Here we go again. The ad was based on facts in their records. It was not “negative” but factual. If Huckabee thinks it was “negative”, then he must not like what his own record says about him. Let’s call it what it is: An ad that compares and contrasts two governors records on immigration. That is it. What happened to fair and balanced?

Carl, I have been watching you for years now and have always looked forward to your commentary on political issues. Now, I have to admit, you have become “Huckabee Campaign Carl”. Because in the past you have always gone out of your way to be “Fair and Balanced”, the difference now, when you are talking about Huckabee is striking. You only show part of Romneys add, carefully editing out the seconde half of it about Huckabees tuition breaks for illigals. You always have some little cut or smart ass smile when talking about Romney. You are in the process of losing the credibility that you have worked so hard to gain over the years, and for what? Huckabee can’t get elected, and while you are trying so hard to fight that obvious fact, you are killing the the Republican Party. It would take the republican party twenty years to recoup if he was nominated. Just another Bob Dole, except worse. “He’s got great one liners and no substance”, (I am quoting one of your panel listeners at the debate today, which almost to a man said Romney won). Its your station panel saying that, why aren’t you spreading the news? I think you know why. Anyway, just be fair, or at least don’t be so transparent….its hard to watch….Wayne

While we are “contrasting” the two candidates – which Governor was pro-life when he went into office? Which one became pro-life when word was getting out about a potential run for President? Hmmm.

Who can blame Romney for avoiding the press at this point? Look how many of you media people are obviously biased against him. And for what reason, does he aggravate your inferiority complex or what?
It was great to see the shocked looks on the Fox commentators faces yesterday when they heard the results of the focus group. The commentators thought Huckabee won but the focus group hated him. They almost unanimously thought Romney won and was the most presidential.
To all the media who are trying to shove Huckabee down our throats, knock it off. If you want to try to trick us, why don’t you put some work into and try a little sublety? We’re on to you.
Or better yet, just report the actual news without letting your personal issues get in the way.

For those who criticize someone for changing their position on abortion from pro-choice to pro-life, I would say this: Please don’t forget that self righteously calling their decision “disingenuous” will only doom the pro-life movement. We NEED converts to the pro-life position and I don’t think being critical of ANYONE for making the right choice (changing to pro-life) is doing anything positive for getting Roe v. Wade reversed. People who change to our side should be welcomed and not chastised.

Smiling? Yea, it looked like someone was behind him pulling faces. What happened to the “Republicans are wimps” blog from a couple of days ago that portrayed the ad as a real contrast ad and not an attack ad? Contrast this:

Both Pictures are good pictures (One not better than the other)
Both pictures in color (One not in black & white while other in color)
Positive statements about both.
Same music all the way through (No dark music when talking about either of the candidates)
Simply states positions. One is tough on immigration the other more charitable to immigrants.

Actually Mitt has not just said he is pro-life he has put his conversion into action. When stem cell legistaltion came to his desk as Governer of Mass he came down on the side of life. So he is not just talking the talk he is walking the walk.

Carl, someone wrote that Gov. Huckabee “can’t get elected.” I submit that he can be elected just like anyone else, by convincing the voters of America to vote for him over the other guy. I challenge those who think otherwise to put some evidence on the table to support their claim.

Apparently, the concensus of the social conservatives in the Republican party is starting to form around Gov. Huckabee over his rivals like Gov. Romney or Sen. Thompson. With the SoCons divided among the three, Mayor Guiliani had a chance to be the nominee. In a head-to-head race between the SoCons and FiCons (fiscal conservatives) who knows who’ll win. It has determined the direction of the party for years.

To compare Gov. Huckabee to Sen. Dole is amusing. Think about the comparison between a young, populist candidate in Gov. Huckabee and the senior Senator who failed to generate enthusiasm among voters. Apples and Oranges.

Say this out loud: “President Mike Huckabee.” It grows on you.

This is the first time I have looked at a blog. I have to tell you, it is somewhat comical. It is clear that bloggers are very pastionate when they are hiding behind their keyboards but it would really be refreshing if people would be a little more objective about their analysis. Maybe it is just too dry and unexciting to do so. But to say that focus groups “hate” Huckabee, I think that an objective view of that would be that they disagree with some of what he says and have issues with some of his positions. If they hated him, I don’t think that they could have brought themselves to declaring him a winner of the debate.

More comments and analysis by Richard (Dec. 13th) is the kind of stuff that enables us to see that the differences between these candidates on viewpoints isn’t that great. When and if they get into office, the real test is how they can dialogue with the other side to tip the scale in favor of the best compromise, because no one is going to be able to get all that they want and the fact that a candidate has a particularly radical position on an issue, such as immigration, may ultimately work against them in the general election which then makes this whole primary process a futile exercise. Unlike Democrats, who chose their candidates based upon the extent of their extreme view, we need to be practical during the primary process and choose someone who we think has credibility with the middle and the independents and not nitpick them on every little issue. Look at the broad landscape. Do they support a traditional America or a secular progressive view (a little Bill O’Reilly here); do they view the terrorist threat as real and do they tend to support and honor our military, not look to amplify its imperfections. Do they respect our sovereignty as a country? On immigration, are they on the side opposite that of open borders? Do they fundamentally want to secure the borders before dealing with the immigration problem?

Let’s stick to the big stuff….not the minutia.

Anyway, for my first blog, I am probably too long winded but at least I got it off of my chest. By the way, I think that any one of the front runners, Guiliani, Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain are all great choices. Practically speaking, I need to be convinced that anyone other than Guiliani can take Clinton on. Maybe some experts have a sense of that but I don’t know that a cabinet of all of these guys wouldn’t sound pretty comforting going forward. Guiliani for Pres. Thompson for V.P., McCain Secretary of Defense, Romney Treasury Secy, Huckabee Secretary of State…..