The Stopped Clock Has a Little Competition
Bill Kristol is right about something. Mike Huckabee is not a sure election loser. That’s the column’s explicit argument, and it’s true enough. I’d add that the column’s implicit argument can be seen in what it exemplifies - a tribune of the Republican establishment accomodating himself to the idea of a Huckabee candidacy. If Huckabee continues to do well, you’ll see the Huckster on the one side and the so-called “money-cons” and the foreign-policy hawks on the other coming to mutual understandings, not fissuring. Huckabee’s actual economic policies don’t wildly diverge from Republican orthodoxy. His foreign-policy thinking is hazily formed, but the American Enterprise Institute and the Weekly Standard can work with a guy who will say conditions in Gitmo are “too nice.”
Via Larison, who agrees with Kristol.
Comment by Tom Scudder —
January 7, 2008 @ 9:02 am
I think Huckabee could possibly be president if he ends up in a race with Clinton or Edwards, but against Obama he’s basically screwed - the only way the Republicans are going to bleed Obama is by implying that all that unity stuff is a little too kumbayah and if it comes down to stomping terrorists Obama just won’t be man enough to put on the stomping boots.
But you can’t sell that if the alternative is Pastor Huck.
Comment by Thoreau —
January 7, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Twice a day vs. once so far this year. That stopped clock is still way ahead!
Comment by bdr —
January 7, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Kristol quoted Malkin, so he MUST be right!
Comment by diana —
January 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Consider the source: the complete idiot who thought Romney was gonna be the Repub nominee, but I think Hickabee could beat Obama.
Comment by John Emerson —
January 7, 2008 @ 10:12 am
At first I dreamed that Huckabee might lead the Armageddonists right out of the Republican Party, either into a third Party or just to sit at home, but he’s an establishment Republican (hillbilly model) and probably will end up helping the Party keep his fellow loonies on board.
He’ll deal, the kingmakers will deal, and he’ll get some kind of payoff. He’ll get ahead of the other party operatives in charge of handling the snake-handlers, and the party leadership will be reminded that they can’t run against their base the way the Democrats do (when Democrats want to lose, which is usually).
Whether the Republicans can win with Huckabee or a Huckabee-friendly candidate is another thing, but a McCain-Huckabee alliance would be pretty scary.
Comment by Doug —
January 7, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Don’t cross Huckabee or you will go to hell.
Comment by diana —
January 7, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
OTOH, I did say Hillary wouldn’t win one primary, so maybe I’m only semi-retarded.
I still say that the Dems are going to get swift-boated to hell. This is Obama’s church’s principles.
They will lose with Obama, even against Hickabee.
Comment by diana —
January 7, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
PS McCain/Hickabee…or t’other way around.
Comment by Marco —
January 7, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Well, I do support Huckabee and I am certainly not a “money-con.” If Bill Kristol is waking up to the fact that Huckabee is a legitimate candidate, good for him. He can be more likable than Obama, too.
And also: why no Huckabee listed on Fit to be Pres? It would make some sense for the victor of the Iowa caucus to be included…
Comment by Stu —
January 7, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
I still say that the Dems are going to get swift-boated to hell. This is Obama’s church’s principles.
Here’s what I see when I click through:
Yeah, sounds terrifying.
Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator —
January 7, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Huckabee’s History of Political Antics
…
Mike Huckabee’s offbeat antics _ what some would call stunts _ helped propel him to the front of the…
Comment by diana —
January 7, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
Several of the clauses are Afrocentric bullshit, either explicit or coded.
Comment by diana —
January 7, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
Not to mention:
“We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black…. Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.”
Like I said, Afrocentric bullshit.
Comment by Barry —
January 8, 2008 @ 8:36 am
“Like I said, Afrocentric bullshit. ”
American history isn’t your strong suite, is it?
Comment by diana —
January 8, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
My, my, I do seem to have ruffled some feathers here. Sneering doesn’t change the facts.
Obama’s father-son relationship with a Jeremiah Wright isn’t gonna fly in a general election. Obama’s benefited from a temporary delirium - these things pass. His competition really wasn’t that tough.
I find Obama an interesting person. I’m not so sure I want him to be President. We’ve already had enough problems with a President about whom we knew little and had major Daddy issues.
The Clintons have been hinting at this all along without being able to be explicit because they can’t be. The Republicans will make things very explicit, as soon as he
Comment by Stu —
January 8, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
My, my, I do seem to have ruffled some feathers here. Sneering doesn’t change the facts.
Facts?
Comment by lemuel pitkin —
January 8, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Diana-
I’ve heard some synogogues make a big deal about Jewish history, too. You might want to look into that.