Hello. I've yet to make a decision on who I will be backing for President next time around. I have been taking a serious look at Mike Huckabee lately. I think his proposal's on Energy Independence are what I really like. The biggest issues I have in America right now are: (not necessarily in this order) 1. Defense 2. Energy 3. Education 4. Environmental 5. Taxes From: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=21 I have noticed a HUGE rise in the polls, especially in Iowa, and that said, I have really begun to take notice as a result. It would appear that Post Clinton, Huckabee pulled Arkansas out of the mess the Clinton's left it in when they left to do the same to America. I am curious if other's have any opinions on this guy? Again, I like his stance on energy, and his claim that he will make the US energy independent by the end of his second term? Does anyone think he can really do that? I'd vote for someone that actually gave us an Energy Policy.. I think the last time we had one was under Bush Senior.. It's been a long time and coming. I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!
I would like to see taxes above environmental, unless environmental means drilling for the oil that we have in places like the gulf and ANWR. I really like huckabee, and I have since the beginning. To me, he is a lot more of a conservative than many of the candidates for the GOP.
I think keeping the Bush tax cuts in place, and then adding a few deductions, like the HEALTH CARE TAX!!!! I pay my health insurance out of my own pocket, and then have to pay INCOME TAX on that payment... Can you believe that bull shit.. What's wrong with the health care system has more to do with crap like this, than the actual care. I think if we gain energy independence, ANWR, and the environment take care of itself.. 1. There is nothing in ANWR that we could possibly disturb.. Nothing lives up there.. It is a freezing desert.. 2. Energy independence = things like ethanol, compressed natural gas, and of course using my favorite recently.. Bio-Diesel. As we move towards more environmentally friendly fuels, the environment will continue to get cleaner.. Hell, if we just burned our damned garbage instead of burying it, or dumping it in the East River, we'd probably fuel our homes for centuries to come.. Ultimately on the tax front, I would like to see a flat tax where EVERYONE pays their fair share... We would take in so much more in revenue if the fed would actually make everyone pay the same rate. Of course cutting pork will help. A line item veto would likely help solve that problem...
Thank goodness Bush said today he would veto the govt. spending bill if it was full of pork...why couldn't he do that in his first 4 years? I am also self employed....Even though I get a reimbursement from my company for my share of SS, I have to pay taxes on that, so basically I am taxed on the money that the govt gets for SS....funny how they don't see SS as a tax, yet I will probably never get SS...gotta love the current millions of pages of tax codes. This is one reason I am for Huckabee...he sees that we need a major tax code overhaul, and the Fairtax is the way to do it.
What and piss of all the Republicans in congress at the time? R U kidding.. Bush is not 100% to blame for being "fiscally irresponsible" spending wise... SS? I don't even pay into SS.. WHY!!!??? It's useless... I think I know how to spend that money better.. My suggestion, if you are self employed. Do not pay into SS.. You do not have to you know..
Too bad he let a convicted rapist out of jail (who then proceeded to rape and kill again) back when he was governor. The only republican who really interests me is Ron Paul. Not so much because I'm a young college student and apparently being a fan of Ron Paul is the cool thing to do these days...but more because I'm against the government in general and I think drastically scaling it back is a wonderful idea (ever wonder why they're called conservatives?).
I guess this is why I like actually researching these candidates first.. Do keep in mind that the process of releasing that person was begun by then Governor Bill Clinton.. From there, it goes through several different reviews before the governor, current one at the time, Huckabee places final approval. To lay blame on Huckabee for this is to lay blame on Bush for a hurricane.. The same thing can be said of Mitt Romney.. Someone that was pardoned on his watch went out and committed murder.. Again, the blame/fault does not lie solely with the governor.. They have little if anything to do with this.. The system itself allowed both to be released... If that is the only thing you have to justify RP, it might be time to explore every candidate on both sides a bit more... I'm sure there are a lot of skeletons in RP's closet too...
It seems to me that Huckabee developed some fairly radical views in the past few months. Perhaps he watched Republican debates and was so impressed by Ron Paul that he changed many of his opinions. Why vote for an immitation if you can vote for the original though
Jeremy, here is another video from yesterday on TV that talks about his tax record, energy independence, the Iraq war and a number of other issues. Energy independence is very important to him. It's an excellent interview.
Nice find, thank you... I like this comment listed there: I'm beginning to feel the same way.. I've been a big supporter of Guliani over the years, but Huckabee lately seems to be on the right track towards a Reaganesque feeling IMO that we've lacked for some time...
I agree. I don't dislike the other candidates. Like you, I have a priority on issues. National security is my number one issue. Pretty much all, but one candidate, actually gets how important national security is. So it was easy for me to check him off the list. After that, it comes down to other issues. Huckabee has a *reasonable* plan on border immigration. I like it, it fits within my views. Here is Huckabee on some of these issues. There is no question that he understands the threat of islamic terrorists, and realizes it's impact on energy independence.
In some ways, Huckabee would be a good Democratic candidate. He's for big government spending, taxes to match, foreign intervention and aid, socialized education and medicine, amnesty for illegal aliens, and farm subsidies. He's against common law marriage, and believes in welfare and education subsidies for non-Citizens. What he has not broadcast his stance on clearly is trade, civil liberties, the economy, fiscal policy, monetary policy, unions, corporate welfare etc. The one thing I like about him is his position on the Second Amendment. I would hesitate to label him a neocon. He's more of a Social/Centrist Conservative. For fiscal conservatives, he's "Republican Light". I don't like how he keeps comparing himself to Reagan, who campaigned on closing the Department of Education, cutting the size of government, lowering taxes, sound money and was very much against subsidizing farmers.
guerilla, I can understand what you are trying to do. Since your candidate has no record of accomplishment or has ever passed any meaningful legislation to better Americans, nor has he ever led anything, it goes without saying that someone might make up dishonest claims. Let's visit a few of these: Mike Huckabee on Education - http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15998 Real leadership on real issues. He's been there. RP hasn't accomplished anything. Taxes - These have been covered in another thread where I corrected the dishonesty regarding the claims. Huckabee has raised and lowered taxes. He also had a mandated order from the Supreme Court in Arkansas to do so. At the end of his tenure, he left the state with an $850 million dollar surplus. Again, this comes from leadership where he had bipartisan support from democrats and republicans. RP has never accomplished anything. Amnesty for illegal aliens - This is dishonest. However, I've come to expect it. Huckabee is not for Amnesty, sanctuary cities and believes in tough penalties on employers who hire illegals. He's for treating people as humans and not punishing children for the crimes of their parents. Huckabee explains his position on immigration here. Huckabee on farm subsidies - http://smokyhollow.blogspot.com/2007/08/huckabee-on-farm-policy-subsidies-not.html I'll have to look into the other issues you are claiming he hasn't addressed. I doubt it will make a difference. Most of these go: allegation that are not entirely correct or honest followed by a correction followed by new allegations that are not entirely correct or honest followed by a correction but I'm up for the game.
I haven't claimed anything dishonest on his positions. My candidate is irrelevant when discussing Huckabee, when what I am posting as far as positions and records are accurate. Amnesty for the children of illegals, is also amnesty for their parents. It is amnesty period. He just chooses to spin it as being a child's guilt issue to make it palatable. It is still amnesty. I never mentioned Education, however Huckabee's record on education reform is strong. That said, until the year 2000, abolishing the Department of Education was an official part of the Republican party platform. I don't believe he has outlined his position on home schooling, however I haven't visited his website in some time. It's not a game. I have weathered personal attacks, and personal attacks on my candidate for months because I had the courage to back a man, before his poll numbers took off. IIRC, you were backing Duncan Hunter until his campaign stalled. I am merely posting the record (something you have failed to do with my candidate) on Huckabee, to address questions and concerns about his history. (insert another predictable Ad Hominem "Your candidate has done nothing" attack) Those are Huckabee's positions. If I am incorrect, I will stand corrected. But I have researched all of the Republican candidates in depth, and consider myself fairly well briefed on many of them. With regards to farmers, Huckabee' position is somewhat correct. Subsidies are not about the small farmers. They go to major agri-business, and many small farmers resent the subsidies and the Department of Agriculture. A subsidy to maintain price levels is also a fallacious. The money for the subsidy comes through taxation or deficit spending. In the end, the consumer pays, directly or indirectly the full price of food. With the bureaucratic overhead of subsidies, consumers actually pay more.
As usual, nothing useful to add.. Odd, I did not get that impression of him out of either his record in Arkansas or his plans on his web site.. Where did you formulate this opinion? Just curious.. Are we talking about the same person? I know he believes that marriage is a union between one man and one women, but then again, by definition, it kinda is... I don't really care either way to be honest... I would argue that that video that Gtech posted earlier contradicts your statements on welfare and education subsidies for non-Citizens.. I found opinions on these issues listed here. http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.Home Hint, the same place he talks about the 2nd Amendment, you can find opinions on the economy, trade, etc... (http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.Home) I find him to be more of a Reagan conservative.. I think this is what most of American wants and needs.. A reversion back to small government, and abolishing things that do not work... Keep in mind, closing the Department of Education is not the same has being against education..
All this coming from a state that ranked almost dead last (number 48) in education under Clinton.. Among numerous other near dead last or dead last accomplishments.
You recall incorrectly. I have previously stated I liked Duncan Hunter, as well as a number of candidates. The only candidate I've ever officially endorsed was Huckabee. I liked Mitt early on, still do. I like Guiliani. The choices wee far and wide. You know this, because you used to chastise me for not picking a candidate while I was exposing rp as a racist. Like you, I took on Huckabee when his poll numbers were low, when there was no indication of any chance of a rising. I did so, because I like his message, I believe he is sincere and I believe he has the experience to lead. At that time, I had no reason to believe he would take off and become so wildly popular, but it has been a pleasant suprise. I've corrected you numerous times. I do not believe you are as up to date as you think you are. You simply have access to a forum that spouts off things about other candidates and repeat them here. You've not stated facts and had you done so, you'd have source material. I've corrected them with sourced material. Notably lacking, is your sources. You are incorrect on them, as I have pointed out and sourced. You may not like his positions, but I do. Just as I do not like many of the positions or the kookiness surrounding your candidate. You did mention education. Go back and read your allegations where it started: I will continue to set the record straight as you make unsubstantiated allegations. You are also correct, your candidate does not have a record. He's never led, never accomplished anything other than voting no. So it's impossible to look at what your candidate has done, because he hasn't done anything.
It's really quite impressive. I believe his commitment to education comes from his genuine concern about people. I'm still discovering more, every day, about Mike. The more guerilla and co. continue to make unfounded accusations, the more it inspires me to look up the actual facts and positions. In doing so, it's really confirming that I've made the right choice, for me.