Will Mike Huckabee Run?

I'll admit from the start I'm not going to answer that question in this blog- though the video contained in this blog might give a little clue of what I think. I find it interesting that a strategy has emerged by those most threatened by Mike's candidacy to pontificate that they know that Governor Huckabee will not run. They might call it reading tea leaves. The only thing that will get you to believe is that Lipton and Tetley are the frontrunners.
I believe he will run and more importantly that he will win. America needs a leader who is both conservative and not polarizing in his style. We need a leader who is inspirational in speech and persuasive in debate. We need a leader who is authentic. After spending nine days in Israel with Governor Huckabee I can tell you all the more- he is authentic. There are no airs , no pretense but rather a warm human being that goes out of his way to be helpful and kind. A man who works incredibly hard with little sleep, a man who knows his moral center. A man whose faith is real and doesn't have to wake up each morning to decide what he believes that day to match the opinion polls. Mike Huckabee is first of all a man of character. Those on the far left will not forsake BHO in 2012. Those on the solid right will vote for whoever the GOP puts up. But the ones that will decide the election are the ones who are independent. These independent folk may never watch Fox News and may ignore the blather of the blogs. They'd rather watch Glee or American Idol than either Anderson Cooper or Bill O'Reilly. If they have heard of Keith Olberman it is as a football commentator. But come election time they'll go off to the ballot box and they will be the ones who decide the election. Like it or not, thats the fact. This is the group that must be won. And the candidate who wins them will win the election.
In 2008 President Obama won this group. He was young energetic and promised change. These non-political independent types thought that sounded pretty good. After over two years where the only change they see is the nickel and dimes they have in their pocket compared to the green backs that once filled their wallets, they can be persuaded that there is a better alternative. But they won't be persuaded by the harshest sounding shouters on the right. Saying it loud and and saying it snarky may titilate the base but it only turns off the Glee crowd. Calling "a truce" on important moral issues as some candidates have suggested will take the moral force from any office seeker. Weakening and flip-flopping your position will be greeted only be disrespect by this group. So if being the loudest purest ideologue doesn't work and being the two faced politician doesn't work, what will work to win those in the middle? I suggest it will be the inspiration provided by a candidate who stands for something and does it without shouting down the opposition. Many may not know the issues but they'll know an impassioned yet genial person when they see one. When they see Mike Huckabee that is what they will see.
Mike's detractors may keep up the scam for awhile. They may even seem to be vindicated for a short while as Mike wisely enters the game late (though I personally hope it will be sooner than later- the thought of GOP debates without his elloquence is not a pleasant one). In the end I believe we will see candidate, nominee, and then President Huckabee. But I can't say I know it will happen- I can only say that America will truly be blessed if we hear the Governor say "Today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States." Frankly I don't think we deserve to have Mike Huckabee as President but I would appeal to the grace of God to give us not what we deserve but what is good.
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P.S. Just a quick note of thanks not only to Mike and Janet Huckabee who could not have been more pleasant and accomodating hosts on our trip to Israel, but also to each of thier children and their spouses who took the time to make everyone feel welcome. It was a beautiful thing to see the family work together.