Perspectives

Just give me a minute. I am not bashing the man... I may end up throwing him a vote. But, let's talk.

What is it that resonates about the man that you absolutely positively like? Why is he suddenly rising in the polls? Why is a former Baptist preacher suddenly a "front runner" for the Iowa circus' coming up?

I don't see what is really that great about the guy to be honest. I mean just like with the other candidates, you can pick and choose parts of the guy that you like and you can despise the other features about the man that really make you think: "What is this guy thinking when he says it is not Christian to close the borders?" So. Is it his kindness? His thoughtfulness?

What all do you know about his policies and the things that he did as governor, the things that he said policy-wise during his presidential campaign? Are you informed enough to suddenly jump on the "I want this guy to run the most powerful country in the world" bandwagon? (Note: Don't get me wrong, I am not on the bandwagon of the other fakers on the stage either-- I have yet to see one with the "fire in the belly" it takes)

Is Huckabee a populist? Did he win the same way in Arkansas that Clinton did, with populism? He is under some fire right now for a little piece he wrote in Foreign Affairs, which is the publication of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The opening two paragraphs: "The United States, as the world's only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised. American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out. The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. My administration will recognize that the United States' main fight today does not pit us against the world, but pits the world against the terrorists. At the same time, my administration will never surrender any of our sovereignty, which is why I was the first presidential candidate to oppose ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would endanger both our national security and our economic interests."

Alright, let's say we can agree on some of the things obviously he stated. Especially his stabs at the L.O.S.T. which is a clear destruction of our countries sovereignty. No doubt. But he didn't just attack the UN and their ways. We can agree that it is in our best interest to not blindly follow them on everything. He also aimed at the Bush administration, and he said it's an "arrogant bunker mentality that's been counterproductive at home and abroad." He also said that America, "like a high school student: If it is modest about its abilities and achievements and generous in helping others, it's loved." Now, I think there's no more generous country in the world than the United States. I don't know what he means by that.
The decrease in deaths in Iraq today would be a firm commitment to that we are following the correct path and President Bush did do the right thing by going in and taking Saddam out and by listening to his Generals (surge etc.,).

Now, think back. Perot, in the '92 campaign. What did that little piece of history show us? When it looked like he was going to win, he pulled out, then he got back in. He basically gave the election to the Democrats and Bill Clinton. But what I remember is that all during that period -- when folks were trying to get the Perot people to see the light -- they didn't want to see it. They were like cultists, people learned that you cannot talk cultists out of their cult. You just have to let 'em see it for themselves in the time it takes for it all to unfold, and I think with Huckabee, I don't think his people are cultists, don't misunderstand. But I think there are two or three things about him that have drawn people to him, that are going to make them overlook some other things that ought to raise some red flags about the man.

What do we know? Obviously, with the words he said on Bush and many other things, Huckabee is trying to work himself towards the middle. To bring up Reagan again... see, Ronald Reagan didn't move to "the middle." Ronald Reagan got two landslides on straight, down the middle conservatism. It wins nationally every time it's tried, no doubt.

"I think if you dug deep, you would find..." You think Huckabee is "moving to the middle," because he's moving to the middle, he's abandoning what? The right. He'll stick solid on certain things on the right because he knows that he is attracting a portion of the population based on religious and moral and ethical values, which is fine, but on some of these other areas that also define conservatism like taxes and so forth, he doesn't have the pedigree. But why try to talk you out of it? Just talk about it and hope we come out with the best person. If you thinks he's the one true conservative out there because of the things that matter a lot to you, he's right on the money on them. So we'll see what unfolds in the few short weeks ahead to when we finally get nominees for both parties.

Brandon McGee -- an Independent Conservative-- currently in the business of Shipping--you may contact Brandon anytime at branlmc@gmail.com
Thanks for your time.

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