Rice calls Huckabee comment 'ludicrous'
Rice had some sharp words for Mike Huckabee Friday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters Friday that Mike Huckabee’s recent comments criticizing some aspects of Bush administration foreign policy were “ludicrous.”
“The idea that somehow this is a ‘go it alone’ policy is just simply ludicrous. And one would only have to be not observing the facts, let me say that, to say that this is now a ‘go it alone foreign policy,” said Rice.
In an article in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs, released last week, the Republican presidential candidate characterized the Bush administration’s foreign policy as an “arrogant, bunker mentality.”
Many of Huckabee's GOP presidential rivals have attacked him for that description. Mitt Romney, who now trails Huckabee in the key early-voting state of Iowa, has kept up a steady stream of criticism over the Foreign Affairs piece – at a campaign event Wednesday, he again said the former Arkansas governor had made a "significant error in insulting the president."
President Bush himself declined to comment on Huckabee’s piece when asked about it during a press conference yesterday.
UPDATE: Speaking to CNN's John King Friday, Huckabee said he has "great respect" for Rice, but questioned whether she had read the article.
"I'm not sure if she's actually read the article, or maybe she's reacting to the headlines, because I think some of the people who have spoken about it when asked have admitted they have not actually read the article and what I was specifically referencing."
"I wasn't criticizing the president, who I'm very fond and think has handled the overall situation of protecting America quite well," Huckabee continued. "I've been very complimentary of him, particularly the surge, but if we are so unable to point out policy differences and how things would change under a new administration, then maybe we shouldn't run for president, we'll just keep the current one in office."
Kudos to Huckabee.
Arrogance is the right word to describe the bush administration.
An another additional word "Ignorance" can also be added.
No , we are going alone in this country but " a loan" as China , Singapore and Saudi Arabia buy up our financial institutions thanks to 7 failed years of the George W. Bush administration.
This is a perfect example of why Bush and his cronies have no credibility. They employed not only a "go it alone foreign policy", their diplomacy was the worst kind: cowboy diplomacy. And who can forget W's famous line, "I say BRING IT ON"?
I haven't seen much of Rice recently. Maybe they should put her back under wraps before she digs an even deeper hole for this whole Bush Administration fiasco.
One more thing...
Steve Blaine from Washington should really examine what our democracy is about. Our soldiers are dying for our COUNTRY, not our President. The President is supposed to serve the people and it's glaringly obvious that he is not doing his job. When you start saying things like "you shouldn't criticize our President", you are no longer living in a Democracy. Those soldiers are dying so that we can have the right to speak our minds. Anyone who would restrict that right is either an idiot, a communist, or both.
miss, I like you but you know what, stop protecting bubba!
It's more like an Archie Bunker mentality
"Ludicrous?" This is a prime example of the "pot calling the kettle black" (no pun intended). I vote and always will) democratic, but Huckabee's point is very valid in this case.
And what's more amazing...this coming from the Secretary of State who is suppose to possess such vast knowledge on all things Russian, but has failed miserably at every turn when dealing with them. Ludicrous, indeed!!!
Rice is right. Bush and his policies are what this country needs right now in this time of terror. I don't know where we would be if somebody else was in office ... heaven forbid a dem.
Huckabee's comments were dead on, took guts and could open the door to national and international unity - unfortunately the other Republican candidates are supporting the failed strategies
Mark Halpert
Coral Springs, FL
i find it so cute that rice takes up for bush ,.i know he pays her too but i feel rice is lucky to still be with us.,.,he sent a women to talk to men who think women have no thoughts ,.yet due to rices politics the door has been busted open for all women to help run the usa and the world but her loyal to bush .,aint woman like,.bush has done nothing for women
txtj
This is the very thing that draws liberal-leaning centrists to Huckabee. He shows moments of clarity and candor. Fortunately for the Democrats, he is unelectable due to the right-leaning extremism of many of his other political positions. The Razorback governor is therefore a boon to the Democrats the longer he stays in the race. He weakens the frontrunners, who are all leaning right during the primaries, by standing in stark contrast to them on simple matters such as whether the US has basically abandoned many of those who were once its most valued allies. The GOP nominee will finally pivot towards the center, but his campaign will fail, thanks in large part to the present Administration, which has justly earned the ire and enmity of large numbers of its erstwhile supporters.
"Most comments from Huckabee is ludicrous.
Posted By jd, des moines, iowa : December 21, 2007 1:17 pm "
"Is our children learning" in Des Moines, Iowa?
A "W" classic, thanks for reminding me jd!...lol
I beg to differ with her, she is the ludicrous one!!
Condi is clueless, just like George.
Semper Fi
Noooo, Sorry Ms. Rice but I'd say that Mr.Huckabees comment was on the money..
The truth will set you free...
But it may hurt a little.
I won't vote for him, but Gov. Huckabee, like any other citizen, has the right to criticize the administration. And he's got a point. Nobody in this administration has offered up an explanation of the official strategy for the "War on Terrorism," a primary focus of our foreign policy. In declared war we have battle plans, established goals and a plan for peacetime. In this so-called "war" we have an enemy that simply regenerates, as we turn moderate Muslims into extremist Muslims by stomping all over other people's deserts trying to kill all the original Muslim extremists.
What is the plan? What is the long-term strategy? How will these two "wars" ensure Muslim extremists stop attacking Americans? How will peace be achieved? How will this "war" make others respect us enough to stop wanting to hurt us? Or are we striving to make them FEAR us enough? A basic understanding the extremist worldview shows how futile that strategy would be.
Huckabee is an ego-maniac who thinks losing a 100 pounds and being from a place called Hope will take him to the White House. He's not the Mr. Down-home Guy the media is trying to portray him as. I'm a Republican from Arkansas and I voted for him once, but I won't make that mistake again! Maybe Ms. Rice should run for President. I'd vote for her.
When u have 250,000 troop invading a country while only 10,000 are from your "closest" allies... YOU'RE IN IT ALONE.
I'm not a Huckabee supporter... but the man wasnt lying.
I would agree with Huckabee on two things. Teach art and music in all grades of school and this administration has a ‘go it alone’ policy on every issue from Iraq to Global Warming. They are the ones that are "simply ludicrous."
RandyT, USN Ret./Lewisville,TX
re:
Negative comments in a national forum regarding the conduct of war or foreign affairs in regard to that very war on a sitting President encourage action by combatants on the other side and cost American lives. If this type of action is legal it certainly should not be legal.
Posted By Steve Blaine Washington : December 21, 2007 12:41 pm
This note is exactly the reason that this administration is so freaking scary-people like this that really believe in the I will obey my master at any cost, to the freedom of my fellow citizens, my own freedoms, my families.
This is the exact kind of mind monopoly that allowed for the extermination and genocide of races, cultures and religions throughout our worlds history.
The extremely frightening aspect of this situation, is that this administration provides constant reminders of how lost we have become behind the curtain of fear mongering and xenophobia.
Get a life Blaine, you obviously have no brain or self will.
I agree with Huckabee. Rice is just doing her job, though. What do you think the Secretary of State would say when someone criticizes the policy that she's in charge of communicating?
Huck still has my vote, though. He has courage to say what other Republican candidates are too afraid to say.
I am a Democrat and far from a Mike Huckabee fan. But he is exactly correct about Bush. This is the most arrogant and clandestine administration ever. He has alienated many previous allies with his roughshod cowboy dipolmacy. Romney consistently shows that he has no position, or that it is for the moment to give him a short-term advantage.
"And one would only have to be not observing the facts, let me say that, to say that this is not a ‘go it alone foreign policy,” said Rice."
Am I reading this right? So if you were observing the facts you would say this IS go it alone policy. Well yes, I think we all know that.
All these years of amateur imperialist foreign policy sure have put a lot of wrinkles on Condi's forehead!
Nice job Huckabee... whether you agree with the Bush administrations policies or not you dont slam the current Commander in Chief who belongs to your own party at the same time your poll numbers are surging. I sure hope those that have polled in your favor get smart in the next 2 weeks. I hope they see you for what you are: a religious bigot that expends others for your own gain.
Look at a statement like this and it makes someone wonder why the nutbag Ron Paul is trailing so low in the polls.