The Gary Walter Report

I Still Believe in Hope and Change

2011-09-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

I have a good friend who, when being pursued by a certain young man, declared that she was “not interested and would never be interested” in this young man. The young man didn’t give up and today my friends have been married for over 30 years and are very much in love. Timing is everything. What once seemed impossible ultimately turned out to be the very best course of action for everyone involved. God had His reasons for the delay of that union and He had his reasons for bringing it ultimately to success. It had to be the right time.
It was an exciting May evening when many of us watched “Huckabee” to hear what we thought would be Mike Huckabee’s announcement that he would run for the presidency. Polls had the governor in the lead both against his GOP opposition and in a head to head match up against President Obama. Yet we were shocked by his declaration that “His heart says ‘no’”. Many of us struggled with that determination while respecting the fact that Mike sought to obey and follow God. But the truth is this: sometimes what seems like a “no” turns out to be a “Not yet”. It has to be the right time.
Since that day in May we have seen many come to the front of the GOP line and make their case. As I have viewed the GOP debates I have seen some good people give some common sense answers, I have also seen some glaring weaknesses. I do not want to spend my time in this blog tearing down all the current candidates, the fact is, in the end I could never vote for President Obama so if Mike Huckabee doesn’t run, I’ll have to be supporting one of these candidates . However looking at the two front runners shows me why I believe the debates have had a huge Huckabee-sized vacuum in them.
The trials of our nation can be seen like a street filled with hot coals. We have as a nation turned our eyes to money and to government to rescue us. President Obama decided to throw the gasoline of vastly greater government spending , debt, and control on the coals and the path became impassable. Mitt Romney with his changing views with every election (“I will always be pro-choice” when running for Massachusetts governor etc etc.) would have us run across the coals with flip-flops on. Not very safe, not very successful. Rick Perry says he is a conservative and yet supported Rudy Giuliani, a pro-choice candidate in 2008. Can he be trusted? Perry has the cowboy persona but I think he might just charge across those flaming coals and get himself and the horse he rides killed in the process.
We need someone who will get the heavy equipment out and clear the road of the coals. We need a road paved with the principle in the Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. All life is precious from conception to natural death. We need someone who can be trusted to protect and defend all life in this country and to promote freedom and liberty for all. We need someone with authentic principles and not mere rhetoric.
Four years ago then-candidate Obama ran on a theme of hope and change. Here we are four years later, hope is almost gone and the change has been for the worse. The “accomplishments” or lack thereof of the Obama administration hardly have to be chronicled. His philosophy of government spending and government control being the panacea for our society are clearly an abject failure by any measure. But it is clearly not enough to fire the current occupant of the oval office. We need to have someone else to replace him that is competent, experienced, and has a rock solid foundation of belief that will carry him and those he leads to success.
I still believe in hope and change. I still HOPE Mike Huckabee will CHANGE his mind and run for President of the United States in 2012. Timing is everything. The time is now.

Healing Huckabee Heartbreak

2011-05-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

I don’t listen to country music very often and I sure wouldn’t want to get my theology from a Garth Brooks song but Garth had a good point in his hit “Unanswered Prayer” that applies to what many of us feel in the wake of Gov. Huckabee’s announcement that he will not run for President in 2012.
The thrust of the song is that a guy sees his high school sweetheart at a football game and a flood of memories comes back . He thinks of his hopes and dreams and how very much he wanted the relationship to happen. But then he looks at his wife and realizes how happy he is that God didn’t answer those prayers back in high school. He recognizes that God gave him something far better and he reflects his joy in the words “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”
Now I should correct the record that God doesn’t give us unanswered prayers. Sometimes he gives us a “yes” sometimes a “no” and sometimes a “wait and see”. But Garth makes a very valid point that when God says “no”or “not now”, he is not being mean or capricious, rather he’s being the sovereign God of the universe who keeps his own counsel and who knows just what is right for us.
Many of us had hoped, prayed, planned , donated, worked, and dreamed towards a Huckabee run in 2012. We saw a man who had a God centered world view , was passionate in his defense of the unborn, courageous in his stand for marriage, articulate in his admiration of those who serve in the military, staunch in his defense against our over-spending ways and the list goes on. With the polls showing the governor on top, many of us were growing increasingly excited about his prospects for 2012 and had put heart and soul into a prospective campaign while keeping our powder dry for the big explosion of time effort and finances that would come on the day he would formally announce.
When word went out that he was going to make his announcement last Saturday many of us assumed this was the moment we were all hoping for. We planned parties and started thinking about where we would go and what we would do in the campaign. My brother-in-law had become a Huckabee fan in Canada so we wanted to keep him in the fun so I pointed my computer at our TV and skyped him so he could share in the exhiliaration of the announcement.
Then came the words I never thought I’d hear “The factors say go, but my heart says ‘no’”. The Governor first shared his faith in Christ and that this faith was more important to him than any political office. He explained that while many including his family were encouraging him to run and that while the polls and even financial backing were encouraging, in his quiet contemplative moments, alone with God in prayer, a decisicion to not run is what gave him a “peace that passes understanding".
If I didn’t know Mike Huckabee as I do, I am certainly cynical enough to doubt his reasoning. To say the news shocked me would certainly be an understatement. I’ve gone from shock to sadness to grief to anger to denial, pretty much the gamut of emotions. But here is what it come down to for me. While I am dismayed at the decision that Mike made, I’m not responsible for it. I am however responsible for my response to it.
I began supporting Mike Huckabee with a great deal of my effort and heart when I heard him speak at the Values Voters Summit in Washington DC in 2007. When he said "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for those of us who call ouselves "values voters" to pledge our lives, our familiies, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to that which is true, which is right, and which is eternal". I felt a stirring , a call from God that I should do everything I could to help this man become President. The values he represented I wanted passed on to my grandchildren and beyond. For the next four years I would answer that call. Ironically my calling ended, at least for now, when God gave Mike a call not to run. Do I regret the money spent, the trips taken , the blogs posted, the positions defended, the radio stations called, the internet political apologetics, the campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina? No! Not for one minute! These have been some of the most wonderful times of my life. Why? Because I was being obedient to God. God doesn’t call us to succeed, He calls us to obey. I was doing what I could. The results were up to God. And Garth Brooks was right, some of God’s greatest gifts are “unanswered” prayers. If God doesn’t want Mike Huckabee to run for President in 2012 then God has something better, more appropriate for Mike and for our country. I cannot conceive of another candidate who would be a better fit or who would ever gain the degree of support that I gave Mike, but its not about candidates- though I’m sure I'll find someone to support for POTUS. Its not about winning. Its about obeying and trusting that if God says “No” or "Not now", I can trust Him for whatever he will bring.
Mike Huckabee is not God. Anyone that we lift up to that position can never wear the mantle and will always dissapoint us. But Mike Huckabee is a Godly man. He is a man who I am proud to have supported and who I still hope will be our country’s leader. But whatever Mike Huckabee does, I know this for sure, my God the Lord Jesus Christ, will never leave me or forsake me. He has plans for a future and a hope and not to harm us. He has loved me enough to answer my prayer that Mike be our next president with either a “no” or a “not yet”. And that’s OK with me because while I love Mike Huckabee, it is Jesus Christ who is the keeper and the healer of my heart. God could yet direct that Mike run in 2012 or 2016 or 2020 or never but I trust the Lord for His good will. Whatever He directs is better than anything I could have hoped or even prayed for. Indeed one of God's greatest gifts is "unanswered prayer". Mike Huckabee20?? …. Jesus Christ ..Forever!

Taking the Ball to the Mitt

2011-05-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

I am a Mike Huckabee advocate. Starting with his consistent stand for the unborn and the sanctity of human life to his biblical world view, I support Gov. Huckabee and use this blog to promote his candidacy. Generally I speak of his qualities rather than the drawbacks of others but today, I find myself very much identifying with Mitt Romney.
When I was in high school I still had dreams of being a major league baseball player. I joined every team I could and played almost non-stop but there came a point when I realized I wasn’t major league material. It came at the hands of an all-state quality pitcher named Greg Archer. Coming up through little league and senior league etc. I had seen curve balls and experienced fast balls. I could hit a fast ball and generally could time my swing for the hook. But Greg Archer knew how to throw the curve ball as fast as the curve and make it look like he was throwing the same pitch. I’ll never forget the game I realized I wasn’t going to make it to the big time.
As I stood in the batter’s box, Archer launched a pitch that looked like it was a 90 mile an hour bullet heading straight for me. I bailed to the left as the pitch curved over home plate. Strike One! Undaunted, I got back in the box and purposed not to let that happen again. But once again the ball was headed right toward me and I valued my body so I bailed to the left. You guessed it, the pitch curved right over the plate, “Strike two” called the umpire. This was not going to happen again, as the third pitch came in heading straight toward me I said with all the courage I could muster “I’m not moving, I’m hanging in there, it doesn’t matter what it looks
like , I’m not moving!” And so it was . I didn’t move and the fast ball banged against my elbow forcing me out of the game and introducing me to a lot of pain and a bag of ice. It was clear. Unless I learned how to respond to the different pitches my major league dreams would have to end.
Which brings me to Governor Romney. Gov. Romney has been bailing on issues for years. On abortion he said in 2002 that he would “preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose”. He claimed to be more pro-choice than Ted Kennedy. Then when running for the GOP Presidential nomination in 2008 he said he was an abortion opponent. The list goes on from there and includes such issues as gay rights, gun control, campaign finance control and immigration. Each time Romney would change his position to accommodate the new political landscape in which he found himself. For all of this he widely received the reputation as a “Flip-Flopper”. He knows the perception but he still wanted to make it to the big time so yesterday he took his stand. Widely acknowledged as the precursor to ObamaCare, his Massachusetts healthcare dubbed “RomneyCare” is one of his biggest obstacles to getting the 2012 GOP nomination. He could have said “I tried it. It didn’t work. I see that forcing people to buy insurance from the government is wrong. $50 co-pays for abortion are wrong. I’ve learned my lesson and I now oppose Obamacare”. But he didn’t do that. He didn’t want to bail out one more time and have everyone call him the flip-flopper again. Instead he hung in there talked about how proud he was of his achievement and he’s taking the fastball right on his elbow. This was the time to acknowledge a mistake and adjust. Instead he did not apologize but presented the argument that the plan was good for Massachusetts but shouldn’t be forced on the country. How is the philosophy of an individual mandate different in Massachusetts from anywhere else in the country? Why is a $50 abortion OK in Massachusetts but not acceptable for the whole country? The explanation does not satisfy. The pitch came right at him. Romney hung in there. And now he will be out of the game. His dreams of making it to the big time will have to be replaced.
Today I am not a major league player but I enjoy watching the professionals play. I am a very happy person and know that God has blessed me far beyond my teenage dreams. Mitt Romney will land on his feet and hopefully he’ll enjoy rooting for the real professional soon to be in the race, Mike Huckabee.

No Haley to the Chief- That'll Be Huckabee's Song

2011-04-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Haley Barbour made a principled decision today not to run for President. He said that "A candidate for President today is embracing a ten-year commitment to an all-consuming effort, to the virtual exclusion of all else. His or her supporters deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate," he added. "I cannot offer that with certainty , and total certainty is required."
Gov Barbour could have made a run or it in his home state of Mississipi. Without him in the race, it is just one more positive step for the soon-to-be Huckabee campaign. Without Barbour on the ballot, Mississipi should easily complete the solid south for Huckabee.
If Gov. Barbour would now throw his support to Gov. Huckabee, that would be another great step as he is well known for his fund-raising prowess. Pairing that ability with Huckabee's personality and positions and you have a very strong force indeed.
I hope many of his supporters will join in the grass roots movement to see Mike Huckabee elected. I hope Gov. Barbour will support another principled candidate in Mike Huckabee... oh and if he wants to bring his rolodex, that would be fine too! :)

Huckabee Not at Pundit's Beck and Call

2011-04-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Ah Glenn Beck... Sometimes he sounds so right on but then there are those other times... The conspiratorial mindset is helpful to make a story interesting, to keep it exciting, to make our red meat lusts fire up and yes it sends the ratings through the roof but its not the kind of thinking we should rely on for accuracy or fairness. And it certainly isn't the way one should think if one wishes to govern. When Beck took his shots this week against Huckabee as being a "progressive", something Beck equates with cancer and Adolph Hitler, it was really no surprise.
Beck has long had it in for Huckabee. In a January 3 You Tube video in which Beck laments Huckabee's Iowa success he says "Huckabee portrays hinself as an angel and then does the devil's work" He goes on to call Huckabee "Evil".
Its hard to know why Beck seems to hate the most attractive GOP candidate for 2012 but it doesn't really matter. Beck's vandetta says much more about Beck than it does about Governor Huckabee. As we look forward to a 2012 election process it is important that we look at the kind of approach each candidate has to issues in terms of philosophy, demeanor and courage and Gov. Huckabee's approach to this latest Beck attack tells us much about how he would handle the Presidency.
First, in terms of philosophy clearly Huckabee is a conservative. He is pro-life, pro-small government,and on and on down the list. He holds these positions consistently and strongly. Because he doesn't hold these positions with a hateful spirit some have questioned his strength. Make no mistake it is the grandstanders and the phoney conservatives who have to shout their positions with hatred. Think of it this way : Who is the better parent- the one who only yells and screams and belittles or the one who confidently and with assurance leads his family? Mike Huckabee is a leader in the mold of the latter rather than the former. Glenn Beck would prefer to call names and undercut.
Second , in terms of demeanor, I think Gov. Huckabee should be applauded for being a consistent conservative not a knee-jerk conservative. He actually takes the time to examine each issue rather than give an automatic push back. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Huckabee’s point here (Beck's recent charge was made because Huckabee supports in principle Michele Obama's fight against obesity), one should see that he is a thoughtful leader- not just a political opportunist. He actually grasps the notion that our side is not always right and the other side is not always wrong. Certainly he has consistently been a strong advocate and leader against many, yes most, of the Obama policies but that doesn't mean because the President or his wife have an idea that it is automatically wrong. On his web site the Governor says "I’m no fan of her husband’s policies for sure, but I have appreciated her efforts that Beck misrepresented—either out of ignorance or out of a deliberate attempt to distort them to create yet another “boogey man” hiding in the closet that he and only he can see. The First Lady’s approach is about personal responsibility—not the government literally taking candy from a baby’s mouth. He seems to fancy himself a prophet of sorts for his linking so many people and events together to describe a massive global conspiracy for pretty much everything. Sadly, he seems equally inept at recognizing the obvious fact that children are increasingly obese and that we now see clinical evidence of diseases in children that as recent as 20 years ago were found only in adults, such as Type 2 diabetes. The costs to our nation are staggering in increased health care expenses, but it even effects national security with now 75% of young men between the ages of 17 and 24 are unfit for military service primarily due to obesity!" Certainly these are some strong arguments and I believe the Governor should be applauded for his thoughtfulness. I want a President who doesn't just know how to react. I want one who can wisely respond.
Thirdly, I think this dust up shows that Governor Huckabee is a leader with courage and who will speak out regardless of political consequences. Beck is certainly popular among many conservatives. Huckabee the politician would want to say nothing but pleasant things about a man who has so many supporters. But Huckabee the leader knows that the truth matters and he steps up and calls out Beck as he has at mikehuckabee.com. Ironically, Beck accuses the Governor of being a weak "go along to get along" kind of a guy. Huckabee's response to Beck shows he is not weak but courageous. He knows that there is a time to negotiate and "get along" but there are times when you say this is the time not to appease but to stand your ground. If I were Mahmoud Ahmadinejad I wouldn't want Mike Huckabee to be President.
Glenn Beck will be gone soon from Fox. I hope Mike Huckabee will be as well- but not for the same reasons. I believe that while Mike Huckabee has served his country well though his informative and inspirational and highly rated television show, he is of far more value as the President of the United States. The times we face are frought with unparalleled urgency from a tetering economy to world wide Islamic extremism to the very perception of who we are as a country- a nation built on Judeo-Christian principles or the next European socialist state. We need the right leader to take up that cause, not a Beck-like bomb thower but a strong principled conservative who courageously takes on the issues, I believe that leader should be Mike Huckabee.

Just In! Exclusive Video of Recent Government Shutdown Debate !

2011-04-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

I'm happy we have a candidate in Mike Huckabee with governing experience who knows how to get a job done and not simply grand stand. I look forward to his wisdom in governing our great country.

Trapped in an Elevator with Mike Huckabee

2011-03-29T10:18:00.001-07:00

Elevators are those kind of tools that we expect to work every time we get on them. We expect them to take us from the bottom floor to our desired location only interrupted by the occasional stop on an intermediate floor. But then there are times when that which is normally commonplace ceases to be predictable. The elevator stops between floors and will not move and you and all those on board will have to deal with the uncertainty of how and when you will get to your destination. This was my experience on February 6 shared by my wife,brother-in-law,an Hasidic Israeli couple,two other friends, and Mike and Janet Huckabee.
The event capped a day that had already been one of the longest and most memorable of our lives. It started when we got up at 2:00 am to see the live broadcast of Huckabee from the hotel lobby of The Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Tiberias, Israel. Because of the developing story in Cairo of the toppling of the Mubarak government, Gov. Huckabee produced his weekly show live from the hotel. He told us he was going to produce the show live and said it was fine if we wanted to come watch the production although he said,smiling, "I don't know why anyone would want to get up that early but- I have to". Of course it was worth the lack of sleep to see the live production as it was aired from 3-4 a.m. Israeli time (8:00 pm eastern back home). It was amazing to witness the Governor interview experts from around the globe live and give a riveting overview and perspective of the events happening not far from our Israeli location. We went back to bed for a brief 2 or 3 hours until it was time to take a boat out on the Sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day and we lashed two boats together in the midst of the Sea that Jesus had once walked on and we sang and danced and enjoyed the moment of one of history's greatest sights. Gov. Huckabee gave an inspirational message about Peter, who the Bible records had come to join Jesus on the water but who began to sink when he thought he couldn't do it. Only when Peter looked to Jesus was he able to continue and to do the impossible.
The day continued with a trip to Capernaum and then the Mt. of Beatitudes and on to a baptismal site on the Jordan River but if I continue with those details I'll never get back to the elevator so let me just say: they were sites which inspired and will be forever etched in my mind. The Governor's insights were dynamic and challenging.
We returned to the hotel for dinner followed by an amazing presentation by historian David Barton of Wallbuilders. The evening was yet young and so the musicians from our group got together for a great jam session featuring a world class violinist (who seemed to enjoy Sweet Home Alabama as much as a Sonata in B flat minor), a rocking drummer, a 20 year old phenom on guitar and a couple of worship leaders from the group. It was simply a time of celebration which began with country music and ended in joyful praise.
One would think that was enough excitement for one day as we laughed and hummed our way back to our rooms. But the elevator would provide the final excitement for the day. The elevators in the Leonardo Plaza are fairly small and can accommodate five people comfortably. But it was only a short trip up to our rooms (or so we thought) so the nine of us squeezed on board. The elevator doors dutifully closed and the elevator proceeded just a few inches and stopped. Janet Huckabee was near the control panel and pushed the buttons and alarm bells to notify the hotel that we were stuck. Did they hear us? Would they be able to release us? This day had started at 2:00 a.m and now the question was when would it end?
It was only about 5 minutes or so until the Hotel security arrived and pryed the doors open and we were freed. Though claustrophobic, it was a fitting exclamation to an exhilarating day. If you are going to get stuck in an elevator it might as well be with someone who might be the next President and First Lady of the United States.
There really was no need to panic in the situation. We knew it would only be a matter of time and we would be freed and able to go to our rooms on the upper floors. That reminds me of the current hand wringing and speculation concerning Mike Huckabee's run for the Presidency in 2012. Some pontificate that he is not running because he has not declared yet. For his opponents that would be called "wishful thinking". For journalists, that would be trying to produce a story. But the truth is this: Right now the Governor has a nation wide audience every Saturday and Sunday night on the highest rated weekend cable news show in the nation. He airs on over 600
stations three times daily on ABC radio. All that ends when he declares for President. At that point he will have to pay to get that message out and pay dearly. Sounds to me like he is being financially prudent. Wouldn't that be great to have a financially prudent President? We haven't had that for a while. For myself, I would like to see the Governor jump in now so that I could support his candidacy immediately. I don't like the thought of him missing a single debate where he always shows his strength. But when you think about it, what he is doing makes sense.
To those who are wondering if he will ever officially enter the race,or are thinking "Will he be successful in winning the GOP nomination?" or "Will he defeat President Obama in 2012?" I can only tell you what happened in the elevator. The elevator had a momentary pause and then took Gov. Huckabee right to the top.

I think Baby Joseph Would Vote for Mike Huckabee

2011-03-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

A one year old baby boy known in the media as "Baby Joseph" lies in a hospital bed as the government controlled medical system, backed by a court order decides that it is time for a quick death for the infant. A tracheotomy, a surgical procedure that would provide a safe and secure way to use a mechanical ventilator was declined by the Canadian medical system. The doctor said the breathing tube should be removed and little Joseph Maraachli should be allowed to die.
The parents , Moe and Sana Maraachli, obviously wanted to do anything they could to save the little boy. Can you blame them for resisting the Canadian court order which said to remove the child's breathing tube without a replacement and issue a do-not-resusitate mandate ?
Then enter the good news. A number of US and Canadian Pro life groups heard of the tragedy and went to bat for little Joseph. Washington based "Faith and Action" sent a representative, Rev. Pat Mahoney, who prayed with the family and coordinated the work of many organizations. Father Frank Pavone flew to negotiate for the release of the child to come to a US hospital for a second opinion and care. A hospital was located in Missouri and Priests for Life paid for the air ambulance to transport Joseph and his family. According to "Faith and Action" "US doctors now suspect that Joseph was misdiagnosed and may not be as sick as Canadian officials deemed him to be". As Fr. Pavone said he "needs to be in a hospital that cherishes life over the bottom line."
The case of baby Joseph illustrates a number of issues. First it shows that life has been devalued in the medical world and society in general. Secondly, it shows us what happens when the government runs health care and of necessity must approve some procedures and deny others as their budgets are finite. Thirdly, it shows us that if those who believe in the worth and value of every life will unite, amazing, life-saving things can happen.
Government taking over healthcare is not the solution. Forcing all people into a system which cannot cope with individual issues creates more problems then it solves- and at great expense in money and in the devaluation of the individual. The big government approach is doomed to failure.
To this point I'm sure many of my conservative friends would be in agreement. However I would also say that those who are fiscal conservatives only also miss the mark on such a case. If all we are concerned with is our bottom line and what the government shouldn't do then we miss the power and love that can change society one person at a time. A facebook friend, Corie Rafols Moore, has asked for prayer for a small child of her friends for whom surgery is being denied because "she's going to die anyway". ..and this is in America. Insurance companies can be equally heartless. Fiscal conservatism which teaches personal responsibility is so necessary but only when wed to social conservatism that says there are needs that should be met by a caring people. No, the government should not run the show a la Obamacare or Romneycare but the government as a last resort can be a safety net for kids who have no other option as in Gov. Huckabee's ArkKids program which he instituted while Governor. Gov. Huckabee has said repeatedly that the government is not the first option. He believes that personal resonsibility is the first source of help. As a society it seems we have strayed in a 360 degree direction from (Democratic )president John F Kennedy when he said "ask not what your country can do for you..." Today we ask at every juncture. Help begins with all of us taking responsibility. Secondly Gov. Huckabee points out that churches and other non-governmental agencies should be encouraged to reach out to those who are truly needy. In a recent phone interview the Governor pointed out that if Christian churches would reach out with all the help in their power the needs would be dramatically lessened. After all other avenues have been exhausted the care of the American people through their government can be expressed. Thats a far cry from the government intruding on all of our care.
I first became attracted to the candidacy of Mike Huckabee in 2007 when I saw that he was the most articulate spokesman out there for the sanctity of Human life. My support was cemented when I saw that his Christian worldview made him in line with a whole plethera of beliefs that I espouse. And the support was made still stronger when I found our aggreement on fiscal issues such as the need to totally revamp a chaotic tax system to foreign policy issues such as the need to support wholeheartedly the nation of Israel. But the key to me has always been his status as the proponent of valuing every life from conception to natural death. Its not just about abortion. Its about saying that yes, that baby in the womb is valuable. And yes, the small child without a family is valuable, yes the student in the schoolroom is valuable, yes, the soldier in battle is valuable and we will not leave him behind, yes, the elderly are precious in the eyes of their creator as well. This passion does not mean that the government runs our lives from cradle to grave and thus provides the care we need. The government is utterly unable , unprepared, and untasked in the constitution for such a job. Only God is capable of dealing with the enormous needs of any of our lives. We need a leader who inspires us once again to ask not what your country can do for us - but rather to ask what we can do for ourselves, for others and for our country. There comes a time when the government is quite useful (National defense, roads etc. come to mind) but the government should not be our Savior. God provided that in the person of His Son. When put in its proper, subserviant role, the government if led by the right person can echo and support that caring view that I think still is there somewhere deep in the heart of the American people. I believe Mike Huckabee is that leader.

Happy Birthday Chuck Norris!

2011-03-10T15:51:00.001-08:00

In honor of Chuck Norris' birthday I thought I would share the Top 10 reasons why Mike Huckabee should run for President in 2012 ...and Chuck Norris should join him on the campaign trail..
10. We haven't seen a Chuck and Huck commercial in a while

9. 2012 is Mike 's year. 2012 is Chuck Norris's IQ
8. If Mike starts to put his foot in his mouth, Chuck will put his foot there first.
7. When reporters write misleading headlines, they will face Chuck Norris' headbuts
6. Mike Huckabee wants to secure the border. Chuck Norris will build a fence in 20 days (or at least a whole lot faster than the current administration!)
5. Mike Huckabee is leading in all the polls
and Chuck Norris hasn't even voted yet!
4. Mike Huckabee is ahead of Barack Obama in a number of head to head matchups.. Chuck Norris has never lost a head to head matchup!
3. Mike Huckabee's philosophy of governing "A Simple Government" is a best seller..Chuck Norris read the book in 20.12 minutes...frontwards and backwards...in 26 languages
2. Mike Huckabee left Arkansas $800,000,000 in the black
Chuck Norris has defeated 800,000,000 black belts
1. Chuck Norris says it should be so... Enough said!
Happy Birthday Chuck!

Motive for a Hardball Hit at Huckabee

2011-03-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know how I did it but I watched an episode of Chris Matthew's Hardball last night. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt on his "thrill up my leg" comment in '08 about his view of President Obama. I thought he couldn't really be that blatantly biased could he? Biased -yes, but come on, a "thrill up my leg". Perhaps it was just a moment of hyperbole. Then I watched the show last night. His comment on President Obama: "This guy has never done anything wrong!" My oh my I admire and respect Gov. Huckabee and think he should be our next President but I will never say that. And Gov. Huckabee wouldn't want it to be said.
But it brought me to thinking concerning what all this bru-ha-ha about Mike's misspoken Kenyan reference is really about. As I expressed in my last blog, Gov. Huckabee was not lying, pandering,or trying to be a birther by the reference- otherwise he would not have immediately apologized for the error. The key issue I pointed out is he had no motive to make the comment. Obviously the Birthers won't think Huckabee is making their case about the birth certificate- they've heard his public position and have only to read the first paragraph , page 1 of "A Simple Government" to learn this. In fact, it would hurt him with this constituency when he points out that was not his intent. Clearly he had nothing to gain and only could lose as we know the press and opposition love to step on every politician's misstep.
That being said, the volume and hate filled responses from the left to the miscue speak volumes about motive. Why so upset? Why the outrage? Why the failure to see it any other way than that it is a diabolical plot to win the extreme right wing fringe? The answer is as clear as just about every poll that has come out in the last two or three weeks. Mike Huckabee is the GOP frontrunner and the left wing wants to bring him down at all costs.
Now I know the GOP elites keep regurgitating the mantra that Mitt Romney is the frontrunner- but that runs quite contrary to the facts. Last week Gallop reported that Huckabee topped their poll. This week the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll (I guess Matthews read it for its NBC title) said that Huckabee was first nationally. Also this week The Winthrop University poll said that Huckabee was miles ahead in the south. Just today the PPP poll showed that Huckabee does the best against Obama compared to any other GOP candidate in Wisconsin. Average it all together as the Real Clear Politics poll of polls does and you find Huckabee in first place with
20%, Romney second with 18.9, Palin third at 15.7 and Gingrich in fourth at 10.1.
Yes the left-slanted news has all the reason in the world to attack Huckabee- they want to take down the frontrunner. Other candidates seem content to hide and let others take the heat. Mike Huckabee continues to present himself and his ideas to the public and endure the attacks. Yes he'll make a mistake here and there as will anyone- but listen to the message that he is bringing: There is worth and value to each individual life, government should be smaller and simpler, we have a precious country that should be appreciated , loved , and supported...and dare I say what our pledge proclaims "we are one nation under God". No Mike Huckabee can make a mistake but the biggest mistake our country could make is to not elect him as our next President. The guy that is really willing to play "hardball" is Mike Huckabee.

Ken-ya Give Mike Huckabee a Break?

2011-03-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

Really and truly I would much rather be writing an advocacy blog report for Mike Huckabee. I would rather be talking about his many talents, his abundant accomplishments in over 13 years of state governance, his hopeful and inspiring vision for the path of our country, his articulate and inspirational style,or his much-needed common sense approach to governance as laid out in his new book "A Simple Government". Clearly I would find much more joy in telling you why I believe he is by far the best person on the planet to be President of the United States. I would love to be pointing out that today he led all prospective candidates throughout the south by a whopping 9% in a crowded field (which he did) or that he tops all comers in the most recent national Gallup poll (which he does). But I instead feel compelled today to write as an apologist in the light of the "Obama/Kenya" flap.
In a radio interview on Monday, one of dozens of interviews the Governor gave, he made reference to President Obama's upbringing in Kenya. Despite all context to the contrary, the left-loyal NY Times in an article by Michael Shear comes up with the headline "Huckabee Questions Obama Birth Certificate". Others claimed he was trying to curry support of the "Birther" movement. Others say he is catering to the worst of racism. Others say he's just plain stupid and ignorant while many of the left wing press condemn him as a liar. Huckabee has clearly stated that this was a misspoken comment-and he is simply not a birther. Here's the quote from the governor's website: "As I stated in my new book "A Simple Government" and in numerous interviews with dozens of reporters- I don't believe there is an issue with Barack Obama's birth certificate. However, I do believe there are serious issues with the President's policies, and I have been openly opposed to the President's world view."
Now the left wants to say that Huckabee intentionally made the Kenyan reference because he wanted to curry favor with the birther movement. That is simply a ludicrous assumption. Obviously birthers know where Huckabee stands- you can go to page one of his book and to any number of his public interviews and he is clear, that's not his axe to grind- there are substantive policy issues which demand and merit his and our time and attention as we seek to find a new president. So what would he gain by the miss-speak. As far as the birther's are concerned, it would only underscore that he does not go that route- See the last paragraph of his response where he notes that if Obama was not born in the US than Hillary Clinton's operatives surely would have discovered this and ended his successful campaign against her. No, there would be no benefit to the Governor to make the Kenyan insertion as far as the Birthers were concerned.
So lets start there- there is no motive for a "lie". Further, it has became my privilege to get to know this man. No, I'm not his best bud but since 2007 I have been closely monitoring his speeches , books, and media appearances. I have met and spoken with him on repeated occasions and recently spent 9 days watching him up close and personal on a trip to Israel. The man is a gentleman, a sincere Christian, a leader, and a truth teller. There was no motive for him to lie and to do so would not be consistent with the character of the man I have come to know.
So how did the Kenyan reference come out? What would make sense? The simple answer is that when saying Kenya, he meant "Indonesia" which of course is where President Obama spent four years of his youth. However the critics are quick to counter that the swapping of the words "Kenya" and "Indonesia" don't make the story make sense since there is a reference to the Mau Mau rebellion, and Obama's father and grandfather- which of course are Kenyan not Indonesian in nature. Again there is no motive for Huckabee to convolute the story, so why would these inconsistencies be there? I believe the answer is found in the bigger picture of what the Governor was trying to say: His point was this: the American people do not like the policies of this President- whether we are talking about the exploding debt, the Healthcare debacle , or his whimpish foreign policy model. There are reasons why President Obama looks at the world differently than many Americans. Those reasons include many things from his upbringing which included being registered in school as a Muslim in Indonesia, to having a Kenyan as well as American heritage (his father though not involved in young Barack's life was from Kenya), to where he went to school, to the people he associated with in Chicago politics. If we are to understand where President Obama has taken us and where he would like to take us, his world view must be understood. When the reporter asked the question, I believe the Governor blended together parts of these pieces and they came out a bit jumbled. It was a mistake- one that he has apologized for. What it proves is Huckabee is human.
But why would it be Huckabee that made the mistake? I would assert that you'll find mistakes in all of humans the more we are exposed to one another. Other candidates do not make themselves available to the press except in controlled environments that make them look good. Gov. Huckabee is a real and honest individual who consistently makes himself available to anyone who would like to speak with him. Eventually there will be a gaffe. But as a leader, he's willing to take that risk in order to be accessible to the people. I would suggest that the very vulnerability that Gov. Huckabee exhibits is in fact another reason why he should be President. We want to know our leaders. We would like them to be competent, courageous,and coherent, - all of which Gov. Huckabee is, but we also want them to be authentic and real. They can make mistakes like we do, they are human, but they can take that humanity and inspire us to greatness. Gov. Huckabee does that as well.
At the end of the day we can focus on the "gotcha" questions and character assasinations ad nauseum but what really matters is that we look at the big picture of who should lead are country. Should it be someone with the world view of Barack Obama that leads us to European socialism or the world view of Mike Huckabee that leads us to believe in an America that was founded on great Judeo-Christian principles that have made our country great. America didn't become a great country by accident and focus on an accident should never take us from our goal to be a great country.

Will Mike Huckabee Lead "A Simple Government"?

2011-02-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Much may be written about Mike Huckabee's new book being released tomorrow "A Simple Goverment-Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion We Don't") but after hearing some of the Governor's comments on the book in a conference call yesterday, I would suggest that we work toward seeing a simple government not only on the book shelf but in our nation's capitol.
First,the question on the minds of many is will Mike run? Let me see, he is releasing a policy book about how he feels the government should be run. He's going on a book tour through Iowa and South Carolina, key early voting states in the primaries. He tells George Stephanopolis that its "not always smart to be the first guy out there" Does that imply a non-candidacy or a strategically timed candidacy? He further said clearly to Stephonopolis "I'm very seriously thinking of running". Those who would love to suck early support from the governor or those who might not want to run against him love to say he's not running. What do I think? Lets just say a brick of ice cream left out on the sidewalk in 80 degree heat has a greater chance of not running than does Huckabee.
Early in the book Huckabee makes the point that the family is the most important form of government. He makes the salient point that if we "Get (the) family right, and its strength will wind its way up to the greatest levels of global power" He further shows that the destruction of the family unit has led to much of the ills and expenses of society. He further makes the case that "any social conservative I know is a fiscal conservative". The connection is important. If we strengthen the family, we strengthen the society and reduce the costs of financial burden on the society.
In our telephone call he gave the example of his church in Arkansas giving out back packs full of food to help those in need. He held this up as an example of how this need should be met. The love of Christ should be expressed by churches and people of faith. This underscores the philosophy that the government should not be looked at as our ultimate savior and puts the responsibility where it belongs. Gov. Huckabee understands that important dual-edged focus that we need to care for those in need but not think that the government is there to meet our every need.
One of the best comments of the day was when he said that unless we get our fiscal house in order, the government will need to be giving out a "Rosetta Course in Mandarin".
Odds and ends from our phone call:
His favorite Supreme Court Justice: Scalia because he is convinced of his brillance and strict constructionist view. "He calls it as he sees it" Huckabee added...
He stressed the importance of getting involved in politics at this juncture in history because of the extraordinary amounts of money being spent and debt being piled up.
The Governor was asked how he would present a huge change item such as the Fair Tax , which would eliminate the IRS and all other national taxes. He replied that the strategy would be to work from the bottom up rather than craming it down the throat as Obama had done with Obamacare. "Take the message to the people and have them put pressure on legislators" he urged.
He was unafraid to look at issues such as Social Security where the book suggests some creative solutions to "personalize social security".
One had to be impressed in the phone interview by his ready answers and substantive, thoughtful answers. The governor is famous for his one liners and humor- which is one of the things many of us like about him, but the interview and the book show that he goes beyond a bumper sticker mentality to being an experienced and articulate proponent of the issues presented in "A Simple Government".
Obamacare was thousands of pages of gobelty-gook. The stimulus more of the same. The constituion of the United States takes up twenty pages. Its time we found that while the issues are complicated, we can find some simple principles concerning how the government should work. It seems that the Governor has captured those simple and powerful ideas in his book.
For this blogger's opinion, I stand with Governor Huckabee's recent statement about the sanctity of human life "For me this is an issue that-as I've said before- it transcends all of the political issues. I've often said I would rather lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life." Lets hope his principled stand will be rewarded with support and a victorious election.
Perhaps that is the most basic part of a simple government- we need to value everyone, black and white, rich and poor, born and unborn. We need to see the family encouraged and supported and affirmed as the basis of society. We need to return to the truth that God is our help, our refuge, and strength. The government can never do what the family was intended to do. Personal moral responsibility cannot be replaced by government's futile efforts. Government simply can not meet our every need- but it can be kept simple.
I hope many will read the book. I believe it contains the policy outlines that the next President of the United States will use as his platform. By the grace of God I look forward to inauguaration day in January of 2013 as the day when we inaugurate Michael Dale Huckabee and inaugurate a simple government.

Will Mike Huckabee Run?

2011-02-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

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.

Travelling with Mike Huckabee: An inspiration and an announcement?

2011-02-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

Today we visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. On our bus trip Mike Huckabee shared a story of one of the first times he visited the museum. He and Janet brought their two sons and then 11 year old daughter Sarah. He hesitated to bring Sarah, not knowing how she would handle such a graphic story but felt the experience would be valuable. Young Sarah viewed the stories of those who had gone through unspeakable horrors and even death. She viewed children younger than herself who had been mercilessly killed. As the day drew on she became more and more silent as she looked at each display. Governor Huckabee wondered what she was thinking. At the end of the experience, visitors are requested to sign a book with their name and response. Sarah penned her name and then wrote these simple words “Why didn’t anybody do anything!” Mike recalled that he will never forget those words. They have been a motivation to him ever since as well as to Sarah herself. Mike gladly added that he has never had to doubt Sarah’s willingness to be involved since that day.
There is much we can apply that inspiration to today. First as an individual I want to be one who shares the love of God, I want to be one who stands for the specialness of all human life, and one who helped and aided those who did the same. This is why I support Mike Huckabee and encourage him to run for President. I believe his worldview is informed by the love of God and he will stand for the specialness of all human life.

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When you are around Mike Huckabee you never know what’s going to happen next. Tonight after dinner here in Israel, Mike got out his cell phone and called George Beverly Shea on “Bev’s” 102nd birthday! Then after a conversation that we could hear all of Mike’s side and some of Mr. Shea’s side, Mike asked the gathered 180 of us to sing “Happy Birthday”. Most famous for singing with nearly every Billy Graham crusade, Bev Shea still sings today! He seemed genuinely touched by Gov. Huckabee’s gesture and our raised birthday chorus from Jerusalem! Pretty cool stuff to sing to this giant of the Christian faith on his 102nd birthday!
But here’s the little extra I got from the conversation. Remember I could only hear Mike’s side of the conversation clearly:
Mike: You’ve been an inspiration to me and to many of us. Happy 102nd birthday!
Mr. Shea: (couldn’t quite hear but it sounded like: “You know I’m going to vote for you next time”)
Mike: Well that’s great then you’ll have to be celebrating your 103rd birthday.
Hmm… does that constitute an official announcement?

West Bank Endorsement for Huckabee

2011-02-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

Awesome first day in Isreal but I thought the following was good to share on my political blog. Danny Danon of the Yesha Council, the Israeli ruling authority for the West Bank, gave his support for Gov. Huckabeee for President and says he speaks not only for Judea and Samaria but also for the Israeli people. He says "It would make us very happy if Governor Huckabee was in the oval office. Danny we agreee, we agree. (I tried to add a You Tube video of the announcement, came close but my technical skills -or lack therof failed me. I may be able to add that clip to a future blog.
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My Friend Joe- Mike Huckabee-and Simple Things

2011-01-30T19:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes amidst the enormity of what goes on in our world- the Egypt crisis being just the latest of attention grabbers it is the small simple things in life that teach the clearest lessons.
Today I depart to Israel to join Mike Huckabee and other travelers for what I am sure will be a great experience. In this world I can't imagine a whole lot of things greater than to walk where Jesus walked. But as we wait I am reflecting on a simple act of kindness that tells a lot about what I think is truly important.
On Saturday I had the privlege of being in the Huckabee audience and as usual was amazed and inspired by the message that Gov. Huckabee conveys and the articulate manner he conveys it. But what I noticed this time was not the policy knowlege that the Governor dispayed- though he did display that, was not the common sense wisdom that he applied to the Egyptian situation- though he did that, but rather what I noticed most was in an encounter between my friend Joe and Mike Huckabee.
First I have to tell you a little about my friend Joe. Joe is one of the kindest most caring people I know. Each Sunday he drives to the nearby nursing home and picks up Tom. Tom is an older man struggling with age and disease with seemingly no one else in the world to care for him. Joe picks up Tom and helps him in the car then gets his wheelchair and places it in the trunk and takes him off to SonRise Community Church where Tom is further loved by a community of believers. Then Joe helps him when he needs to go the bathroom and then loads him and his wheelchair up and returns to the nursing home. He does this every week without fail for several years now. No hoopla no pomp just a simple man showing simple love inspired by His God.
Joe was one of several friends who accompanied us to the Huckabee Show. In true Joe form, Joe had made a small present for Governor Huckabee. It was a small bottle of multicolored seaglass that he had gathered from many walks along the Jersey Shore. It was beautiful but small and simple. Unassuming and to the aesthetic point- just like Joe. We met Janet Huckabee outside the studio and she said would see the the Governor got the gift. Seemingly that was the end of the story. It was a nice gift perhaps occaisioning a smile on the Governor's face. But after the show taping was over several of us were out on the street when Janet Huckabee came out of the studio and called to Joe to come in and meet the Governor as Mike wanted to thank Joe himself, in person for the gift. Joe was happy to oblige and I was happy to see the joy in Joe as my wife took his picture.
Theres an old expression "what goes around comes around". Often we use that expression to refer to bad things. It also works with the good and simple things we do. Gov. Huckabee is a world famous person. He ran for President and is leading in more polls for the GOP nod than any other candidate as we look toward 2012. He has a wildly successful career as an author and News host. He has lots of famous friends. Chuck Norris comes to mind. Nuff said. But Mike and Janet chose to care about an unknown simple Joe and extend a personal thanks. They had to go out of their way. They could have just smiled and gone on with their busy life. There was no fanfare. No press were present. Joe wasn't a potential big financial supporter. It was a simple act of respect and human kindness. I am very happy for Joe to be on the receiving act of this simple act of this caring. He more than deserves the enjoyment that brought him
I also thought the experience spoke volumes of who Mike Huckabee is. He's is a man of the people. He truly does care about individuals. He has not let his fame go to his head but rather sincerely cares for others. I grow weary of politicians who smile for the camera and then keep their distance from the common people. Its not attractive to me to think of a potential candidate and President as someone who is protected and kept aloof by his own money or fame or position. If someone is to ultimately lead us as President, he should be one who cares about people- all the people and can convey that. Mike Huckabee is such a man and it will be a great day for our country if we elect the sincere man from Hope as our next President.

Going to Israel With Mike Huckabee!

2011-01-28T20:47:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning we will leave for New York City to be part of the Huckabee televison show studio audience. Then Monday we fly to Israel to share the Holy Land with Mike and Janet Huckabee. Obviously I can't wait!
Israel is so key to all that is going on in the world both prophetically and geo-politically. Gov. Huckabee understands this and has a strong bond with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He'll meet with him on Monday and I hope we will get to meet him on Tuesday. With the violence in Cairo that is going on as we speak, I am again reminded of the precarious nature of Israel's existence. If the Mubarek administration falls it will most likely be the ascendance of a more Jihadist minded anti-Israel govt that will eventaully take its place. Once again it will be underlined that it is Israel surrounded by those who hate her in the Middle East. But this is nothing new for the Israelis. Only God's protection could have preserved this nation and brought it back to existance. Clearly the Lord has used the United States to aid her and this calling we must continue to answer.
The Obama administration has not been Israel's friend to the same degree that previous President's have directed our nation. We need to reverse this course and once again show our strong allegiance to our ally in the Middle East. The violence in Cairo should remind us of the unique nature of the Israeli nation and our need to defend her.
I do not at this time know the availability of time or internet to blog while I am in Israel but will try to do so at some point. In the meantime, please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and consider the urgent need to have a President who will guide our country towards full support for this special land.

What Mike Huckabee gets and President Obama Does Not

2011-01-25T17:37:00.001-08:00

I sure agree with one sentence in President Obama's State of the Union address given tonight: "Each of us should have the opportunity to shape our own destiny". Couldn't agree more Mr. President but I know in your thinking and actions you are forgetting about millions of people in this country: the unborn child. Your policies and rhetoric in defense of what is wrongly called "choice" ignores the right of those children to have an opportunity to shape their own destiny.
Yesterday I attended the March for Life in Washington DC. Literally hundreds of thousands of people from all around the country came with a passion to defend these children. Such an outpouring of American desire should effect our elected leader but I fear it does not. At that event congressman and senator after congressman and senator spoke out in defense of the unborn. It seems many members of congress are starting to get it. But if our country is to stop its dehumanizing of the unborn and give the opportunity for our most defensiveless members to shape their own destiny we need a new President who appreciates that need.
I believe Mike Huckabee is the man to do that job. Gov. Huckabee got into politics largely for this reason. He had a calling to protect the unborn. Wisely he further clarifies that as Americans, we should value each life from conception to natural death.
Who says that each life is important and valued and loved? God says that. He showed it by giving His Son for us.
A country that values all its members is a country that will pull together and succeed. Mike Huckabee gets this-President Obama does not.

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Reason One Why I Support Mike Huckabee

2011-01-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

I have many reasons for supporting Mike Huckabee for President as you'll see if you take a look at my numerous blogs to that end on this blog. But central to all of it is the issue in this first video. The video is deeply disturbing but I hope motivating for us to pray and act to do something about the war it tells us about:

One thing I can do is support the most unashamed and articulate proponent for the Sanctity of Life in the political field, Mike Huckabee. See his stance and be moved.

Zig Ziglar on Mike Huckabee

2011-01-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

Christian motivational speaker Zig Ziglar on why he supports Mike Huckabee (presumably filmed during 2008 run for presidency.

Martin Luther King and Mike Huckabee: Two dreams become one

2011-01-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King's words "I have a dream"... have been an inspiration for many causes I would hold- not the least of which is having the dream that one day our country would turn from its allowance of abortion. I have a dream that our nation would once again stand for life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness for all people: born and unborn.
Some may wonder why I take the strong stand I do for Gov. Huckabee for a prospective presidential race. While there are many things I like about the Governor from his oratorical and debating skill to his ability to hold and champion conservative views without being mad at anybody about it, the core of my motivation is that he is the best spokeman I have heard for defending the rights of the unborn in the political arena. Informed by a biblical worldview, he is exactly the man for the job of President of the United States. I draw inspiration from his forthright defense of life from conception to natural death.
I will always remember Gov. Huckabee taking time out of his 2008 Presidential campaign to go the the Martin Luther King Memorail Service in Georgia. I discovered an intersection of his dreams and that of Dr. King.
I recently found the blog entry below. I'm sorry I haven't been able to source it but it gives an interesting intersection of the dreams of Martin Luther King and Mike Huckabee. I hope its author will not mind my sharing it. AS Gov. Huckabee stands for life it is because of teh intrinsic value of the human being. Whether you've been born yet or whatever your skin color, you are beautifully treasured by a loving God. To stand as one with the unborn is to stand as one with all of His beautiful creation. Here's the post:

Huckabee grew up at a time when the south was still deeply segregated. However, Huckabee was personally ashamed of the racist views and policies that were present at the time. As a young man, he was remembered by those who knew him as a kid who despised racist language and attitudes.

When he became the Pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church, he gave sermons chastising Christians for failing to speak out firmly against racism. As his ministry grew and his sermons were broadcast on the radio, a young black man who heard him on the air wanted to worship with the all-white congregation. Pastor Huckabee welcomed him to the church. However, some of the other ministry leaders were extremely upset by this and didn't even want the black parishioner to sit with them. Rev. Huckabee, who earned a nice salary, threatened to resign as Pastor unless the young man was accepted and greeted with love. Most of the congregation followed his lead and the church eventually became integrated.

A decade later, Huckabee became the Governor of Arkansas when Jim Guy Tucker resigned in 1996. The following year marked the forty year anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School and the new Governor was invited to speak along with President Clinton at a nationally televised commemoration ceremony. The Governor gave a speech that, according to Newsweek, moved many who were present to tears. Huckabee denounced the racist policies that tormented the Little Rock Nine and criticized the church organizations that not only refused to intervene but that added fuel to the fire of racism. He stated "... and today, we call upon every church, every pulpit, every synagogue, every mosque in every part of Arkansas and the rest of the world to say never, never, never, never again will we be silent when people's rights are at stake."

The Politics of Inclusion

Election night 1998 was not such a good night for the national Republican Party. The party maintained its total of 55 Senate seats but lost five House seats and lowered its count of Governorships by one in the wake of the Clinton/Lewinski scandal. But that evening was a very good one for Governor Huckabee, who won his first elected term with 60% of the popular vote. But it was the exit polls that revealed a more unexpected figure. Governor Huckabee became only the state's third elected Republican Governor since Reconstruction with the help of 48 percent of African American voters. He essentially split the black vote with his Democratic challenger.

To put this in context, that same night, all but two of the other Republican Gubernatorial candidates who won had received less than 20% of the African American vote. Six others got between 10% and 20% of the black vote and thirteen others got too little in the exit polls to measure (although some governed states with very few black residents). But what is especially interesting about Huckabee's numbers is the fact that he managed to do this in a southern state that was dominated by the Democratic Party and by the Clintons. Bill Clinton was the most popular political figure in the country among black voters at the time, was the incumbent President of the United States and supported Huckabee's opponent. The Governor not only won in spite of all this but managed to break the trend in which almost all black voters vote for the Democrat.

Huckabee left office in January of 2007 and later that month launched his long-shot and severely underfunded bid for the Presidency. He continued to win attention and praise throughout the year with his impressive performance in a long series of Presidential Debates. And then in September, PBS hosted a GOP Presidential Debate with a focus on Minority Issues, which was held at Morgan State University in Baltimore and moderated by a panel that included Tavis Smiley and Fox News' Juan Williams. Many Republicans shied away from the concept of spending the night answering questions from black voters - in fact, the top four leading candidates declined to participate (commentator Pat Buchanan stated "there is a risk going to this gathering here, and there's very little reward ... I can understand why they don't go down there and get asked about affirmative action"). But Huckabee, who seemingly could barely afford the plane ticket, participated eagerly and earned rave reviews. He first attempted to soothe the badly hurt feelings of rejection that many experienced as the result of being snubbed by the four leading candidates. He stated "frankly, I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for our party and I'm embarrassed for those who did not come, because there's long been a divide in this country, and it doesn't get better when we don't show up." He then voiced his knowledge of and concern for issues such as substance abuse and disparity in sentencing. And although he opposes Affirmative Action (which did not even come up as a topic), Huckabee earned rounds of applause from the audience for the way he carried himself. He even won praise from Dr. Cornel West, a well-known supporter of Barack Obama.

Give and it will be given unto you

Huckabee's willingness and eagerness to engage and interact with all voters has earned him the reciprocity of unprecedented public support from black voters for a Republican candidate over the past several decades.

Tavis Smiley was clearly impressed. After Governor Huckabee shocked the political world by winning the Iowa Caucuses, Tavis spoke at length about him on the radio, praising him for not being "afraid" to interact with blacks and to actively ask for our votes. Although clearly not a Republican, Smiley suggested that his listeners take a look at Mike Huckabee and pay attention to him. He suggested that Huck was the best Republican candidate in many years.

On the Martin Luther King holiday, Huckabee took some valuable time off the campaign trail to attend a tribute service for the slain leader. While John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani were campaigning heavily in advance of the Florida contest, Governor Huckabee put aside campaigning for half of the day so that he could attend the ceremony with former President Bill Clinton. But unlike Clinton, Huckabee did not speak but simply sat with members of the King Family. After leaving the service, Huckabee received the endorsements of three dozen African American clergy.

The day before Super Tuesday, a group of conservative blacks scheduled a press conference at the National Press Club to plead for Governor Huckabee to remain in the Presidential contest. Many in the group expressed a clear preference for the Presidency of Mike Huckabee over that of either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.

Three days after Huckabee announced the suspension of his Presidential bid, widely-respected former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts wrote an article titled "Missing Mike Huckabee already." He wrote in his column that "Mike Huckabee spoke to so many issues that I've been trying to get the GOP establishment to speak to as a black, a social conservative and an opportunity conservative."

Some blogger even started a site called "Hip Hop 4 Huckabee," apparently an effort to get young black voters to take a serious look at conservative Republican Huckabee. Also, at least a few of the former Governor's most loyal Internet supporters (Huck's Army), are conservatives who happen to be black - including myself. And because most black voters describe themselves as either conservative or moderate, the GOP has a tremendous potential to compete for a large number of non-liberal votes that go to the Democratic Party by default.

Comfortable in his own skin

It seems as if many politicians have developed their own special "techniques" for talking with black voters. A number of prominent Democratic politicians have seemed to try to channel some type of southern Baptist preacher persona when speaking to black audiences. It's a little strange to see people who rarely raise their voices above conversation level suddenly transform into fire-breathing revivalists when they come to converse with black voters.

A number of prominent Republicans have taken a very different approach. They haven't showed up at all. And sadly, there are some political leaders who think that they need to "talk black" when going to black communities (a recent example involved one candidate who wanted to talk about his "bling.").

Mike Huckabee has in my opinion the most impressive approach of all. He shows up. And then he speaks to black voters the same way he talks to everybody else.

Goodwill

When the news of the Reverend Wright sermons first broke the headlines, Huckabee earned the appreciation of Obama supporters by defending the Senator and suggesting that he shouldn't be held accountable for his Pastor's remarks. Many Obama supporters have expressed appreciation at Huckabee's refusal to pile on when the Democratic candidate was at his lowest point. In addition, Clinton supporters have seen the good nature of Huckabee as he defended her against pressure to withdraw from the contest. Huckabee has showed class in many ways throughout his campaign and has built up for himself a resovoir of goodwill among many voters. Many people disagree with his policies or statements. But many of these same people will acknowledge that he's far from a mean guy.

Mike Huckabee has made racial healing a theme not only of his campaign but of his life and career. And he didn't wait until it was time to ask for votes to behave that way.

Mike Huckabee on the Presiden'ts Tuscon speech

2011-01-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

Gov. Huckabee's response to the President's speech in Tuscon demonstrates his graciousness and the reasonable mindset that is needed in a President. Maybe in a couple of years or so Former President Obama can return the favor to newly installed President Huckabee at his first State of the Union address.

This is the text of Gov. Huckabee's response from his daily radio broadcast:

"First of all, congratulations to President Obama for what was easily the best speech of his presidency. He struck the exact proper tone in noting that while this does give us an opportunity to reflect upon the importance of being civil in our disagreements that it is wrong to assign blame for the personal violent actions of a mad man to other people's political speech.
Whether out of bias or a quest for controversy or maybe just out of habit some members of the chattering classes went chasing blindly after an angle that would stir the most heated responses and they lost sight of the real story and that is the worst possible failure for a journalist. Even now after the president spelled it out for them many are still making the same mistake and missing the point about the president's appearance at the memorial.

It is not about politics, whether it is going to raise his approval ratings or boost his reelection chances, and it certainly isn't about sleazy opportunists who leapt to blame a senseless tragedy on the political speech of whatever side they disagreed with. No, it was about 20 people in Tucson.... I can't believe that some people have to be continually reminded of this but some things really are bigger than politics and this is one of them. And all Americans should be grateful to our president for saying it beautifully."

Mike Huckabee's Response to the Arizona Massacre

2011-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Politico has an article saying in essense that Tim Pawlenty had the best reponse to the Arizona Massacre because he took a swipe at Palin. Mike Huckabee did what a president would do- Expressed his concern and encouraged others to seek solace. Here is the comment from his web site:

"I was shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Several other people have also been shot in this senseless act of violence. This is not the way America works – conduct like this is outrageous and has no place in this country. Please join Janet and me in praying for Congresswoman Gifford and all of the victims."

He neither used the event to take a swipe at others nor to appeal to a right wing base. I think that is the kind of conduct that is best and most presidential. Huckabee 2012!

Mike Huckabee the Fiscal Conservative.

2011-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

For those Conservatives who are inquiring as to whether Mike Huckabee is indeed a fiscal conservative, the following info should proove helpful.

The Facts About Mike Huckabee:

Setting the Record Straight About a Principled Conservative

Michael T. Griffith

2009

Second Edition

There has been a great deal of distortion and disinformation about Mike Huckabee’s record as governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007. It’s important that conservatives know the truth about Huckabee’s record, especially since he may run for president again in 2012. So let’s take a look at his record. As governor, he:

* Cut the state capital gains tax rate by 25%.
* Abolished capital gains taxes on home sales.
* Abolished the state marriage penalty tax.
* Pushed a $90 million tax cut package through the Arkansas legislature in 1997.

* From 1995 to 2005, cut taxes 90 times, returning nearly $400 million to taxpayers ($378 to be exact).
* Indexed income tax brackets to inflation, thus protecting taxpayers from being pushed into higher tax brackets by inflation.
* Doubled the child-care tax credit.
* Increased the tax deduction for single individuals to $2,000.
* Increased the tax deduction for married couples to $4,000.

* Proposed cutting the executive branch from 50 departments to 10.

* Banned illegal aliens from getting drivers licenses.

* Reduced state welfare enrollment by nearly half.

* Helped pass an unborn child amendment to the state constitution.
* Helped pass a traditional marriage amendment to the state constitution.
* Pushed through a property owners’ bill of rights that limited property tax hikes and protected homeowners from unfair tax assessments.
* Pushed through homeschooling-friendly legislation.
* Limited the increase in the overall rate of state spending to 4.9% (AFI)--not bad, considering that he was dealing with a Democratic legislature.
* Protected gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits.
* Removed restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders.
* Pushed through legislation that allowed the state to fire school boards and school superintendents in school districts that were chronically performing badly.
* When faced with a $227 million deficit for fiscal year 2002, refused to call for a tax increase and instead called for a massive cut in state spending.

Yes, Huckabee did raise taxes overall, but he raised them for valid reasons, i.e., to pay for badly needed improvements to state highways and the state park system, and to hire more teachers (the state's population increased substantially during his tenure). Yet, it should also be noted that as of 2005, Arkansas ranked 46th per capita in state and local taxes and 49th in property tax burden. In total tax burden (state, local, and federal), Arkansas ranked 32nd when Huckabee left office. In addition, during his last year in office alone, the state's economy grew by 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%. Michael Medved has observed the following about Huckabee's fiscal record:

Meanwhile, it’s also worth a few lines here to defend the Arkansan from the claim that he’s a secret “big government liberal” or, in the phrase of the Club for Growth, “Tax Hike Mike.”

According to figures from the non-partisan Tax Foundation (based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce), Huckabee’s term as governor (1996-2007) led to a modest increase in the overall State-Local tax burden for Arkansas: from 10.1% in the year he became governor to 11.1% the last year he served. In terms of overall tax burden (state-local-federal) Arkansas remained virtually unchanged--- from 30.3% (39th among the 50 states) to 30.5% (32nd place).

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, saw sharper increases in taxes during his single gubernatorial term (2003 to 2007) in Massachusetts. The state-local burden rose from 9.8% the year of his election to 10.5% his last year as governor. Meanwhile, the total tax burden went up from 31.2% to 33.9% -- vaulting Massachusetts from 9th place to 7th place in the nation.

These numbers don’t prove that Huckabee was a great governor, or that Romney was a poor governor: actually, both men count as exemplary public servants and authentic conservatives (and both of them have taken Grover Norquist’s “No New Taxes” Pledge—in contrast to their rivals Giuliani, Thompson and McCain, who have refused to do so). Both candidates deserve respect for doing a solid job in handling state legislatures with overwhelming Democratic majorities and scoring some notable achievements as governor (though both states flipped to Democratic control in 2006). ("What's Behind the Huckabee Surge?", http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/c6692253-551a-45e4-ba9f-37e740fe9411)

Political consultant and former White House advisor Dick Morris agrees that on balance Huckabee’s fiscal record is conservative:

As his political consultant in the early '90s and as one who has been following Arkansas politics for 30 years, let me clue you in: Mike Huckabee is a fiscal conservative.

A recent column by Bob Novak excoriated Huckabee for a "47 percent increase in state tax burden." But during Huckabee's years in office, total state tax burden — all 50 states combined — rose by twice as much: 98 percent, increasing from $743 billion in 1993 to $1.47 trillion in 2005.

In Arkansas, the income tax when he took office was 1 percent for the poorest taxpayers and 7 percent for the richest, exactly where it stood when he left the statehouse 11 years later. But, in the interim, he doubled the standard deduction and the child care credit, repealed capital gains taxes for home sales, lowered the capital gains rate, expanded the homestead exemption, and set up tax-free savings accounts for medical care and college tuition.

Most impressively, when he had to pass an income tax surcharge amid the drop in revenues after Sept. 11, 2001, he repealed it three years later when he didn't need it any longer.

He raised the sales tax one cent in 11 years and did that only after the courts ordered him to do so. (He also got voter approval for a one-eighth cent hike for parks and recreation.)

He wants to repeal the income tax, abolish the IRS, and institute a "fair tax" based on consumption, and he opposes any tax increase for Social Security. (http://www.newsmax.com/morris/conservative_huckabee/2007/11/28/52780.html)

Another way to answer the attack that Huckabee raised taxes overall is to say the following: Suppose there was a man that was called to be the president of a company. The company was $200 million in debt and his companies’ assets in equipment were one billion dollars less than his fifty other competitors. He decided to borrow $505.1 million to turn his company around. After ten years he was able to pay back $378 million on his investment loan. In addition, during the ten years he added one billion dollars in new equipment and improvements to his company. The most amazing accomplishment was that he left $844 million in cash in the operating account at the company. Now, would anyone say this man didn't do an outstanding job managing the company? Of course not. Well, this is essentially what Mike Huckabee did as governor of the state of Arkansas.

In addition, during the 2007-2008 Republican primary, Huckabee signed the Americans for Tax Reform's Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which states he will "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses . . . and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

Huckabee supports the Fair Tax plan, which would be a significant improvement over our current tax system and would provide a great boost to our economy:

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main

During the GOP primary, Huckabee also signed the very tough Numbers USA pledge to secure the border and to oppose granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. Numbers USA gives Huckabee very solid ratings overall on his positions on illegal immigration and border security:

http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/prez2008.html

Some critics have made much of the fact that Huckabee opposed a voucher plan in Arkansas, but he did so at the urging of Christian private school associations that were worried that vouchers would open the door to state control of their schools. Ann Coulter has charged that Huckabee agrees with the Supreme Court’s claim in Lawrence v. Texas that sodomy is a constitutional right. However, in point of fact Huckabee rejects this assertion:

Ann Coulter's comments are based on a response I made during a radio call-in show in which a caller asked what I thought about the Supreme Court ruling on Lawrence v. Texas. At the time I had not read the ruling and was basing my opinion on the summary by the caller. After reading the decision I believe it is obvious that the ruling was wrongly decided. Lawrence v. Texas is an extreme example of judicial activism. It could, in fact, be inappropriately used to attack our marriage laws nationwide.

I am in agreement with the dissent by Justices Scalia, Rehnquist, and Thomas:

“[The ruling] dismantles the structure of constitutional law that has permitted a distinction to be made between heterosexual and homosexual unions, insofar as formal recognition in marriage is concerned. If moral disapprobation of homosexual conduct is 'no legitimate state interest' for purposes of proscribing that conduct, . . what justification could there possibly be for denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual couples exercising 'the liberty protected by the Constitution'?”

Furthermore, As Justice Thomas said, we might disagree with the wisdom of a law, but that is the province of the Legislature, not unelected judges. No such activist justices will be appointed as long as I am President.

I wish Ms. Coulter had contacted me or my campaign to discuss my position in detail before writing her column. I would have appreciated the opportunity to clarify this matter. (http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=TruthSquad.Coulter)

Below are some good links on Huckabee's conservative credentials:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/11/huckabee_is_a_fiscal_c...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/clarification-on-huckabee-...

http://www.rightwingnews.com/interviews/huckabee.php

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=18

http://rightsmart.blogspot.com/2007/11/truthing-about-taxes-and-huckabee...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/02/MNOBTMNEV.DT...

http://makinghome.blogspot.com/2007/12/huckabee-hit-pieces-check-facts.h...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59521

http://www.mtgriffith.com/web_documents/chucknorrisforhuckabee.htm

Mike Griffith
Let Freedom Ring website
http://www.geocities.com/mtgriffith1/letfreedomring.html

Facebook Linked!

2010-12-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

From now on The Gary Walter Report posts will appear on Facebook. Please Click "Like"!

One Word One Number Huckabee 2012!

2010-11-20T05:59:00.000-08:00

We need a sincere impassioned pro-life president who has over 10 years experience as the governor of a state who is articulate and likeable and who could clean Baroque Obama's clock in a debate. Thats why I fully and enthusiastically support Mike Huckabee for President in 2012. Can he win? Of course he can- if we have the courage and energy to support him. He already has the best favorables v. BHO out there. Lets take the challenge! Huckabee 2012!

2012 Dreaming

2010-11-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Various bloggers have postulated their 2012 GOP nomination scenarios. Here's mine. What do you think?
Palin doen't really compete with Huckabee for the social conservative vote (See Values Voters results)- she has a different kind of constituiency but most Republicans realize she can never win v. Obama. Huckabee will win the social conservative semi-final. Huckabee wins Iowa again- going away.Romney takes NH or put a fork in him. Huckabee wins SC- with greater chance being given to him this time due to national name recognition. With campaign contribs coming in because of the SC victory, Huckabee takes Florida. At this point many will recognize that they underestimated Huckabee. With Perry bowing out (he's taking the Natl Govs chair so I think you can count on that) When Huck takes Texas his victory will be assured.Wishful thinking? Maybe -but I think it would be the best thing for the GOP as polls suggest Huck is the best versus BHO in a matchup. And certainly the best for the nation as we would have a common sense conservative president with leadership experience and a pragmatic yet charismatic style. Huckabee 2012!

Common Sense is What We Need

2010-05-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

I know many will not have the time to listen to the whole presentation that I have provided here. It is a speech by Gov. Huckabee to Cornell University in 2008. But if you have the time or can be doing something else while listening as I did, it is so worth the listen.
I believe the Governor's views and demeaner demonstrate why is the one potential 2012 candidate who is conservative by philosophy and yet common sense enough to win the support of the often non-political middle In the end, it is these folks who decide elections. Not only does he demonstrate how he could forge a political victory, he demonstrates how he could govern in a way that brings our country together rather than leaves it in the awful polarized divide that exists today.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfQ9lyaf-DMI&h=55b8a

Prescription for 2012? Mike Huckabee

2010-02-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

Common sense conservatism mixed with civility is what our country needs. When conservatives speak in hateful terms of those we passionately disagree with than we lose any hope of winning them, or the undecided folks who watch, to our cause. Constant harping on the left may get the conservative faithful jazzed up but if it turns off all the independents, how are we ever going to win an election? Mike Huckabee is a true conservative and those who espouse otherwise are by and large trying to discredit an opponent with lies. He is also a man who can show civility and get a listening ear from independents who are sick of all the name calling and hateful rhetoric. That is the only formaula we can have to win in 2012. Those who spew hate will gin up the 30% to a frenzy while losing the 70%. We just can't win that way. We also can't win by compromising our principles and being soft on the right to life and social issues. What independent wants to vote for a person with no moral compass? We need to promote a person who is geneuinely conservative but who is a gentleman enough to talk with Michelle Obama. Who will share his faith in love with Bill Mahar. Who will win the middle - the group that will change any election not with compromise but with civility and passion. Mike Huckabee is that leader. I only hope the GOP realizes that before its too late.

Reflections on the Scott Heard Round the World

2010-01-21T05:22:00.000-08:00

While I agree that the vote which elected Scott Brown as US Senator from Mass. showed the anger of the people towards liberal healthcare and big govt spending etc. I believe that the main issue is that they had tried big govt health care- that is Mitt Romney's health care plan- discovered it didn't work and was laden with unforeseen expenses and higher taxes and "fees" and they wanted none of it. Obamacare and MittMedicine are the same thing. Even Massachusetts knows its a prescription for disaster!

Lets keep it Simple

2009-12-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Lets keep it simple- Mike Huckabee didn't pardon a cop-killer (as the headlines would say)- He commuted a sentence given to a 16 year old unarmed robber from 107 years to 47 years. Who would have done any different? Lets pray that we can all keep it simple and elect Mike Huckabee President in 2012.

When 2 is not better than 1

2009-08-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Gov. Mike Huckabee has been in Israel during the past few days and his visit has taken some notice , particularly by those on the left, because he has dared to visit sites in East Jerusalem and has pointed out dangers from a Palestinian state within a state. I must thank Gov. Huckabee for taking the bold and correct stand. I have long believed that the two states within a state solution was untenable. I appreciate his well reasoned and articulately explained position that Israel cannot know peace and there will be no security in the area as long as carving out parts of Israel's territory for Palestinian rule is the strategy. I hope that he will also have the opportunity to share his vision first hand with the American people through television interviews etc. How about it Glenn, Shawn, Bill, and yes Anderson? I 'm not holding my breath on Olberman and Maddow :).

Below are some excerpts from a blog Gov. Huckabee wrote today. You can see the whole blog at www.mikehuckabee.com

As a private citizen, I have commented on what I have seen based on my past experiences. When I visited Israel in the 1970’s and 1980’s I had no problem visiting Nablus. But this time, I couldn’t go because I was with Israelis, and they cannot enter Nablus or Bethlehem or Ramallah. I commented on this because I thought it was remarkable that there are places Israelis can’t go in their own country.

Just as I believe that Israelis should be able to travel to all parts of their country, I believe they should be able to live wherever they want in that country, and that the U. S. government should not tell an Israeli family that they can’t add a nursery to their house when they welcome a new baby, or tell an Israeli village that they can’t add a classroom to their schoolhouse. As a private citizen, I disagree, and I have a right to disagree, with President Obama’s demand for a freeze on Israel’s building new settlements, and with his further demand for a freeze on expansion of existing settlements, despite the natural growth that a community experiences. His call for such a complete freeze contradicts the policy not just of President Bush, but of President Clinton, indeed of all our presidents since Israel’s victory in the 1967 war.

President Obama’s unprecedented stance toward Israel doesn’t just contravene the past forty years of American policy, it contravenes his own statements as a presidential candidate.

I visited a planned housing development in East Jerusalem that President Obama is insisting not be built because he seems to anticipate that Jerusalem will be divided and this area will go to the Palestinians. Yet in June 2008, candidate Obama told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (“AIPAC”) that “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”

In 2007, then-Senator Obama assured AIPAC that “we should never seek to dictate what is best for the Israelis and their security interests. No Israeli Prime Minister should ever feel dragged to or blocked from the negotiating table by the United States. We must be partners….” And in 2008, he promised AIPAC that “We will also use all elements of American power to pressure Iran.” But when President Obama announced his new settlement policy, he coupled it with an implied threat that unless the Israelis capitulated, he might retaliate by not doing as much as he could to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. He sounded ominously like Tony Soprano.

In 2008 President Obama also told AIPAC that he was “a true friend of Israel.” He emphasized his “strong commitment to make sure that the bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable today, tomorrow and forever.” He said that “as president, I will work with you to ensure that this bond is strengthened. … I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.” When he said that Israel “can advance the cause of peace” by not “building new settlements” if that was “consistent with its security,” he said nothing about expanding existing settlements, and, more importantly, he spoke as if settlement policy was entirely up to the Israeli government, not the U. S. government.

As a candidate President Obama never told the American people that if he was elected, he would order a draconian freeze on all settlement activity with no exceptions. He never told the American people that he would move U. S. policy backward by reneging on the understanding by Presidents Clinton and Bush that Israel would never give up all settlements, but would keep some close to the 1949 armistice line by swapping land.

But after a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in May, President Obama announced that, “Settlements have to be stopped in order for us to move forward.” With whom are the Israelis supposed to move forward? With the Hamas terrorists of the Gaza Strip? With Fatah’s Mahmoud Abbas who barely controls the sidewalk in front of his office in the West Bank? Yet President Obama took the ball out of the Palestinians’ court and said that it wasn’t their wanton destruction of life and property that was holding back the peace process, no, it was Israeli construction. Nothing about the Palestinians’ recognizing Israel’s basic right to exist or renouncing terror to move the process forward, no, it was all the fault of those pesky settlements.

In case the Arab world didn’t get that message of “blame the victim” loud and clear, President Obama reiterated it in his major address in Cairo on June 4: “The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.” Interesting use of the word “legitimacy” to a group of people who don’t accept the legitimacy of Israel herself. A little wink and nod there.

Not only isn’t President Obama helping the peace process, he is hurting it by telling the Palestinians that there is no reason for them to do anything but wait for Israel to make unilateral concessions under American pressure. Such pressure must be contrasted with the partnership we’ve always had with Israel, the one he pledged to continue when he was looking for American votes, not Arab approval.

Permalink: http://www.huckpac.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=2779

What's Gov Got to Do With It?

2009-07-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

NJ HUCKPAC July Newsletter

What’s Gov Got To Do With It?

Seems like a lot of things in our country of late have been heading south. Our economy sure has been heading south as the Obama administration and his left tilted allies on Capitol Hill seem to think that mortgaging our future and that of our children will solve the already out of control spending. Pork laden pet projects are viewed as the solution to debt that goes into the trillions. I think our level of sanity has gone south to silently sit by and swallow that senseless reasoning.

Our moral compass has been turned upside down as well as the President has just led us in a “National Gay, Lesbian, and Trans-Gender Pride” month. Magnetic north has become magnetic south. What is right is mocked. What is wrong is extolled. Abortion is facilitated while the value of life is degraded. When the compass points the wrong way, is it any wonder we walk in a moral wilderness?

Sadly for some, this moral and economic plunge have left them with emotions, hope, and political engagement likewise headed south. Nowhere is this more a temptation than in New Jersey where despite all the evidence for the need for change, again and again NJ voters seem to blindly follow the Democrat label on election day while Republicans repeatedly seem to erroneously believe being Democrat-lite will be a winning solution.

But now more than ever we as conservatives need to stand up and say “NO!” to Obamanocics, “No!” to Obamanation abomination and “No!” to giving up. It all starts with our owning the concept of personal responsibility. The question isn’t “what is Obama doing?”, “How is my state voting”, or “What faults are there in the Republican response to it all?” The issue is personal: “What do you and I believe and what are you and I willing to do about it? “ Win or lose we need to “Do the Right Thing” as Governor Mike Huckabee’s recent book encourages. If each of us would take that stand than those in the political middle who are tired of Democratic excess and Republican accommodation will be inspired to join us to restore our state and our country to greatness.

So what’s the Gov got to do with it? If we’re talking about Governor Corzine and his disastrous policies- that should give us reason to rally to a positive vision for our state and country that is far different than what he has given us. And if we’re talking about Governor Mike Huckabee, than I hope you’ll see that going south isn’t always a bad thing.! The former Arkansas governor is leading the way through HuckPAC to fight for what is right here in New Jersey and across our state. Come join Team Huck as we change our state and nation one person at a time. www.mikehuckabee.com

MUst see video

2009-07-03T05:33:00.001-07:00

Check this out:

http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Mike_Huckabee/

2009-07-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

Some have recently advocated that Mike Huckabee should tone down the "God-talk" if he is to be elected. I believe that would be a path leading to the destruction of who Mike Huckabee is and hope of future electoral success.

What makes Mike Huckabee such a great leader is that he is real, transparent, honest, passionate, and driven by a faith that advocates doing unto others as you would be done to yourself. For him to "hide" any of this would be to bury what has made him a great leader. Those who do not share his religous beliefs will in large part respect his honesty and passion. To hide this message is to make him just another politician. The left would portray him negatively anyway. Far better for an honest and passionate expression of who he really is. For too long politicians have tried to pander to the middle thinking that will get the undecided voter. Sorry, it doesn't work, hasn't worked , and never will work. The non-political folks in the middle want a leader with authenticity, passion, and a plan. Mike Huckabee can excite that group more than any other . To dim his message or dress it up to be pc would be the key to dragging Mike back into the pack of inauthentic politicians trying to please everybody but inspiring only distrust. Many who do not share his beliefs will trust him as a leader. Were he to "tone down" the God-talk, he would cease to offer what is so refreshing to a land parched from phony politicians.

2009-04-17T06:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Sarah Palin spoke at a pro-life banquet and rightfully received news coverage. Michael Steele, the head of the Republican party, commented on the event noting she was among a group of possible standard bearers for 2012. He reeled off a list of possible nominees with the notable absense of Gov. Mike Huckabee. How could you list a group of potential standard bearers without mentioning the guy that came in second last time? Gov. Huckabee rocketed to that position without initial name recognition, funds, or party support. He now has the first of those three. Just imagine if he had the other two components! I really want to get behind the republican party when I consider the Obama alternative but this kind of manipulative behavior which shuns a great candidate makes me wonder if they are any better. Did someone say "Tarp 1"? Come on Michael Steele just play it fair give Huckabee a shot and we'll have a whole different White House in January of 2013!

Tea Party is Terrific

2009-04-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

I went to the tea party in Belmar NJ- on the ocean boardwalk. But What a great experience! Temperatures around 40 degrees with a cold biting wind and rain and occasional sleet didn't deter over 500 tea party teabaggers from protesting the tax and spend congress and president. I proudly wore my Mike Huckabee tea shirt when a CNN photographer took some footage so maybe that will show up on the air. The crowd was enthusiastic and was complemented by dozens of cars driving up and down the strip honking their horns in support. Truck air horns were especially welcomed and got the crowd going. On a day like this with only grassroots info going out, this was a tremendous success and show of support against the nonsense in Washington. Huckabee 2012!

What we need to hear

2009-03-04T06:59:00.001-08:00

In the misdst of Obamanomics that says that if we have a trillion dollar debt we can fix it by spending trillions more, in the face of the destructive and devisive Michael Steele- Rush Limbaugh dust up, its clearer now more than ever that Americans need to unite behind a truly conservative leader who will represent the values that have made our country great. This speech shows who that leader is.
Permalink: http://www.huckpac.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=2179

2009-01-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Reflections on the 2nd Debate

2008-10-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

I think Senator McCain won the snooze fest debate with a strong finish- but it was only a narrow victory and not enough to turn the course of the race. Clearly I sincerely hope and pray that we would not elect Senator Obama- my cringing starts with considering the Supreme Court Justices he would appoint- moves to a sickening stomach as I think of what his tax policies would do to an already panicing economy- and then weakens the legs from under me as I consider his conduct of foreign policy. But sadly Senator McCain's only "news" was that he wants to add another $300 billion bailout to the existing fiasco. No, we have two liberals running for president and not articulate ones at that. The most frustrating part of the evening was knowing what an inspiring job Mike Huckabee could have done. His policies would have been conservative and not socialist in veiled disguise a la Obama nor somewhere in the swamp of mushy middle-to liberal shores a la McCain. His delivery would have been compelling and forceful and heartfelt. There would have been some humor, some great sound bites to take away, some down home ananlogy that would have clarified the issue for the electorate- and led us to victory. Well I know we can't dwell in the would-ofs and should -ofs so going forward my prayers continue for our country and its leaders and for the leader she needs next time- Mike Huckabee. We need to vote for the lesser of two evils this time and on the day after the election- win or lose- start focusing on getting Mike Huckabee elected next time. The debate was a snoozer.. an Obama victory would be a nightmare.. but I hope we wake up soon and make Mike Huckabee the President of the United States.

No Bailout!

2008-09-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

My suggestion to Senator McCain if he goes to the debate tonight: Make the following statement. My friends President Bush wants to give Wall Street $700 billion dollars. Senator Obama agrees . Now we know who the real third term of President Bush's econmic policies would be. Send me to Washington and I'll clean up this mess without borrowing a trillion dollars from China and mortgaging our children's future.

An Open Letter to Fox News

2008-09-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin gave a terrific speech last night- so did Mike Huckabee. How could Fox not cover the convention speech of the candidate who finished second in the primaries? A candidate whose oratorical skills are without question? What happened to "fair and balanced" what happened to "We report- you decide"- you didn't report and YOU had already decided. The liberal media is often assailed as biased- and rightly so. But the bias on the part of Fox- against their own employee no less, is just as biased. Frankly it feels worse when those who are supposed to share your values are the ones who squash their expression. Do you so fear Mike Huckabee's election in 2012 or 2016 that you would be so blantantly unfair? It feels like you are daring social conservatives to go over to CNN. AT least CNN showed Gov. Huckabees speech in its entirety. Come on Fox News - stop the bias!
Gov Huckabee's speech can be found with the hyperlinc below.
http://www.huckpac.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1873

An open letter to Senator John McCain

2008-08-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Show the dems what a real maverick McCain is- pick Mike Huckabee. Huckabee would tear Biden up in debate and make a working class connection that someone like Mitt Romney never could. Whoever the selection is -while I stongly feel Huckabee is best- please do not pick MIttt Romney. His flip flopping positions and insincere personna will do nothing but harm the ticket. He will come off as nothing but a phony rich guy in debate against Biden. He will rip at the heart of the republican core. We remember what he said about Reagan, about life, and about gay marriage. Senator McCain, your Saddleback performance was terrific. You began to win the hearts of social conservatives. Please don't destroy it with a Romney pick. Be the maverick that defies the party bosses , not the maverick that defies the will of the country, the soul of the party. and your own good judgment. I believe the election is in the balance, I know my support is in the balance. Please make the convention a celebration of a powerful unity by selecting Mike Huckabee or at least a strong consistent pro-life person. Mitt Romney is not that man.
-Gary Walter
Toms River NJ

Some Words from Gov. Huckabee and my response

2008-08-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Democrats are beginning to arrive in Denver for the coronation, er uh, NOMINATION, of Barak Obama. In the past few weeks, some of the shine and glitter has begun to disappear as he stumbled badly trying to escape his own record on fundamental issues like the sanctity of life. His non-answer to Rick Warren in the Saddleback Forum was more revealing for what he didn’t say than what he said. He did what many far left liberals do when it comes time to discuss the life issue—he changed the topic. He said that answers to such questions either scientifically or theologically were “above his pay grade.”
Mr. Obama, most people earning far below YOUR pay grade know enough science to realize that when 23 chromosomes from a female and 23 from a male unite in the moment of conception, a life containing 46 unique chromosomes is created. For all the talk from liberals as to how they follow science and therefore end up with their positions on global warming and evolution, they seem to claim utter ignorance of one of science’s irrefutable facts---what kind of life is created at conception.
Here’s the clear “science:”
When the male sperm and female egg join, a new and unique life form is created. At conception. Not at birth or viability, or when a lawyer says so. At conception this happens. John McCain got it right; Obama pled less scientific knowledge than a 5th grader.
This life is either human or something else. Science irrefutably would declare that the life which is starting from that moment is human. It’s not a stalk of broccoli, it’s not a parrot, squirrel, or dolphin. It will never become a tree—it can only become a human. It has the entire DNA schedule that it will have for the rest of its life right then. In days it will begin to take on increasingly observable human characteristics and form, but at conception, it is biologically human.
If this life is human, then the only issue left is whether this human life falls under the notion that it has a fundamental right of existence or not. If not, it is because we as a culture have decided that some human lives are simply not worth living. If we can decide that about an innocent and unborn baby, we can also decide it on the basis of less absolute criteria than that. If we make that choice (and this is all about “CHOICE,” isn’t it?) then someone may decide that a terminally ill person is not a life worth living. Maybe a severely disabled child is a life not worth living; what about a person with a limited IQ? Say that’s absurd—that an educated and enlightened society would never be so audacious as to begin to terminate life based on such arbitrary excuses? Maybe you haven’t studied Nazi Germany, in which the murder of six million Jews was justified because of their religion and millions of others were murdered because of their politics. Germany was not a primitive, superstitious culture. It was one filled with the intelligentsia and enlightened.
This is an important issue. It’s why we can’t trust Obama with America’s future because he’s not even sure which Americans are worth saving and which ones aren’t. And it’s why that for many of us, McCain’s selection of a running mate really does matter. Because John McCain clearly is pro life, I will support and vote for him because Obama is not an option for me as a pro life person. I will be disappointed if McCain doesn’t pick a true pro life person and realize that should that happen, he will lose many of the very people who supported me. I cannot expect all of you to vote for McCain if he chooses someone whose record isn’t pro life. It will be a less than perfect decision for all of us---our only real choices are McCain and Obama; one will protect life and one won’t. Some will argue for a 3rd party candidate and I respect that, but in political realities, that is essentially a vote for Obama and I can’t go there.
I want lower taxes, less government, more local control, less spending, greater accountability for tax dollars, a strong national defense, and less government regulation. But above all, I want a government who respects life—mine, yours, and that of people I don’t know and even those I don’t like. A government that decides that an unborn baby isn’t worth anything may one day decide that about me. Or you.
This election shouldn't be about taxes. It ought to be about life.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Respectfully,
Mike Huckabee

As usual your comments are right on Governor. What can be more precious and thus of paramount importance than life? I will say this: that having a truly pro-life VP would clarify that issue. I believe you would be the perfect nominee but failing that the VP must be pro-life. That DOES NOT include Mitt Romney whose positions have changed for expediency revealing no moral center. Our prayers continue for you , the process and our country

Time for a second post

2008-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

As I seek to set the world record for slowest developing blog site I am now making my second post- seven months after my first. A lot has happened since that first post. At the time I posted my endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President. At the time Mike was pretty much unknown but that would all change. At the time I was strongly commited to his campaign- that would only magnify exponentially.
Since that time Joan and I went on the campaign trail for 3 1/2 weeks. Driving 1000 miles to Iowa then onto New Hampshire then down to South Carolina. I'm still recovering from the financial drain of maxing out my contribution, lost wages , travel and hotels but would I trade it for any amount of money? Not a chance! I believe I was called to do all I could to see Mike elected President and doing what you are called to do is always rewarding! Being a part of the campaign is one of the greatest experiences of my life for which I will always be greatful. I will have more reflections and commentary in future posts but for now I just wanted to get back into the experience of blogging and have typed these few words. God is good all the time... All the time God is good.

My First Post: An Endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President of the United States

2007-11-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

One look around my blog and you'll quickly see that I passionately endorse Mike Huckabee for President of the United States. In an election year where many have looked at the candidates and felt that the only option was the lesser of evils, let me say I have found a candidate I can be truly excited about. And can he win? Yes! Not only can he win but for the good of our country I believe he must win.
First let me explain why I so enthusiastically support his candidacy. The most important issue to me is the issue of the Sanctity of Human Life. If our country doesn't stand for the right to life for its most vulnerable members than what value doe the country have? Governor Huckabee has been by far the most consistent and articulate advocate for the Sanctity of Human Life in the presidential field. He hasn't developed a pro life position in order to try to appeal to a voter group. He hasn't flip flopped on the issue as so many have. He is clear and to the point. He advocates the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The protection of innocent life is the main reason he got into politics in the first place. Mike led the March for Life throughout his 10 1/2 years as Governor of Arkansas. He has acted on that belief while governor of Arkansas signing into law numerous pieces of pro life legislation. As President he would absolutely appoint the kind of judges that would strictly follow the constitution and thereby preserve the right to life.
The second value I find in the Governor is in the area of his faith. As he says "My faith doesn't influence me, it drives me!" Now many would say an office holder's faith has no bearing on the selection process. Nothing could be further from the truth. If a candidate were of a religious persuasion that said flying airplanes into tall buildings in order to kill thousands of innocent people was a good idea, I wouldn't vote for such a candidate. On the other hand if a man was of a religious persuasion that says we must love all people, that says we must humbly admit our own faults, that says we must seek God and his strength for everything we do, than that should indeed inform our vote. Mike Huckabee is a sincere follower of Jesus Christ. Once again this is not some position that he has arrived at for political expediency. It is his life , it is what defines him. It is reflected in a man that is humble- so unlike the arrogance that we see in many other candidates. It is reflected in his sincere concern for people- all people regardless of race, creed, or economic status.
As I think of the many reasons why I support Mike Huckabee I realize that I might indeed be writing a book not a blog. My guess is that you're probably not up for a book right now so let me list some of his other positions which cause me to endorse his candidacy but stay with me to the end because the issue of electability is perhaps the largest on many minds and I will address that in conclusion.
* As Governor, Mike Huckabee led the successful fight for a marriage amendment in Arkansas defining marriage as between a man and a woman. He led the passage of a "covenant marriage" act pointed to preserving marriage.
* He favors a tax plan which was conceived by some of our nation's leading economists called "The Fair Tax". This would mean no more IRS! No more taxes on your income, no social security taxes, no more downward oppression on incentive to succeed. Instead the only tax would be on consumption in the form of a sales tax. That way we can choose how much tax we would pay based on what we buy. In the meantime he stands for making the Bush tax cuts permanent and has taken the no new taxes pledge.
* Concerning immigration reform he says we should build a wall and do it now. He points to the federal government's failure to secure the border and says it is his #1 priority. Yet even in this firm and clear stand he doesn't come across with hate for those who have come here. Rather while understanding their desires, he points to the need of our government to take strong and decisive steps. His optimistic vision for America is reflected in his statement "I am thankful that America is a country that people want to break into rather than escape out of!
* Concerning the environment, he is unique among republicans in his advocacy for a safe and clean environment. He correctly says that the earth is a stewardship that God has given us.
* He recognizes and really gets the concept that we are in a war with Islamo-facists. He understands the need of our country not to bury our heads and hope it goes away but rather to meet this world wide attack with strength and resolve.
* He advocates strongly for energy independence within 10 years. He points out that so much of our foreign policy is predicated on defending sources for oil that we are not free in that sense as a country. He has said he looks forward to the day when we will need Saudi oil about as much as we need their sand- they can keep both of them. As it stands we are funding both sides of the war on terror as we pay the terrorists with the revenue from our gas purchases and we pay our side with our taxes. We must work toward energy independence and the governor makes this a high priority.
* On the issue of health care he does not favor the road to socialism which has only worked to produce higher costs and lesser quality care wherever it has been tried. He emphasizes that we don't have a health care crisis as much as we have a broader "health crisis". We could save billions of dollars in health care costs if we would learn to eat better, exercise, and seek preventative care. Its not just an theoretical concept for the governor who lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off.
* He has shown a skill in governing that we so desperately need. As an example, while local, state and national agencies so sadly faltered in their response to Hurricane Katrina, he organized effective and seamless help for over 75000 fleeing souls who came to Arkansas.
* He recognizes the sacrifices and bravery our soldiers have shown in defending our country and proposes a Veterans' Bill of Rights.
All of this brings us to an extremely important question: Can he win the nomination and then can he win in November ? I believe the answer is an emphatic "YES!" in both circumstances. Here is why in terms of style and strategy:
In terms of style, he has a non-politician, regular guy approach that lets everyone feel they can relate to him. He is quick witted and articulate. Most objective observers acknowledge he has won most if not all of the debates that have been held with the Republican candidates. Focus groups repeatedly have stated that his down home common sense approach has won them over after viewing the exchanges. Coming from humble roots and not being the product of a multimillion dollar fortune or a politically connected family makes him a person people can relate to. Some may be attracted and others put off by the fact that he is a former Baptist minister. But while the depth of his convictions is what you might expect from such an image, the stereotype is quickly cast aside as one witnesses his bass playing with his rock and roll band "Capital Offense". His emphasis on "Vertical Politics" is a refreshing plus. While being consistently conservative, he frankly admits that "we're not always right and the other side is not always wrong".
But style and even message by themselves will not win the nomination or the election. Can this great message, and winsome presentation be communicated? My friends the message is being received, multiplied and literally exploding across the country as we speak. As of this writing Mike is now tied for second in the national daily Rasmussen polls. In the all-important first in the nation primary in Iowa, he is in a statistical dead heat for first place. In virtually every poll he is surging while others with far more money and "head start" have plateaued or are declining. He is a guy who people are getting excited about, not just settle for! Newt Gingrich said that if this guy gets money he will soar. Well ,while his supporters are all grass roots, the money has started to come as two separate $1,000,000 goals have recently been met. (Clearly he needs more money so if you are reading this please consider being part of something big and adding your contribution through our blog site widget.) So how does he win? First, he wins Iowa. The race is close now before his advertising begins, now it can take another step up. Momentum is all going the Governor's way. When he wins there, he will gain the attention of those who have yet to notice and he will have proved he can win. That momentum will bring in new supporters and some of the other candidates will begin to drop away. 5 days later with momentum in hand he will do well in New Hampshire keeping the drive alive. Then he goes to South Carolina where he will once again win and show that he is the conservative alternative to the pro-choice former mayor of New York. As he sweeps the South (he is already up to 2nd in the polls in Texas), he will make it a two man race between himself and Guilliani. Then given the choice, and now seeing the chance for success, the Republican party will select the candidate that best expresses what historically the party has stood for and Mike Huckabee will be the nominee.
As for the general election, I think Mike matches up far better than any other candidate against Hillary Clinton. Her abrasive personality will show up quickly when juxtaposed to Mike's affable manner. He is quick witted and able to express himself with warmth and clarity. Frankly I believe he will eat her lunch in the debates. The fact that he has been a consistent conservative will compare nicely to the flip flops of some of the other GOP candidates and to Mrs. Clinton's own convenient and frequent change of positions. Mike is not a strident sort of person and I have heard numerous democrats say "The one Republican I could vote for would be Huckabee" based on his realness, character and honesty.
As for track record, again Mike Huckabee has a great one in respect to Hillary Clinton. When he ran for lieutenant governor of Arkansas, then again when he ran for governor and yet again when he ran for reelection as Governor, Bill and Hillary came to their home state of Arkansas to campaign against him. In every case, Mike Huckabee won- decisively- and that in a democratic state. By contrast Rudy Guilliani ran against Hillary in her first senate bid until he pulled out for health reasons while he was far behind her in the polls.
In a general election Rudy Guilliani can not win. The support of the base will be blunted at best and non-existent at worst for a pro choice New York Mayor. Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has already said he will not vote for either party's candidate if they are pro choice. Expect many to follow suit. Without the conservative base there is not much of a chance that he could sway away enough Democratic and independent voters to win the election. Even the solid south would be in doubt at best. Governor Romney's flip flops on many key issues -especially abortion will not engender the respect from the conservative base or from liberals and democrats. In fact his position changing would take away flip flopping as an issue against Hillary. Both John McCain and Fred Thompson would be seen as too old in a match up against Hillary. The country is longing for a change- if nothing else is clear about the political landscape, that is clear. Mike Huckabee represents change, he represents a Washington outsider, he represents a clear conservative alternative to Hillary that the base can get excited about while having issues that democrats and independents can be attracted to (energy independence, support for arts, vertical politics,etc.). In sum, not only can he win, I believe he may be the only Republican that can win against Hillary Clinton.
Bottom line, the Bible asks the rhetorical question "If God is for us, who can be against us?" If Mike Huckabee is to be our next President, it will be God who puts him there. I believe the signs are pointing to Him doing just that. I want to be on His side in this battle. I attended the Values Voters Summit in Washington just a few weeks ago and had the opportunity to listen to all nine republican presidential candidates share their hearts for a half hour. It was a truly unique opportunity. What a difference from the 3o second adds and 10 second sound bites and 45 second debate responses. For each candidate I heard pluses and minuses and asked myself the question "Could I support this person?" In most cases I concluded that perhaps I could overlook problems with each and settle if I had to. When Mike Huckabee spoke the room responded with electricity and I felt moved by the Spirit of God. I knew it was now my calling to do all I could to help make this man our next president. I know I'm only one man. I can give of my limited funds, my time , my energy, and whatever inspirational capital I may have. If all who believe do this together, the job will be done. In his speech at the Values Summit Mike pointed us toward the sacrifices of our founding fathers and concluded his message with the following words which I will leave you as the conclusion of my endorsement. Please pray and follow your prayers with your whole hearted support. If you don't want to have to choose between the lesser of two evils in November then support Mike Huckabee for President today. Give yourself and all of America a real choice. Is it David vs. Goliath? You bet. But we know who won that confrontation! These were Governor Huckabee's words:

Nearly 250 years ago, 56 brave men took a pen and signed the document that would forever change the history of the world and would set a course that each of us today are able to live because of. Those brave men, when they affixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independence did not say "I sign here as long as everything is going well. I sign here with the hopes that King George will listen to us and maybe negotiate a little bit with us and ease up on us a little bit. I sign here so that I can have a little seat at the table and be tossed a few of the king's crumbs from time to time."
These men signed understanding full well what they were doing. And they said on this day we pledge our fortunes, our families, our lives, and our sacred honor. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for us who call ourselves values voters to pledge our lives, our families, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to that which is true, which is right, and which is eternal. Let us do it!