Huckabee In NH
Written by Mark Harris on August 25th, 2005According to an unabashedly pro-Huckabee website, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (ironically also from Hope, AR) is actually doing two events in NH this weekend and obviously is interested in running for President. Romney cancelled for an event at the last minute and now Huckabee is filling in for him. Now on the surface Huckabee seems like an ideal candidate: affable, seemingly conservative, Governor (ok he’s from Arkansas, but still…). Yet I see two major chinks in his armor.
1. He raised taxes… I mean come on this has almost got to be DOA in a GOP Primary.
2. He supported Rockefeller for Governor before he pulled out due to cancer. According to several Arkansas blogs, Win Rockefeller and his wife once hosted a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in their house… ‘nuf said.
I know that we have some loyal Huckabee readers out there, so convince me I am wrong and this should be my horse for ‘08.
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While #1 is concerning, I can overlook #2 (not that I am happy with it). I know it’s extremely early, but Huckabee and Allen seem to be the only two possible candidates that can strongly lead the party to victory. The others are either too moderate/liberal or have flip-flopped on issues in order to woo the conservatives.
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I will try to keep this short.
#1 Regarding taxes, here are the facts. Huckabee fought like a tiger to stop tax increases during the first years of his administration –successfully. But over the last decade, three things that make up over 90% of Arkansas’ budget required major, emergency attention — education, prisons and healthcare. Arkansas is under a Supreme Court order to spend more on education, Medicare and Medicaid are federal entitlement programs that must be given to any qualified person who asks–and with Arkansas’ aging population these programs are exploding– and the governor has no control over how many inmates must be accomodated. Finally you simply cannot compare Arkansas’ situation to that enjoyed by Governors of other states like Texas or Minnesota with their much larger and younger populations and thriving economies. Huckabee inherited a state whose economic development was crippled by generations of neglect of education and infrastructure — and he fixed it in less than 10 years.
#2 Win Rockefeller has been Mike Huckabee’s Lt. Governor for many years, in a state dominated by Democrats. They are very, very close friends. With Mike Huckabee, loyalty goes a long way.
Finally, you don’t need me to convince you Huckabee should be your horse. He’s more than capable of doing that himself over the next couple of years.
Thanks for linking our post today. It is much appreciated.
BSR
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Huckabee is to the left of Allen.Huckabee,Brownback,and Sanford are all Dead on Arrival because of immigration.THERE is not ONE issue that makes Huckabee a movement conservative,Or even an establishment conservative(Frist,Allen) for that matter.The guy is a nominaly pro life Democrat.
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The immigration thing is going to be hard one for everyone.
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More facts about Huckabee and taxes…under his leadership, the per capita tax burden in Arkansas has declined significantly. He is a fiscal and social conservative. Please see the facts at our blog.
BSR