Discussion for article #236034
If your most important voting issue is the number of guns Jesus wants you to carry into a Wal-Mart, it’s difficult to be moved by discussions of the wealth gap.
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In a very serious way, I can see Mr. Huckabee having a strong appeal to religious Libertarians. Yes, he seems much more middle-of-the-road with regards to tax issues and the social safety net but those issues aren’t totally anathema to large portions of those who call themselves “libertarian” in their political beliefs – as most of them understand that society is large enough and collectively wealthy enough to morally require us–as a civilization–to take care of those who are less fortunate, elderly or disabled.
The only real stumbling block to him winning a decent chunk of the younger ones of the “middle” is his evangelical, theocratic attack on equality to GLBTQ people. Also, Huckabee seems much less likely to want to grasp for any brass rings the NRA will inevitably hold out for all takers–that will make him much less attractive to the hardcore right who aren’t necessarily religious or evangelical.
There are those in my family who I can see giving Huckabee a serious thought. Only a couple would take a pass out of respect to me (gay). Yes, Mr. Huckabee does have a real possibility to appeal to a sizeable chunk of voters – but I’m not so sure about the GOP primary-voting base.
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The Bible could be a gold mine of liberalism for a follower who selectively interprets it properly. Matthew 19:24: “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Too bad Huckabee’s economic platform is far closer to Matthew 25:29. “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”
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Well, we can talk about the Huckster, but why bother really? He will evanesce as soon as he raises his Q score with a few controversial statements, for which he will mumble some bullshit reply, and then he will negotiate his next book deal or Fox show for more money than before.
He’s Jimmy Swaggert without the tears, or Tammy Faye without the eye makeup. Disgustingly hypocritical and irrelevant to all but the rubiest of rubes.
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He’s essentially going the George Wallace route. Unfortunately, he used to be the fascist cloaked in pious niceness and risks losing the people he attracted with that.neither he nor Santorum are “serious” candidates. Both have more freedom and money by being gadflies. their essential positions on major issues are shared with the rest of the field. this is all about positioning th themselves for more/better wingnut welfare.
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I am seeing lots of comparisons to his 2008 campaign, without acknowledgement that the GOP base has gone through quite a few changes since then. Additionally, in 2008, he was pretty much the only voice for the evangelicals…that isn’t going to be the case in 2016; he has Santorum to contend with directly, as well as Cruz nipping around the edges.
I do agree however, with Kilgore’s raising of the SSI position and how it contrasts with what rest of the GOP field is trying to offer up. The window for tinkering with SSI and Medicare is just about closed…this will be the last election where anyone can viably offer up such plans, and even now it’s a hard sale. The baby boomers are retiring…which means discussing tinkering with entitlements means discussing taking away something from a very large proportion of the electorate. That’s not a plan for success.
However, the general feel I am getting from this batch of presidential wannabes so far, is they have very little interest in discussing actual policy…particular fiscal policy which is way too boring for a rapid base drooling for red meat. They want to discuss gun rights, particularly to keep you safe from “those people” burning things in Baltimore, locking down the borders to keep “those other people” out of Murica, to slut shame wimmen for daring to raise their voices while they are mansplainin’ female’s proper roles in the world, and how Murica needs to get tough and take the fight to all those muslims in the Middle East.
Those last two points are a bit sticky for them, as they are trying to find a way to express their misogynistic undercurrents without, you know, offending roughly half their party, and returning to another Middle Eastern war is really not popular with anybody in this country now.
Basically, the GOP has spent 30+ years dumbing down their base to only being able to digest small, bumper sticker wedge issues…and now they are finding themselves without any wedge issues that really work. Transitioning to a message about policy, which requires more higher brain activity then their base is capable of, will be extremely difficult in 2016.
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The Repub clown car is transforming into a caravan of 18 wheelers cuz EVERYBODY with national name recognition (and some that don’t have recognition) is in the race. It looks like a caravan of loonies set loose on America’s back roads and county fairs. A lot of these folks think the military wants to invade Texas or has some other wingnut conspiracy theory in mind. Contrast it with the sane and sober tho slightly dog eared democrats with one real candidate. Cool and calm.
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Ol’ Mike is still that same fascist.
A few years ago, David Frum, who I hardly ever agree with, but who I think of as an intelligent man made the following observation which I do tend to agree with.
Populism did not condemn wealth. It condemned wealth that was earned and
spent in ways that violated the moral sense of a particular community:
whether railroading in the 1890s or international trade in the 1980s or
global finance today. Populism’s wrath was directed not against economic
superiors, but against economic aliens.
Which is why populism – both the capital “P” Populism of the 1890s
and the lower case “p” populism that has flared at intervals ever since –
was and remains compatible with racism and anti-semitism. To the extent
that “the left” is defined by its hostility to tribal, ethnic and
national distinctions, “populism” can never be a movement of “the left.”
http://www.frumforum.com/why-the-lefts-populism-never-caught-on/
So, yes, a large proportion of white, middle and lower middle class voters who lack a college education will vote Republican and most likely a lot of those will favor Huckabee and his xenophobic brand of social conservatism. But my question is why should the Democratic party lust after this demographic? Seventy-five years ago or so, these folks would have been the Dixiecrats and later, part of “Nixon’s southern strategy”. Why should we want the xenophobic populist bloc back? Just to win an odd election or two? But, at what cost?
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No. He can’t.
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Huck appeals to those who look just like him & think just like him, no further than that. He’s in it for the PAC $.
Hucksterbee knows he will never be president. He just wants the cash that comes with running and being famous. (See, e.g., Donald Trump.)
cHuckA-Buck…ConConConArtistry.
Con-
Man
Servative
Summate Liar.
Wonder if his campaign theme song 's gonna be Nugent’s CatScratchFever?
The Republican party is for the rich, powerful, and well-connected. Both individuals and corporations. Or is that just redundant?
I see no actual evidence that this is changing. Let’s not confuse rhetoric for actual actions/legislation.
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More important, will Adelson be throwing his money Huckabee’s way?
Cause that’s the only way he’s going to be able to finance this.
Huck’s playing small ball, pushing on all the senators in the primary to bail or else.
This leaves him with Gov. Scottie Boy, who will have no problem kicking that good ol’ minister’s teeth down his throat in Iowa, with all the river rats cheering him on.
But it’s all good. Iron Grandma will return the favor in the general.
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I think he’s the most despicable man running because he conflates religion and civics.
This is diametrically the opposite of:
-
what we know to be sound civics
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what our founding fathers wanted
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what Christ - whom he is supposed to be a follower of - commanded.
Therefore Huckabee is a sort of evil enterprise.
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Huck doesn’t care at all about being President. It’s all about soaking up the cash from the rubes.
Ron Fournier has a scathing article about Huck’s lack of ethics and snake oil salesmanship:
The Huckster has been the face of the Establishment GOP for almost ten years now on Fox. He can’t quit suddenly and say he’s a rebel TeaParty Republican. He’s Establishment Christian Right, too. Add that image to his record as an Establishment GOP Governor and he’s not only old hat but just what the Far Right can’t stand any longer. He peaked in 2008 and then gave up to make the big bucks with Murdock. He’s an Establishment GOP sellout every way you look at him.
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