convention with more delegates than the "rich guy". He does dislike Mitt Romney so much.
Mitt Romney will get my vote in the Texas primary, not McCain nor Huckabee. Thank you

It's about time SOMEONE in the Republican party called it like it is.
This country is not free.
The media has ALREADY decided for the American people who will be allowed to run, and who will be allowed to win.
The traitorous media did everything it could to deny us the entire field of candidates- especially the ones that were WORTH VOTING FOR- Dennis Kucinich was essentially silenced and made invisible by the media. currently, Mike Gravel is ALSO treated like he does not exits. WHY? Because they are an anti-Bush candidates, who stand for EVERYTHING that this nation needs.
Now they are undoing the rest of the candidates that stand in their way to their chosen candidates- the war-mongers. Uninterrupted money for the military and oil corporations. That is their aim.

Go Hillary!!! When Hillary becomes president there are a lot of people going to be big time upset. I wonder what Rush Lumbagh or whatever his name is will do. Go back to his pain pills I would imagine.

What ever happened to the New Hampshire re-count? Wasn't Florida stopped by the courts?

What is going on in our democracy?!! Why wouldn't they count American's votes!!??

I'm a democrat, but still people, FAIR IS FAIR.

This is an outrage!

Huckabee's a fine one to talk after some of the tricks he and McCain pulled against Romney. Don't have to ask him how it feels. Is he really surprised - what goes around comes around.

We will have to rally behind McCain no matter what our first choice. Romney said it when he stepped down. We must strengthen our party to beat the Democrats in November.

God Bless you Romney… and thank you for showing love for our country and keeping our best interests at heart. You didn't 'lose' … you proved your integrity and honor.

Mitt Romney for Vice President!! : ) We can hope, right?

I don't like huckabee at all but they definitely should have finished the count.

Interesting that the Republicans can't even hold a fair election amongst themselves!

Anyone wanting to understand the full depth of the voter fraud in the last two general elections should read 'Armed Madhouse' by Greg Palast. An absolutely incredible book.

What is this McCain has election locked up ?
What if (heaven forbid) he is not here in November or January ?

What a baby! This is politics. When McCain and Huckabee conspired to prevent Romney from winning in West Virginia it was all fair, but this is un-fair. This was a caucus not a primary. The count was just a straw vote. Huckabee, your not worthy. What a joke of a candidate!

pour more fuel on the fire, why do they think theycan't win unless they cheat

Kinda hurts when repukes are on the other end of it, hey Huck? He was the governor of my state (but not MY governor) for ten long years. Like George Bush, I thought he would never leave. He was a horrible governor and would make a worse president. He is a money grubbing, spineless, thin-skinned preacher in devil's clothes. Take my word for it…..you better beware. If you think G.W. Bushie is bad…….wait 'til you see this one in action….just as dumb and a lot more greedy. He was constantly having to go before the ethics commission to explain gifts received and money spent. He pardoned more criminals than all of the governors of the surrounding states combined…..one pardon resulted in a murder in Missouri. You get what you vote for…..the present administration is proof of that.

This nation is leaning more and more toward Communism. Where is our democracy?

Huckabee compared the declaration of victory to the old Soviet Union. He only needed to go back to Florida for the Bush Gore contest where the vistor was chosen but the not-so Supreme Court.

as a democrat, i am extremely disappointed by the number of my fellow democrats who have used this comment section to compare this washington state issue with what happened in florida, and also use it as a pulpit to bash republicans… get over it people, grow up, focus, and get on with your lives and the issues at hand..!

Huckabee know what if feels like to be Ron Paul and for that I sympathize with his cause. Disgrace continues. God help us.

We're not supposed to let elections be decided by the Supreme Court, either, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Of course, there's a lesson to be learned here — we DID alet the Supremes decide the election of 2000, and look at the results! So, in a way, Huckabee's position is all to valid.

I totally agree with Mike Huckabee! This is a democratic nation. Many races have been won or lost by a few votes. ALL votes should be counted; no jumping to conclusions allowed.
And I furthur agree that there should be no "winner take all" in the primaries. That doesn't accurately reflect the opinion of the people.

And let me inform the media that it's not just the "Evangelical Christians " who are voting for Huckabee. Many other patriotic Americans are very conservative as well as very practical in their thinking and agree with Huckabee's no nonsense approach to government.

REMEMBER. IT'S THOSE THAT COUNT THE VOTES THAT DECIDE THE OUTCOMES. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO RON PAUL SINCE HE GOT IN THE RACE.

This makes me angry and I'm a democrat !!

But at the same time it sounds very familiar……..

If Huckabee is for the party winning in08…He should step aside and unite the Party behind McCain. He is a small mind in a big political world.

I think you should all quit bad mouthing CNN. You don't have to listen to what they have to say. You can always turn on the AM radio and listen to Mr. Excellence in Broadcasting, Rush! And if you don't believe he is the best, just listen to him for 10 minutes and he will tell you how excellent and objective his comments are. Or then again you could listen to Fox News, we all know how sincere and objective their reports are.

A pastor in the White House, hmph! Thomas Jefferson would throw up at the idea!

While I think Mr. McCain's military record is commendable, and he has been commended, however; that is not a necessarily a reason to vote for him.

I think the candidate with the least amount of political debt is Obama. He gets my vote.

I also think any of the candidates, Republican or Democrat, will be an exponetial improvement over Dubya! Lighten up. Its gonna be OK!

The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

What???? Marxism is on life support! There's no money it. Just ask the Chinese.

Seriously are you so afraid of words like "change" or "sacrifice" that you have haul out the old Marxist scarecrow to beat?

Can Huckabee win at the national convention if he stays in, or are McCain's delegates committed and unable to change their votes?

CNN will probably not print this (my tame comments seem to stay in "moderation" forever), but as a staunch Obama supporter that would never vote for Huckabee, I agree with him. This crap only shows the state of democracy in this country — and we have the nerve to try to "spread democracy" in other parts of the world.

Its getting to the point that in the United States of America, WE will need election monitors to make sure that elections are fair. HOW PATHETIC!

Obama 08

To the person who said that this was Huckabee whining, I suggest you move to a country where it is acceptable to not count all votes!

His reasoning is ABSOLUTELT legitimate and both Paul and Huck supporters should demand a full accounting for votes and call for Esser's position to be released since he doesn't believe our voices count!

You BET this adds fuel to the Huckabee and Paul campaigns!

I lost respect totally for Huckabee when he said in one of his speeches that the reason why he was staying in the race was just to 'watch himself.' Like some ego trip or something. I really think there is something wrong with the man.

Romney showed integrity and love for this country when he stepped down in hopes that the Republican would rally behind McCain. Romney said that he 'hated to lose' and I'm sure he does - but he put his love for this country before 'self'. If Huck keeps it up, he'll guarantee either Obama or Clinton winning the election, and Romney's predictions will come true - there is no doubt.

I don't think anyone's ego - especially Huckabee's - is worth us losing our party and the election this November.

Good for the Washington caucus. If you want a soviet-style leadership, look no further than the far right wing of evangelicals in the GOP. Mike Huckabee is very scary, since he feels very strongly that this is a "Christian" nation.
Funny how right-wing Christians like to use that tag, when their actions are exactly what their movement's namesake fought against 2000 years ago. If Jesus were among us today, the GOP would label him a liberal troublemaker.

I think the best thing for the Republican party is if Huckabee challenges the McCain win in Washington. The more division is sown within the GOP by the so-called religious "right" the better for this country. It will force the Republicans to either embrace their ultra-religious "base" or finally come out of the closet and say "we were just paying lip service to your beliefs anyway."

Why should he act so stunned when the early call is such typical behavior for the party he belongs to –"we've got the power to do it, so we're going to do it, and don't bother to question our motivation to do so because that would just be un-american".

I'm not a Huckabee supporter but I'm a democracy supporter and Huckabee is absolutely right here, how in the world do they stop counting the votes with 1500 more to go and only a couple hundred votes apart at the stop? Unbelievable. Goes to show you, you always gotta watch folks! And I still believe there's something fishy about the New Hampshire results.

Rev. Huckabee can forget ever becoming President of the United States! This country does not need a preacher; it needs someone who is presidential material. Huckabee and his supporters (what few he has!) seem to have forgotten that there is a thing called "Separation of Church and State". If he wants to preach, he should build a church and starting preaching. He is hardly presidential material!! He should drop out now instead of continuing to make even more of a total fool of himself than he already has!

Kathryn Irby
Metairie, LA

The whole election process is archaic. The whole delegate/electorate process is a holdover from when it took months to get information from one side of the country to the other, and it was easier to tabulate by representatives of each area and not the exact number of votes. The delegate process state by state is just a mirror of the national electorate process. One vote should equal one vote. You should not be able to loose the popular vote and win the election. I'm a Republican and I still don't think it was right for Bush to win when he "really" didn't have the most votes. Scrap the whole system and let every vote count equally. One vote = one vote.

Huckabee '08

I never heard Huckabee say one word when the Florida race was being contested. Now he knows what the rest of us Democrats know. You cannot trust the Republicans to be honest. Read every newspaper in the last six years and you will see one dishonest Republican after another.

Every American should be concerned about this regardless of party, particularly when there is an establishment candidate who is being challenged but someone who is non-conventional. If only 242 votes seperated McCain and Huckabee, I don't see how this elected offical called the race for McCain. And the fact that he's not apologizing or realized what he's done is a shame.

Interesting comparison between Romney and Huckabee. Huckabee keeps fighting a losing battle and cries foul when things don't go his way. Romney bows out gracefully, saying it's for the good of the party and the country. The wrong man bowed out. Huckabee's a baby.

In Soviet Russia, race calls YOU!

This absurb call by the Washington Republican chair is highly irregular. I have never heard of vote counting being stopped at 9:30 in the evening with only 1500 votes left to be counted and only 200 votes separating the competing candidates. Something stinks here! Count the votes!!!

I just think it's pretty sad that I was EXPECTING something like this to happen. I think it's pretty sad that we live in a country that is supposed to be "free" yet we don't even know for sure if WE are actually electing our presidents. If he knew what the results were going to be then they should have counted all of them. That is the most ridculous thing I've ever heard.

All of the votes should be counted when it is that close!!!!
It is obvious who Esser wants to win.

Apparently he never heard of Florida or Ohio.

I just listened to this conservative retard speak on MSNBC…He's backing McCain…Huckabee deservesa recount..This is a country that prides itself on democracy. Isn' that why were in Iraq to start democracy it was the Repubs idea ..just like them not to follow through with ANYTHING. Go Hillary…beat the men down.

With as few voters having a say in the caucus voting, I think every vote is critical and to have called off the voting was criminal. Some of the other comments have spoken to the caucus process and other things I have read lead me to believe that he caucus process is just to open to manipulation. Only about 10 percent of the registered voters actually vote in a caucus. So states that use the caucus are only reflecting a sample vote for the state. Not a popular vote by any means!

Why does Washington have this vote counting problem every election. It seems they just keep counting and recounting until they get the results that they want.

Maybe they have dumbed down their education to the point that they can't count more than 6000 ballots.

Once again, Republicans are in the news for stealing the American peoples' right to choose who we want to represent us. If I steal a car, I have committed a crime against the owner, and I go to jail. Refusing to count votes is stealing too, and should be treated like a heinous criminal act committed against all Americans!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Huckabee is absolutely right. That's why we were all screaming about Florida nearly 8 years ago. Hanging chads? toss'em. The votes have to ALL count. That's kind of the whole point, right?

not that I like Huckleberry, but he does make a point. point is, there hasn't been an honest election in years. we are led to believe our vote counts and makes a difference, but the reality is that big business and the international bankers control the process. to think otherwise is to bury your head in the sand

He didn't seem to think it was unfair in West Virginia… He is such a sore loser. Thanks to his selfish desires, we will be without Romney.

The Soviet Union? It sounds more like what the Republicans did in 2000.

"If I don't win the election, this is like the Soviet Union?" My God, what a power-hungry bastard. Give him the election, you might as well be turning the country over to the Soviets…

Where was Huck when the Supreme Court ordered FL to STOP COUNTING BALLOTS, throwing the election to Geo Bush? Doesn't feel good does it Huck?? Hmmmm?

Corruption is deep and systemic in Washington State. The fact the Seattle hails itself as "America's Smartest City" gives some indication how nearsighted urban liberals can get. Republican or Democrat, folks will try to get away with anything they can here because they know the people aren't all that bright. It's good to have an outsider cry foul.

If you are supposed to count the votes cast, then count all the votes and if you can't then go home or be fired plain and simple do the job with integrity or quit. Men have died for the right to vote so if a man in Washington decides to not count all the votes then FIRE him and get a person who'll do the job. This goes on both sides of the aisle and I think maybe it is time to get rid of both parties who only seem to want to stay in power not really make any positive changes for our country.
We are beginning to here from both sides we should vote for this canidate because they have the best chance to win in November…..how about looking at the individuals and asking who has the best ideas and who will be the best leader. Dem's and Rep's. are looking alot alike and just watching out for their own butts.

CNN Called the Link "Angry Huckabee: Is this Soviet Union? "

Gov. Huckabee was absolutely fantastic and hardly looked angry in the least bit. In fact, he nailed the issue and threw it back in the face of Communits News Network. The tone of the reporter, however, demonstrated CNN's anti Huckabee bias and pro-liberal position. All you have to do is listen to the adjectives to know were CNN stands. You liberal posters on this site, though, pulling out the 2000 election results are absolutely bitter.

Yeah, and what about the voter discrepancy in Ohio in 2004 that handed Bush the election?

You've seen nothing yet, wait until November in the general election where there will be no paper trails for a recount. What does this tell you?

You got my vote now Mr. Huckabee.
And I am an independent that use to vote democratic.

I find it ironic when people claim they are not controlled by the media, yet where do they go to express their political frustrations? Going to CNN's website isn't going to do you a lot of good. When was the last time you saw a news source disclose a huge scandal? This story is mere slight of hand.

I have to agree with Governor Huckabee on this. It seems to me that this is also happening on the Democratic side too.

When ever Obama is not doing as well as Clinton they wait and wait and wait to see if is he catches up (all they way to 99%) - but, if Clinton is lagging they are ready to call the races with only 30 & maybe 35% if we are lucky.

Does any one else notice this too??

I agree 100% with Heather Brewer. We all took the time to go out and vote, so count them. This should be upsetting to all of us. It could be your guy next!

This isn't about McCain or Huckabee. It is about a process that is governed by law. But it doesn’t take a lawyer to see that Luke “The Truth” Esser is in violation of the electoral process.

Huckabee needs a lesson in Soviet history! And maybe he should take a second look at the 2000 presidential election… maybe he won't feel so dog-gone wronged!

Will someone from the Wa GOP please explain to everyone outside of WA how the caucus system works? Let everyone know that when one "votes" for delegates at the local caucus, delegates cannot be awarded because they will just change not because of successive county and state meetings which further reduce the number of delegates and concentrate the leader's support.

As a former resident of Wash, I know from first hand experience and stopped attending. If Huck's support is from SE Wash and East of Seattle and some district in Eastern WA, then these delegates will be reduced in number at the county convention, and further reduced in number at the state convention. And, if McCain leads in most other districts and counties, he will end up with a larger margin, if not all, after county conventions. What matters is how many county's you can carry to the state convention.

Keep in mind, the person you nominate at the local caucus is not committed to you, they can change their mind for the next level when they are pressured, and they do. Witness what happened in 1976 to Reagan. Bottom line - the voter's "vote" and desires don't count in this structutre. There can't be fraud when the voter's initial vote carries little weight due to the process. With this process, the outcome is predictable. I can see why counting stopped. End result will not change.

It seems like yesterday when Republicans were labeling people with “Bush Derangement Syndrome” when they questioned the Florida recount.

Poor conservatives. It’s a little late to complain about fair elections out of “principle” – that ship sailed in 2000.

Of course, what do you expect from the party that seems to believe that “freedom of speech” is the freedom to parrot GOP talking points (otherwise you’re a traitor and a hippie), “freedom of religion” is the freedom to be any kind of Protestant, and a “fair election” is any election (rigged or not) where a Republican beats a Dem.

Boo Hoo Huckabee. You reap what you sow. Keep blabbing that message of intolerance. Your big mouth proves you are not worthy of representing any of us. Now you know what discrimination feels like. How does it feel to be small ?

The vote should be counted, let the chips fall where they may, and, McCain not crying foul along with Mike Huckabee, makes him appear more like "Bush Lite" every day. (Ok that and Bush's apparent endorsment, the Fox News Romney and McCain train, and oh, Karl Rove's endorsement?!)

Additionally, there is no need to rush to appoint a nominee, this should be a contest, for both sides: so, as the media is really pushing McCain and Obama - I'm a Huckabee supporter, but I have to say - Go Hillary! (She's now my second choice - thank you Washington Rep. Committee

Why has CNN's coverage of Sen. Obama decreased so much? It's impossible to turn on and continue to watch your news with only the shortest of "sound bites" being heard from Sen. Obama while it seems Hillary and Huckabee, (neither of whom is making the progress or having the success of Sen. Obama), are all you can see. Secondly, please allow us to hear the same amount of each candidate's speech so we can interpret and analyze the information for ourselves. Believe it or not, the American people don't need the "warmed over", sometimes partial and always "spun" view of the multitude of "talking heads" on your channel.

I think the real point is that the rules of the democratic process were not followed. it makes no difference if Hukabee was going to loose anyway, the rules exist to maintain order and to keep away the spectre of "election rigging, " that did indeed happen in totalitarian countries such as the mentioned Soviet Union.

This election is about, which lesser evil to support for……

One thing for sure…my vote WON'T go for OBAMA….

Well since America is in such dire straits due to NeoCon Republican meddling that sabotaged democracy here the last two "elections", it is poetic justice if one of their own gets a taste of it too. If the ACTUAL winners of that last two elections ended up IN the White House, America would not be alone, feared and despised in this world.

Well well, Huckabee now knows what it feels like to be treated like Ron Paul.

The system is broken down and no longer Democratic in nature and no longer like any Republic that is recognizable. I wondered how long it would be before they turned on their own kind, and I got my answer.

As the good former minister knows, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Let's see… backroom deal to snatch caucus from Romney, stays in race to snag votes from Romney, and now, when the same thing happens to him, it's not politics, it's election, Communist bloc style? Hard to work up some tears over this.

I agree with Huckabee exactly. This is what has been going on since the inception of this campaign. For some strange reason the news media are the ones that are driving the outcomes. We are upset. Although, I am not Republican, this is what is going on with Clinton and Obama. It is unfair and has got to stop. Also, how ridiculous that CNN keeps calling ;their staff the best political news analysts or whatever. Give me a break. Anyone at CNN is labeled "the best" according to them. Do you think we are stupid? The same thing happens with your inane slogan "keeping them honest". How dumb do you think we are? YOu use the same slogans over and over and over again, and makes one want to turn off your channel and never listen again. Please please go back to the professionalism of people that just report the news and knock off these sensationalistic, shallow, introductions as well as your narrow viewed manipulative attempts at directing the votiing outcomes. People are sick of it!

It's funny that Republicans are crying foul when they call the vote early…like they didn't do eight years ago, and it's twice as funny to me that it's now a Republican crying foul this time…about his own party.

I am very upset that the Republican party in Washington state seems to think over 1,000 votes don't count. The race had only 250 votes between Huckabee and McCain at the time counting stopped. It is entirely possible that the winner could have been Huckabee. Is this America or isn't it? Does everyone who is an adult citizen have the right to have their vote count or not? In this case it doesn't matter who you hoped would win. This is a matter of fairness in our election process. I say go Huckabee and fight for what's right; that all votes be counted.
To those who suggest that Huckabee is a sore loser and needs to grow up for demanding a vote count, I think they must not value the ideals on which this country was founded. Americans want to be represented in government not have someone else decide for them. I hope that CNN has the guts enough to keep putting this story at the top of headlines.

Yet this is the same guy that will tell women they can't control their own
medical destiny, the same guy that wants to take away others rights because
of his own dogma..The same guy that is propped up and counts himself
am