CNN

Thomas-
Separation of church and state is not a part of the constitution. It became a legal precedent during the 1940s in an age of judicial activism. The phrase "separation of church and state" is taken from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote and is taken in poor context. By the way if you think separation of church and state comes from the Bill of Rights you are also wrong. The government cannot interfere with the practice of religion or set up a FEDERAL religion. The Bill of Rights does not prevent religious ideas from being put into the policies of the state. To do so would allow someone to use the ideals they gained from all of their life experiences except those of religion, which is an inherent violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression. If you want to use the phrase separation of church and state, lose the mob mentality.

We're just hoping he doesn't come back to Arkansas! When he left the governer's mansion( to a Democrat, Yea!) Huckleberry and his wife registered at the stores in Little Rock so people could help buy them things for their new home. I guess it's a good thing Fox hired him before they ended up in the poor house. Very tasteless!

Discussing the future of the Republican party is like discussing the Easter Bunny........there ain't one!

Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin are the future of the republican party. Of course the future isn't very bright for them, but that makes it brighter for America. Ohio is the "buckle" on the Bible Belt. We voted for Obama. If the republicans can't take Ohio, they have no shot at the presidency. Mike and Sarah can take the republicans as far to the right as they want. The further right they take the party, the less chance they have. I keep wondering when they are going to realize that they already have the evangelical vote. Independents and moderates decide the elections and they are ignoring them. They must have an OCD disorder. They keep appealing and appealing to voters they already have. They are so myopic that it just doesn't register that not everyone else shares their view.

Huckabee doesn't believe in evolution.

Enough said.

He's a religious zealot, and until the GOP embraces the libertarian ideals of Ron Paul, etc it will never win another election.

The movement that's bringing common sense back to America? Are you saying that we have no common sense now?

until the gop moves into the 21st century and puts some distance between themselves and the religious right, it will never have a chance in h*ll of regaining its former glory. as long as republicans continue to see mike huckabee and sarah palin as the future of their party, they can kiss their party's chances goodbye. you want conservative, get back to financial conservatism and chill out on the social conservatism.the gop has become the party of fanatics.

Mike Huckabee is the last person on earth who should be giving advice to the Republican party. If this man is ever our nominee I will abandon the party.

ROMNEY/JINDAL 2012

the american dream was alive and well until the republicans caused this nightmare.

I'd like to see the Republican Party go down in history... as the ineffective party that celebrated it's Culture of Corruption openly and embraced that lack of intelligence in its party leaders. It might even make a few noteworthy chapters in some 5th graders History books.

It's no wonder why they have become a casualty of evolution... the Republican party is going the way of the Dodo bird!!!

And the best party about it is? Nobody will miss their party...

Gov. Huckabee; people have no lost faith in the government. They have lost cofidence in a bunch of arrogant politicians who think that their claim to be "conservative' exempts from following the rule of law. We now know that these people were liars and cheats.
It is the Republican party that needs for people to have once again have confidence in the "Party of Lincoln: and certainly not the "Party of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney".

I think Huckabee is likeable. But in general, GOP needs to be open-minded in order to march into 21st century. They basically need to be knowledge-liberal. No.. Wait, then they will not be called conversatives anymore..

"Re: Raise Taxes and Cut Spending" – You nailed it. There is a lot of waste in government programs, and we are not taking in enough to pay for the programs that would make our country stronger. We will still need to spend, but we should do it wisely. We need to make our country stronger and better prepared to lead and innovate in the global economy. We need to look 30 years down the line. That means investing in real education programs (Yes, that includes actual science, not theology, which belongs in church) We need a health care system that keeps workers well and able to stay on the job. pork barrel spending funnels money to projects that enrich very few instead of funding nation wide priorities that will keep our nation trucking.

And as far as taxes go, the more wealth one has, the more one has to lose, so if you pay higher taxes, you get more back, in form of a stable society that lets you retain your wealth.

i actually thought Huckabee was adorable and likable. dont you just want to pinch those cheeks?

I'd like to know who the lucky guy is that gets to try the first sip of water from the new filter system on the shuttle?

WHY CAN'T HE JUST GO DO THE TOTAL GYM INFOMERCIAL WITH CHUCK NORRIS ALREADY?

Bob November 24th, 2008 3:06 pm ET Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama it is amazing you mice voted for him.

5 colleges in 5 years to get a BA in journalism, versus Summa Cum Laude at Harvard Law. That Palin must be a genius to have been admitted to 5 colleges. Bob you are a real comedian

forget ABOUT GOP they are crooks

This is to Karen, Arkansas,
I wanted to make a comment on this blog, but when I got to yours I could not stop laughing long enough to make a coherent sentence.
I guess I'll just say "DITO"

Who cares about this hillbillie anyway.

Huckabee go home. The only people coming to your book signing are the retired holy rollers. Intelligent people are at work and school.

Can't these people just SHUT UP??!! Every time they open their Repug mouths...they create more disdain for the GOP. I used to be one of them...gladly chaged to an Obama/Biden supporter this year...and in 2012!

Wow, ever notice that 95% of the posts on these boards are from Democrats? Makes me wonder if we still have actual voters with knowledge that is unbiased by political party. You all post about hating Huckabee and hating Romeny and hating Bush. You voted Obama in simply because he promised "change" and all you are getting is recycled Clinton appointees. Your own party promises drastic changes during this term and getting America back on track and the very first press job after Obama wins is that it will take more than 4 years to get things together. Funny how they didn't tell you that during the election process.

Well, alas, you wanted change and you have it. The Democratic party will have complete and total control of the country. But if they fail, who gets the blame? Oh yeah, blame Bush or maybe Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity...lol

I thought Huckabee was a bit better than the rest that were given attention until I watched his program on Fox...

He featured Joe the Plumber... and anyone who thinks Palin was ready to run anything important in our country, I don't know what to say to you.... It takes my breath away...

Bob:
You must be high on something – It's called bad air!

He basically said GOP lost because they weren't sticking to Republican principles which means he says they need to be more conservative. Being more conservative is one of the reasons they lost. America is NOT a center-right nation like the Republicans claim, we are a moderate nation. They need to be reaching out to independents and democrats because there are a lot more of them.

Huckabee will say anything to sell his book.

His ideas are so outdated it is unreal. We are in the 21st century not the 19th century.

"Mike Huckabee says GOP leaders must first restore voters' confidence in the government."

In other words, completely reverse the platform they've had since Reagan.

I can hardly wait to hear the whining people that voted Democrat this election.The same people are going to give up on the Democrats faster than we gave up on the war against terrorism...They are a fickle bunch .

Everyone is always talking about the "separation of Church & State". I don't think it has ever been separate. The Church does not want the government to be able to tell it what to do. Did you ever think about your taxes you pay? Every time someone counts as a deduction the money they tithe to their church means they pay less in taxes. Technically, what you don't pay to the government regarding tithing, means the government GAVE that to your church. Now, does the church really want the government to have nothing to do with them? Guess not, when it comes to getting money. Just a thought.

i'll never vote republican again, thank God for obama.

Does anyone really care what this idiot thinks?

The GOP has only one hope, and Mike it is not going to be you.

Ron Paul is the only voice of Freedom and Liberty left...

Can we really afford for the republican party to have a future?

These are the people who believe free markets with monopolies in them are perfectly healthy... We've tried that (at least twice), IT DIDN'T WORK!

Notice that Huckabee did not mention anything about working WITH the Dems to make things better.

It is all about getting and keeping power with these old guard, ultra conservative Republicans. Then ramming their programs down the people's throats. They still don't get it.

This is why the GOP desperately needs new blood and new ideas.

Listen Mr. Wannabee;

You won your 6 or 7 states, ok? Why couldn't you have used some of your rhetoric to help you back then?

I have no problem with you and Alaska Sue capitalizing on your 15 minutes; but please do me a favor and stop trying to sound like Moses all of a sudden! What burning bush did you listen to?

Huckleberry reminds me of Gomer Pyle.

The Republicans are unchanged from the past. No one can run against a 95% racist vote and bloc voting by the young/stupids. Our country will pay a price for this, and the voters will run back to the Republicans for sanity as soon as possible.

Bob, you're Sarah Palin in disguise

I am an independent voter who voted for Obama and didn't really like either McCain or Palin. I really like Huckabee, though. I think he is smart (not as smart as Obama, though) has some really good policy ideas, is very fiscally responsible, isn't so far right that he scares me, has a likable personality.

His party should listen to him rather than treating him like an outcast and they might just figure out how to win some of us back in 2016.

Funny how by reading these comments that if those of us in the middle like someone, those who are either far right or far left don't like him/her at all.

Oh Bob Bob Bob Bob Bob Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!!............... I guest you are one of those people with an IQ of 5 or less........ that would be the only reason for you to make such an absurd comment. Sarah Palin, the lady who can't put a Coherent sentence together, is the dumbest politician to set foot on national stage in modern history. She makes George Bush looks like Albert Einstein!!

Please stop lying to yourself and don't try to stifle your conscience. If you don't have anything sensible to say, just SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Huckabee is awesome. He has his own views which I for the most part disagree with, but he discusses and considers other views with much thought. He is a great face for the Religous Right.

Huckabee's ideology is one if not the major problems with him and the Republicans. Our Founders were smart and knew the consequences therefore they put in to the constitution separation of state and church. As Long as the Republicans are run by this ideology and the right wing single minded agenda (IE no abortion/ gay rights) they will continue to be the party of division not uniting.

I think Huckabee is a nice guy but I believe he would force his religion down people throats. I feel religion should be separate between states!! Also, I can't put my finger on it but it is something about Huckabee that makes me uncomfortable. I really can't take him serious because he seems to be too much of a comedian but he is not funny!!

It would help enormously if the Republicans would start acting like a political party and not like their version of the Protestant church. Regardless of party affiliation, I will never vote for anyone who thinks they have the right to inflict their version of Christianity (or Islaam) on anyone else. I am also a Christian, and i strongly disagree with most of their positions on social issues.

Nothing Huckabee does should be taken seriously–after all, he wasn't.

After the comment he made at the NRA meeting about Barack Obama, someone should advise him that his tastelessness and boorish comments are not welcome here anymore. It's too late to quicken himself after his losses.

I don't want to hear about repubs for a while. I don't ever want to hear about Palin again. who cares?

i'm not so sure its such great strategy to jump ahead to think that putting a republican in charge of anything but the local sewer system...can be good thing...; and (just to be fair) anyone employed with the local sewer system might have a problem with even that idea....

scott in NH

The real problem with the GOP is they have to start telling the truth instead of just throwing out lies against the other guy. One more thing, get a plan instead of just knocking the guy who has a plan. The Rove days are over, the American people saw through all the lies. Change or be left behind, far behind on the far right.

As usual, any Huckabee article brings out the liberal mantra "separation of church and state" (see thomas and others on this board).
If you actually read the constitution, you will see that this phrase is not in there at all. Separation of church and state was a comment once made by Thomas Jefferson well after the Constitution was written.
And there is certainly nothing in the Constitution that says that someone who believes in the bible cannot be elected to office. How is that freedom, that someone should not be elected or able to run purely based on their faith? Aren't liberals the ones who claim to promote "tolerance"?

Keeping Sara Palin on board will insure a win win for Dems. Beauty fades but brains are forever. She did severe harm to the Rep party and
it seems that no one in the Rep camp is brave enough to admit it.
Google.... Alaskans for Truth news conference Nov 24 ....if you think she is popular in Alaska. It won't matter what Reps do to try and reinvent themselves if they don't shut Sarah down.

Newsflash: The GOP has no future. End of article.

Its obvious Bob is delusioned? He needs help to make him forgo his racist thinking and embrace the reality that America has gone beyound his thinking.

To Bob,

Obama graduated with a degree from Columbia and a Law Degree from Havard. And he was President of the Harvad Law Review. Sarah Palin went to 4 different institutions before getting a degree in communications journalism. 2 of those were community colleges. She doesn't even have an advanced degree.

What is your definition of smart?

Bob ——— November 24th, 2008 3:06 pm ET

Sara Palin and Mike Huckabee 2012. Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama…………..

Maybe in your shallow little world Bob. I betcha ya think the world is still flat.

Huckabee will never be President.

The problem with the GOP is that they have no leadership. McCain slipped into the election because everyone else imploded and then he pulled the most bone-headed move by selecting Palin.

Bob. If we didn't impeach Bush for all the things he has done to our country then I think Obama would have to murder some one on the steps of Congress to be impeached.

I used to be a Republican, before the neo-cons–like Huckabee–hijacked the party and ruined it. The party can have me back–but only by returning to the small-government, fiscally responsible, philosophies it once espoused, and by getting rid of the self-righteous, narrow-minded, bigoted, bible-thumpers like Huckabee and Palin.

Huckabee is one of the few republicans I can tolerate
he is the only one the advised to layoff Obama and rev Wright
and he is the only one that is being honest about the problems of the GOP

I would like to know what kind of education Sarah has.

Does she have a t-shirt that reads "I Are a College Graduate?"

Bob, have you been sharing a cave with Bin Laden? Which Palin are you referring to with your statement?

I actually agree with Huck on one thing: It is morally wrong to indebt future generations. Too bad it started with Reagan; we're paying for it now. It's hilarious that the GOP leaders are JUST NOW admitting that they didn't follow the historical GOP mantra. You realize this now? This didn't happen during the last eight years of fascism lite? Geez.

The way I see it, it could take years before we see another Republican in the White House. Over the years the Republican party has trashed their own reputation from the inside out. They've lost voter's trust, they can't seem to put a compitent person in office (Bush Sr., Bush Jr., and Palin for example), and they refuse to move closer to the center in an increasingly liberal America. The Republicans are out of touch, out of date, and out of ideas. The same thing happened to the Democrats after the Reagan conservative movement and it took us 12 years to get back in control. I see this as an Obama liberal-moderate-rational thinking movement. Get working GOP, you've failed and you've got A LOT to recover from.

Huckabee is like Palin to me, I have no interest what so ever in listening to either one of them.

I just love how the libs are so threatened by anything Palin! They go everywhere, even to Alaska to try and demean someone who they can find no valid complaints about. She is loved by the media and around the world. There are thousands of blogs condemming the hateful Letterman for his campaign to belittle her! Blogs are full of people who want her on their shows–even the "hallowed " billionaire "oprah" who needs viewers and is sweating bullets because of her drop in viewership. Dream onLibs–she is not going away!

god save the U.S.

Palin??? Are you all nuts!!! Her kids are high school drop outs and she barely made it out of college. She slaughters the english language and knows NOTHING of what is going on in the lower 48 let alone the world!!! Quit appealing to the radical right wing!!!!

The problem with the GOP over the past 30 years or so is that they've abandoned intellectualism in the name of pandering to the religious right. "Common sense" really means "gut belief" and has no basis in critical thinking or any kind of intellectual rigor.

They've pandered to the lowest of the low and now wonder how they lost favor with educated, 21 century people.

Huckabee and Palin are textbook examples of what is wrong with the GOP.

I like Mike. While he is a very religious man, and there is nothing wrong with that at all, he comes across as acknowledging those that wish not to have it shoved down their throats, and doesn't seem overly condemning of those either.

If you're going to have a party with very-strong roots in religion, then he's the guy to consider. Unlike Caribou Barbie, he supports the teaching of both evolution and creation. Fine by me, it's better than banning books because they are against your beliefs.

He seems to at least understand that you need to be liked by more than the religious-right. He can help heal the party. Palin will ruin the party.

The RNC DOES NOT HAVE A CREDITABLE LEADER THAT ANY ONE WILL LISTEN TO. WHEN THERE'S ONE,LET ME KNOW.

Wow, thanks Huck-
Another book that instructs people to hate gay folks and to take away women's rights. Gee, that's really what we needed. Thanks for throwing in some obvious fiscal failures of the GOP as well. What a news flash.

How 'bout this:
Stop cramming your bible down everybody's throat.

Or go back to trying to run a church instead of trying to run a country.

Freedom is the distance between church & state.

The problem I have with Huckabee is he talks in slogans. Palin and Huckabee both try to be folksy-golly-gee believable but are short on credibility. I just don't buy his schtick.

Bob

Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama it is amazing you mice voted for him.
_____________________________________________

I can barely respond to this I'm laughing so hard.

I think Mike Huckabee is an idiot of course they have to get the trust of the voters’ back that’s obvious since the beating they had on election day. But, I think the only way Republicans can win elections again in moderate states is not being a radical right-wing nut job, but some- what more in the middle. Because of the growing population that believes in abortion, evolution, and stem-cell research (which all things I believe in) republicans will never win another national election because there values aren’t the values of Americans any more.

They are all coming out of the woodwork now...blaming each other for their overwhelming failure, was Huckabee not part of the failure...is he not a Republican??
If they were all so gung ho to win, they sure picked a great leader in McCain and his sideshow Sarah....all talked a big story at the convention and how wonderful they were and how they were going to win.
They underestimated how smart Obama and his team were from day one....they had a plan, an excellent one at that, now there is leadership for you and not any personal attacks on McCain or Palin to get them to the White House.
The Republican party needs shaking up and start living in the real world...negative thoughts and negative deeds need to go, get some fresh ideas that match up to this century and become more inclusive.

Well Mike, you are NO Libertarian, and you are still stuck in the same position of the GOP has been for the last 30 years. Lower taxes increase spending and run large debts.
You stand against adult marriage and are Pro life, no if ands or buts. You stand in the way of freedom for the minority, and will only stand where you think you can get the most votes. Just like the democrates!
We need smaller Government less spending, and a return to the U.S Constitution to protect the rights of the minorty from oppression of the majority.

One principle which is dilineated in the U.S. Constitution is the separation between church and state. If you run for public office, you should follow it

Bob --- November 24th, 2008 3:06 pm ET

Sara Palin and Mike Huckabee 2012. Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama..............
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bob........it's never a good idea to smoke crack while you're posting. People will believe that you're as stupid as the post you made while under the influence.......

Not to be a pessimist, but the word TOAST comes to mind when I think of the GOP. They have only themselves to blame though. Their utter inablity to update their thinking is what has caused this. The party of the might Ronald Regan is dead, dead, dead, just like him. If this party wants to survive, they need to stop thinking of the voting public as pawns in a game. They showed their utter lack of common sense by picking Sarah Palin. She was a cynical, absolutely incorrect pick for this time and place. Good luck Mr. Huckabee. Ironically, you were the only one I thought had anything on the ball on the GOP side.

One picture is worth a thousand words: and the picture of the GOP is Bush. The GOP had six years of total control of Congress and the White House and two years with enough votes to obstruct any and all progress.

Sorry, you had your chance and you blew it. As for those conservatives linking Palin and Reagan ... in his declining years, Reagan still knew more than Palin will ever learn ...

True patriotic Americans will dump all the partisan politics for a few years and work together to get this country back on track – and not just for the rich.

As for Bob .... its going to be a long, long 8 years to tote that chip on your shoulder, my friend. Stop whining and start working on something positive...

Bob you have got to be kidding me. Please take the blinders off.

You're all missing the point. Both spending cuts and tax increases are needed.

Bob-

That's called overplaying your hand. You may not agree with Obama but to say Palin is smarter just shows how little you are paying attention.

People will not forgive anyone in the government for being stupid. Bottom line. This country is not made up of white , old males.

Bob November 24th, 2008 3:06 pm ET

Sara Palin and Mike Huckabee 2012. Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama it is amazing you mice voted for him. I can't wait until Obama gets

THERE IS NOT FUTURE FOR THE REPUBLICANS! SO PLEASE EXCEPT OBAMA AS YOUR PRESIDENT AND MOVE ON! Sara Palin is a gife that keep giving to the Dems.

Huckabee is talking about bringing common sense back to government? Oh please!

I saw the Huckster giving an interview on TV the other day, he was articulate and even a bit charismatic.

If it weren't for the whole fundamentalist Christian thing, I'd fear him less than Romney, Palin, Gingrich, etc.

Huckabee's not being straight either.

True, spending should be curbed. But taxes should also be raised. The reason – that's how the shortfall would be closed. I haven't met anyone, not even the most die-hard libertarian, who really supports the degree of spending reduction (from programs like defense and Social Security) that would be necessary to completely close the shortfall.

So . . . reduce spending somewhat, and increase taxes somewhat. There's no tooth fairy here. Both forms of deficit correction are needed – spending reductions AND tax increases.

Sara Palin and Mike Huckabee 2012. Sara Palin is so much smarter then Obama it is amazing you mice voted for him. I can't wait until Obama gets impeached.

Wow! Huckabee has hit it on the nail.

There is no GOP Future!

Hopefully Ol' Huck and Carbiou Barbie will not be in the GOP's future!

A republican talking sense....amazing!!!!

Observer from Canada

True, True, True. I still plan on punishing the republicans for at least 2 elections.
so clean it up republicans..... and I'll consider you in 2016.

Here's a Republican weighing in on Huckabee's future:

I'm not ever going to vote for you, and I'm not ever going to buy any of your books. Ever. So please return to whatever carnival side show you came out of and go back to selling miracle snake oil.

Huckabee needs to really examine what problems the Republican party has. The coaltion that Reagan put together is so fragmented from George W(oman) Bush that it would take a long time to recover and rebuild. I just don't think that Huckabee can pull it back together.