I'm A Conspiracy Theorist: So Says Sean Hannity

Is the next attack to be compared to Ron Paulinian conspiratists?

Today I had the distinct honor of exchanging emails with one of the Faux News Huck Heister's: Sean Hannity.

The exchange began last night with an email I received from a friend in Ohio (who's name I'll leave out for her benefit - but suffice it to say she is an Ohio leader of political values voting responsibility). Sean Hannity - yesterday - came out and endorsed Mitt Romney for President. Certainly Sean has that right - but where he and most every other Faux News Pundit has erred is that they have all tried to ram-rod this election from behind a camera and microphone.

It's difficult enough for a candidate with little money to show he is electable and can win in November while running against seven other candidates - one of which will climb a tree to tell a lie as to stand on the ground and tell the truth (Sean's choice - Romney). But add to that mix of seven candidates a slew of pundits like Sean, Rush, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingram, Britt Hume, Bill O'Reiley, and every other so-called Fair and Balanced campaign conjurator Fox and Bain Capital (Romney's Corporation) have on their payroll and you have a very difficult campaign hill to climb indeed. For most it would be impossible, but for Mike it has been impressive. With little funds, lies fabled, and limelight Fox-fettered Huckabee is still in the game.

Certainly the liberal media (Faux News included) would have you to beleive it's all over but the shouting with McCain in the driver's seat. But there are many states in the south that Mike Huckabee is either in a clear lead or tied for first place for Super Tuesday. He still has a chance - even though snow-ball might be looming in the back of our mind to further descript the chance. If there were no chance - I hope he remains in the race to muck up Mitt's opportunity to lead this country into a socialistic, government controlled wreck of a nation and GOP.

Senator Obama is calling for Obama Republicans in like fashion as Reagan called for his Reagan Democrats. If Romney wins the GOP nomination - I'm ready to roll for Obama. If McCain wins the nomination and chooses anyone but Huckabee - I'm rolling left in November. My rationale? If we're going to elect a democrat let's be honest about it and get a REAL Democrat in the Whitehouse.

Let's deal with my Consipiracy Theorisms

In recent weeks I've learned some things about the "money trail" in politics. Duncan Hunter has suggested in a few debates to "follow the money." Briefly, if we follow the money - or at least ask the question as to where the money originates, it becomes quite enlightening without a conspiracy anywhere in sight. As Mitt Romney told McCain the other night in the CNN debates "Facts are a funny thing." It is a fact that Mitt Romney owns Bain Capital. It is a fact that Bain Capital owns Fox News Network. It is a Fact that Sean Hannity is under contract until 2010 with Fox News Network. Any questions as to why the endorsement? Facts are a funny thing.

I stated in my email reply last night - when asked by my Ohio friend of what we can do at this point to help our canididate overcome these obstacles presented from our own GOP family - that I was just learning of Hannity's endorsement of Romney. I was also just learning of some very disheartening information as to Evangelicals participating in the Romney campaign. The only way I can rationalize in my mind the reason for Hannity's support for Romney (at least until I learned who his boss was) is that McCain is just too liberal and Huckabee is just too Christian.

"I just learned from the Mike Huckabee blog that Jay Sekulow is
a Senior Staff advisor for Romney. Unbelievable. I'm sorry - If Romney
wins this nomination - I'll be one of Obama's Republicans. At least we can count
on him to be honest with America. We've lost the Evangelical leadership that's
certain. Tony Perkins is pulling for Romney and Dobson seems to be with his
silence. So much for Faith and Values. It's all about the money and the
Mormon funding these guys receive."

To which Sean Hannity responds...

"This statement is beyond offensive.............you should be
ashamed of yourself..........and for the record pointing out that Rudy saved NY
from Pornography, prostitution, drugs murder, crime, high taxes, and excessive
welfare is not an endorsement.....IT IS A FACT!"

All screaming aside (all caps are considered shouting in emails - a FACT I'm sure Sean is aware of) Sean Hannity should be offended. He should be offended just like I'm offended. I am offended as a right of right conservative that Checkbook Journalism has won the day in this election. I didn't question Giuiliani's record in any email sent to Hannity. However, in my response, I reminded Hannity that Rudy is

"...Pro-choice, his position on Roe v. Wade is weak with his promise only to appoint judges. Huckabee's goal is to overturn Roe v. Wade. We've appointed enough judges in the last 30 years to have been able to get the job done by now. I am convinced that 'appointing judges' is Washington insiders little stroke to appease the 42% of Evangelicals in this country."

Hannity further responded

"You should be ashamed of yourself saying this,............ I will not even respond to your crazy conspiracy theory which is also FALSE--I speak for MYSELF only........."

I should be ashamed of myself.
For what exactly? For calling a duck a duck? For stating the facts as I see them? I'm not ashamed of that. I stand firm for principals in every aspect of life. I have let church member's walk out of my congregation because they wanted me to turn a blind eye to the wrongs they were committing, because others wanted me to water down the message of the Bible, because I taught what the word of God says whether the hearer liked it or not. I am Principaled and am not ashamed of the truth. The truth is, when I watch Fox News and listen to the Sean Hannity show (radio or TV), Huckabee is being ignored. I know it and see it. Other do as well - so while Hannity speaks for "HIMSELF only" I speak for me and MANY OTHERS who I've spoken to personally, read their comments in discussion boards, and blogged about on the internet.

What I AM ashamed of is what pretends to be "Evangelical" in this country. The so-called Evangelical leadership have failed this country, this consitituent, and this candidate (Huckabee). Sean Hannity could not today - nor can he deny that Tony Perkins, Jay Sekulow, and quite possibly James Dobson (though sources adamantly tell me otherwise) have BIG MONEY coming into their organizations from the LDS Church (Mormons). I hear Duncan Hunter's voice distantly in the past debates saying "Follow the Money"

In defending himself Hannity mentioned that Huckabee was on his TV show tonight at 9:00 - leaving me to beleive he was being gracious only later this afternoon to learn that Chip Saltzman requested the time for Huckabee to "pick a bone" with Hannity. I will certainly watch with interest. I did give Hannity his due kudos in that he has allowed Huckabee to have more airtime than any other candidate...

"And in those time frames, you have demeaned Huckabee's record by either lying or being mis-informed about his fiscal conservatism and raising taxes in Arkansas. The candidate you endorsed raised more taxes and fees that Huckabee did. The candidate you endorse pandered to the Homosexual agenda as Governor of his state. The candidate you endorse allowed for $50 co-pays for abortions in his mandated health-care program that he will bring to Washington.
Are you for mandated health-care? If so - I'm quite surprised.

Also in the majority of your time with Huckabee you have made it a point to call
him a Baptist Preacher and question his ability to lead. You and other FOX
pundits have all used the "Christian" aspect of Huckabee to cause his demise,
but where Romney has been concerned he is always referred to as a Governor - not a Mormon.

I will also give you credit for the post-debate interviews that you
have given - - as opposed to FOX's overall mishandling of the debates. The
last FOX debate allowed 22 minutes for Romney to speak and only 11 for
Huckabee. I didn't track McCain's time. There is no excuse for that - well
except for the excuse of having an agenda for electing the owner FOX and
Baines Capital as President. Our GOP Nomination has been bought and paid for
and I'm not the one who should be ashamed."

So, time draws nigh for the Huck/Hannity showdown. In closing, I'm no more a conspiracy theorist than I am a potential Vice Presidential pick for Huckabee should he win the nomination. I hope Huckabee is tough, firm, and Presidential tonight. I pray that many will watch the show - both the Fox Coolaid Swallowers as well as those of us who have spewn their lukewarmedness out of our mouths when we realized they were bought and paid for and trying to be king-makers instead of ethical and legitimate journalists.

Before I had the chance to hit the "publish Post" button Frank Luntz states to Hannity on Fox that Huckabee came out of the CNN Debate as the favorite. How many debates does Mike Huckabee have to win before FOX and the other Liberal Media outlets with them will see him as a viable candidate that can beat the Clinton Machine and "out debate" Obama.

"CHANGE" the current Buzz Word

By: Doug Ritchie, a resident of Charles County, Maryland


What has happened to make us wonder just what words mean?


Take the word “CHANGE.” We hear much ado about change. Who are those among us who cry out for "change?" What do they mean?

Political comments have changed. Since Clinton was President, we have been hearing charges of every and all sorts about our republican leaders.

It has been ‘so long and far away’ since we have heard any of the music we all used to listen to and hum the melody during our day's work.

Lately all we read or hear from the media make us feel afraid to do what we have been doing all of our lives. I stopped reading newspapers years ago. I’m betting you will think: "What wisdom!"
Newspapers are so biased. I can’t believe them. I stopped when Vicki the Vulganizer was doing her very sincere best to destroy our republican county commissioners in the mid 1990’s. Wasn’t I smart! {I mean ‘wise.’}

Soon, folks, now Congress with that thin democrat majority will be trying to cause me to stop listening to radio. Have you heard about their Fairness Doctrine bill? Seems Congressional leaders want to violate the First Amendment to the Constitution with their version of “Fairness.”
‘Imprimis*’, they will violate the first of the Bill of Rights by making a law regarding the use of our public's air waves. Somehow they construe the idea that mandating Free Speech must be Equal Speech. What do you think of that? In using the term "fairness" they they twist the definition of fairness to mean what that bill will mandate. Really insightful.

Churches don’t pay taxes because they are not supposed to be houses of politics. [Editors Note: In Maryland we may not pay taxes as a church - but we do pay fee's in order to maintain tax exemption - go figure, sounds like something right out of Mitt Romney's playbook] Yet we see time and again democrat politicians at the main stations in many churches soliciting votes. We see church leaders touting openly candidates of their flavor so they obviously are convincing their group to support those candidates. Those churches should have to pay Federal and state income taxes as do all other groups who support candidates. Why hasn’t the IRS gone after them? They do come after us!

That they do what they do has been overlooked for what reason? Is that a FAIRNESS Doctrine?
Do you find it strange now that we hear and see words being used in strange ways?

Charles County, Maryland

When I hear the word SMART I think of "hurt." As in, “boy did that bee sting smart!”
What does Planning and Zoning Committees mean by SMART GROWTH?

That is why the term SMART GROWTH means painful growth to me. When you read your recent new tax assessment for your home didn't you feel pain? I did. My home assessment was increased by one hundred thousand dollars.

I could feel the pain of SMART GROWTH when I must pay not $2000, but $3000 per year to live in my brick Chicken Coop. [Oops, now they have me using double meanings.] Anyone who recently had to meet the demands of SMART GROWTH zoning will easily recant the pain they experienced.

Use of words such as Change, Fairness and SMART don't carry the same meanings anymore.

There are other terms you could easily add to this short list. Truth is one, isn't it?

As to the sounds we hear that are supposed to be "music" why don't they set us to humming any melodies do they? Are those sounds music? I don't think they are. Somehow we have warped back in time to that hypothetical year "1984." What was anticipated in 1948 in Great Britain was off the mark by just a couple of decades in our lives.

Seems it took a little longer for those among us to bring about the same changes here.

What are we going to do about all this?
Do we sit back and do the politically correct thing or are we going to stand up, declare our disdain, and do the right thing by fighting for those freedoms we are about to lose?

Don't we have grandchildren to leave those very freedoms we have had handed to us by those multitudes who actually died to keep for us?

I see a start of a war against "terrorists" of a new kind. Just as we know why in the mid 1850’s the French cried out "To Arms, Citizens!"

Don't you agree that Rudy Guiliani lost his fight for the Presidency of this great nation because he forgot what it was we must fight for? He forgot he was the first to tell us it is FREEDOM we will lose if we don't stand up and fight! How "slick" his media enemy was! Hillary did not wish to take him on later! All that glitters is not GOLD. The truth is not what it really is any more.
Now it has come to be the time for all good voters to go to the polls on February 12th to vote for fighters who can remember from day to day just what it is like to lose one's FREEDOM.

Experience is a dear teacher.

It will be so easy to stay home.

It will be so much harder to win back what we’ll lose just as it will be to pay the coming heavy tax bills from Governor O’Malley. His lesson taught us what truth really is, didn't he?

* Imprimis is Latin for “in the first place.”

Doug Ritchie
dougr33@earthlink.net
Proudly serving the cause of patriotism

MD General Assembly enacted the tax increases to support Socialism's growing hunger!

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What The Republican Capaigns Reveal About Their Candidates

By a HucksArmy Grassroots Volunteer of Bishopville, SC

In this highly unusual presidential campaign, one thing has not changed – the passionate and hope-filled promises of a better America. The real ideas and hard facts for how they could actually work are few and far between, but the promises are there. The problem is most of us have heard them too often, and have grown skeptical.

According to the latest polls, the number one concern among republicans is the economy. We have a deficit in the trillions of dollars and an economy that is, at best, slipping into a recession. Each candidate has shared his promises and the, too often, empty words of dreamy results, but who can really change the course? Which Republican candidate is best qualified to lead this country back to financial health?

At first, Mitt Romney looks as if he is the Messaiah on this point. A self-made millionaire who has a proven record of turning failing companies around, who better understands the economy – who better to lead America to financial recovery? But critics assail that his millions were made by corporate restructuring and sell-offs, which translated, is layoffs and job reductions. If so, that is hardly what we need.

Then, there’s John McCain. He touts his record of fighting against government waste and tenaciously denounces pork barrel spending, offering a handful of examples where he did just that. On the other side, he has never really had the responsibility of running a government or balancing its budget. Romney has asserted that he’s part of the “Washington is broken” problem.
Mike Huckabee did run a government, balancing its budget ten straight years. He got the attention of fiscal conservatives with a fresh, new idea for a stimulus package in the most recent debate – investing the money in a major infrastructure project using American labor and American-made materials. On the flip-side, he has been labeled by the Club for Growth and prominent conservatives as a tax-and-spend liberal.

Ron Paul makes the case that, were we not funding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we could divert that money to stimulate the economy. However, that would require abandoning our security interests in that region – something that most republicans would consider far too great a risk.

So, who is really offers America the most hope? Perhaps the answer is not in the promises or opinions, but can be found in the campaigns themselves.

It is no secret that Mitt Romney has outspent all of the other candidates. Estimates are that he has outspent some contenders by as much as 20-to-1. Yet, he has only managed to win three primaries or caucuses, two of which were not contested and one in his “home” state of Michigan. How well does that testify of his ability to control spending? How does it portray fiscal responsibility? How would it translate as an ability to cut the waste out of the federal budget?
And what about the current front-runner, John McCain? Not that long ago, his campaign was on life support – about to go under. His answer – borrow money. Would that he his solution to the economic woes of our country? What would that do to the federal deficit?

How about Mike Huckabee? Huckabee has never had an abundance of cash for his campaign. In fact, the media clearly stated that once Iowa was over, he would be done – that he couldn’t financially compete nationally. But Huckabee has inspired a grass-roots effort that has kept him in the race, in contention in the national polls, and poised for several victories on super Tuesday. When his campaign was feeling the tightness of the budget during the Florida campaign, he made some tough decisions to cut spending, but stay in the black.

America has a problem with spending and deficits. We need a leader who can inspire people, make tough decisions, and put us back on track financially. Some people have already written Mike Huckabee off in this presidential election. That’s a mistake, in more ways than one.

I Actually Agreed With Rush This Week

It's no unknown fact that FOX news, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter have fell off into the brink of biased media reporting because their pockets are lined with Washington Insider Dollars - or so one must assume. It's actually gotten so bad that many conservatives have either started surfing other political news outlets and commentators, or have simply turned them off altogether.

I now watch CNN more than FOX and only watch Fox long enough to be able to accurately describe their newly acquired SPIN-ZONE status with unfair-unbalanced reporting. I promise - I'll get off this broken record spill before I end this post.

Rush Limbaugh this week - in commentating on the Thursday night FOX Debate stated that "We should not be afraid to go after McCain's record." Most all debate watchers are in agreement that McCain made it through Thursday's debate "unscathed." Huckabee took the first punch from Thompson and gave back better than he received (In Normal Huck Fashion - I love it when he gets tough). Ron Paul took several hits (what's new), Mitt might have alluded to some McCain records but didn't really show his teeth too much - and didn't take too many scratches and bites from anyone either. Giuliani had his moments of giving as well as receiving some minor discussion. Huckabee's biggest hits probably came from the Moderator's - again - FOX people trying to Spin the Religion aspect of Huckabee into a negative....how do they sleep at night? (I have thoughts about that - but I don't want to offend some Huckabee supporters in the process - we'll wait until after November to discuss if your still interested).

Overall - McCain took it easy on everyone and in return didn't take any hits either. Rush says "go after his record." I agree, but with respect. He may be a Hero, but he is not Presidential material. When he was defeated by George Bush, he held a grudge against the President for almost 2 years, voting against proposals that Bush conceived or openly approved. McCain has sided with Democrats on many pivotal Bills that came before his signature pen.

WorldNetDaily.com came out with an article today stating that James Dobson has placed his stamp of DISapproval on John McCain. Though the article attempts to appear unbiased, the subtleties run clear that WorldNetDaily has drank the same Kool-Aide FOX has been drinking from GOP Washington insiders. But Dobson is a tee-totaler and doesn't drink that kind of kool-aide. He has no fear of pointing out the falicies of McCain's record.

Sidebar: When I mention subtleties of articles and reporting....I just want to give you an example of what I'm referring to here. This is a quote from WND.com on Dobson....

"Dobson, who always is careful to note that he's not speaking for the non-profit ministry, which cannot advocate for or against candidates legally, also doesn't hesitate to state his personal opinions on social or political issues and agendas."

This paragraph would almost be overlooked by the reader. That last sentence just leaps off the page at me. Has it occurred to WND that the reason Dobson offers his personal opinion is because a reporter probably stuck a microphone and camera in his face and asked.....NOT TO MENTION - ever heard of Free Speech? He has that right!

Well - if McCain had his way - certainly those rights would be absolved. Sometimes loopholes are good. Had Dobson been sitting in his office in the Focus on the Family premises and made that statement - his 501 c 3 would have been in jeopardy, but because he was - and noted thusly - that he was speaking as a private citizen and in his home - he could make those statements. Thank you McCain and Feingold for your bill to allow Big Government to split hairs in the private sector in order to stifle those you knew would not support you in 2008.

I still believe the McCain-Feingold bill was quite self-serving on John McCain's part. He new he was going to run again. He knew Evangelicals wouldn't support him. He knew he couldn't play on the same monetary ball field as other candidates would be able to - so he created and managed the passing of a bill that would bring the ball-game to his turf. How self-serving is that.

Dobson further points out his distaste for McCain as President in the fact the McCain does not support a One Man One Woman Marriage.

McCain stated: "I think that gay marriage should be allowed, if there is a ceremony kind of thing, if you want to call it that...I don't have any problem with that."

If I had any persuasion to think that McCain would be a lesser of two evils choice for me - you just lost me with that quote.

McCain also supports a Democratic authored legislative bill that creates obstacles for ministries to reach constituents with action messages about pending legislation.

This is currently being fought by groups like ACLJ, American Family Association, and Center for Moral Clarity. If this type of legislation is passed - it will effectively silence the church at large and our ability to amass opposition to future legislation such as Stem Cell Research, Abortion bills, Free Speech, and virtually limitless counts of bills that affect our everyday living and freedoms in this country.

Other rules are hidden deeply into this current legislation that include rules to "eliminate the many recent scandals involving members of Congress, ...require pro-family groups to provide documentation of their actions to the government anytime they try to spark any grass-roots action." Where is "smaller government" in this type of legislation? This is Big Government looming over the Church and affiliated organizations. This is Big Brother at his worse.

This would mean that "phone calls, personal visits, emails, magazines, broadcasts, phone banks, appearances, travel, fundraising, and other items all would be subject to government tabulation, verification, and audits....on and on it goes" according to Dobson.

"'Clearly, the objective here is to hide what goes on from the public and punish
and silence those of us who would talk about what our representatives are
doing,' Dobson said of the plan by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. American Family
Association Chairman Donald Wildmon, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and American Values President Gary Bauer joined Dobson in urging listeners to flood Capitol Hill with phone calls demanding those speech limits be removed."

Don Wildmon referred to McCain's bill as "We don't want to hear from you and this is the way we're going to handle it."

I have blogged before - and I have written Mr. Bauer personally that there is a clear and present danger in front of us at this hour. It is the shutting down of the Evangelical and sending us back to the Dance Floor Sidelines to be wallflower's and never being asked to dance. We were courted in the '80's and learned how to dance in the political arena. Now that we as Evangelicals not only know how to dance - but have cleared the floor with our tango-ing Mike Huckabee - we're not welcome anymore. Washington's liberal bills can't get passed because the Evangelicals have a right to free speech and OMG!!! They are using it!!!!

I recall the day when the church in America was practically powerless. We have seen the church mature into a strong voice. Now - we see a government trying to squeeze us back into our box with articles like Robert Novak's stating that we aren't REALLY SERIOUS REPUBLICANS.

To this point, Mr. Dobson states "Republican leaders in Congress during this term apparently never understood, or they forgot, why Ronald Reagan was so loved and why he is considered one of our greatest presidents. If they hope to return to power in '08, they must rediscover the conservative principles that resonated with the majority of Americans in the 1980s – and still resonate with them today. Failure to do so will be catastrophic,"

Maybe it is this mentality that the Robert Novak's of journalism don't take Evangelicals sincerely. In fact I know it is. I experience it somewhat in my local Republican arena. GOP's believe you ought to vote GOP if Suddam Hussein himself were running against Hillary. I'm sorry - I can't buy into that. I have principals when I walk into a voting booth. If the candidate that the GOP's put up in nomination does not adhere to my principals- I won't vote for them.

I am not a Republican because I agree with the Party Platform. I am a Republican because the Party Platform agrees with me.

If that changes - and it will if certain candidates are nominated (Romney, Giuliani, and McCain, Thompson is a close call and will require consideration) - I will not be bound to my party. I will consider a 3rd party and watch to see if Hillary's hand burns when she places it on the Bible in January '09.

As far back as 1998, James Dobson has stated that the GOP has ignored moral issues.

Evangelicals have been asked to "take one for the party" election after election and to me - with the war on terror, the economy teetering on the edge of falling into the brink, illegal immigration helping the poor economy exist - there is just too much to risk to not consider a candidate who understands the political as well as spiritual implications of foreign policy, domestic policies and freedoms that we currently enjoy, stand to lose, and those we have already lost.

We still live in the greatest country in the world (Obama believes mother Africa to be the greatest), we will be weakened if that which made us strong is stripped away one legislative bill at a time. Let's elect a candidate that will change the face of Washington and keep America Great at the same time. That candidate is Mike Huckabee.

Fox News Loses It's Fair And Balanced Banner This Election Cycle

FOX News Network has been the Conservative Right response to the liberal media going as far back as the Reagan Presidency. Every anchor, talk show host, and reporter tauts the phrase "fair and balanced."

Where FOX may have begun their mission with the glamorous goal of being fair and balanced with a potential viewership eager for such a lofty aspiration - lost in a leftist media wilderness - they have deputationaly digressed. This backslidden state from balanced reporting has frustrated many of their faithfully committed conservative viewers.

We first saw FOX's faults in their failure to give ALL of the GOP candidates equal time and attention - writing them off as un-winnable or operating in the "fringe." They had moments of appearing to be "king-makers" rather than reporters of who the American people wanted and being "fair and balanced" in the doing. Mike Huckabee couldn't "buy" television time on FOX in his early campaigns, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo fell to the same bias. All of the candidates, snubbed by FOX had/have messages on issues that need to be heard and promoted as much as the early frontrunner messages that were - then - being applauded and lauded. Even Fred Thompson was being hailed as the answer to all things conservative - if he would just announce his candidacy at the chagrin of those vieing for some FOX Focus.

From the subtleties of left-handed comments focusing on Huckabee's being an ordained minister - referring to him as"The Baptist Preacher" at every opportunity vs his actual title of Governor that they privilege Romney with - to the strident spin of the Governor's Arkansas record attempting to label him as a liberal for being less of a liberal than Mitt Romney as two Governor's managed their states respectively.

What is so laughable to me is - when Mike Huckabee won Iowa by a very comfortable margin - tongue slingers like Sean Hannity began to pat themselves on the back making statements like "We have - from the beginning - stated that Mike Huckabee was going to do well." Unbelievable audacity.

I watched Governor Huckabee's interview with Fox after his win. He was understandably cold to Hannity in responding to his questions directly with no frills of conversation. Then - after a few minutes passed - I flipped over to CNN and saw a different face on the same candidate. The Mike Huckabee everyone of his supporters and those that don't know. Rush Limbaugh - with a sneering comment - stated that "other networks" could only talk about "Huckabee, Huckabee, Huckabee, Huckabee...." What Limbaugh failed to laud lip service to was the fact that FOX News could only talk about Obama, Obama, Obama.

The latest wave of attacks from Faux News and the like is one of NON-ATTACK. Has anyone but me noticed that Huckabee is being ignored since McCain won and moved to MI for his next wave? Certainly no blame is laid on McCain here - but if the Gary Bauer Evangelicals and Rush Limbaugh King-Maker's want to call Mike Huckabee a Liberal - and laud McCain as the hero to save the GOP - they are simply blinded by the bent of socialistic Government that is being ushered in the desperation that we just can't stand on principals alone and beat Hillary. Not one word of Huckabee passed the lips of Faux Pundits today as they attempt to force Huckabee back into the Evangelical closet of obscurity. For those evangelicals and NRTL leaders that overlooked this candidate who entered into politics to "stop abortion" twenty years ago certainly are telling on themselves as to their real goals unseen by the normal value voter eye.

Has it occurred to anyone that if "Tax-Hike Mike" who lowered taxes 90 times in Arkansas becomes the President and he is successful at eliminating the IRS or implementing the Fair Tax - that all of these non-profits such as http://www.ouramericanvalues.org/ would lose donations because there would be no need for wealthy donors to have a tax write off, ere go less income. If Huckabee were to be successful at ending abortion - Right to Life groups would have no need to exist because no more abortions - no more funds coming into their organizations. So - since Huckabee is serious about changing Washington - he poses a threat to well-intended organizations turned politico - let's support the candidate that LOOKS conservative enough and will appoint judges (which has been done over and over and still no end to Roe V. Wade) that will be pro-life in their judgments and we maintain our organizations, administrations, and our paychecks. Sound overtly cynical? Maybe. But please explain the logic of evangelical's supporting a candidate that was clueless about legislation before the House to overturn Roe v. Wade and who openly stated that overturning Roe v. Wade would not be the direction he would take as President. Yet Mike Huckabee entered politics to STOP ABORTION!
I chased that rabbit long enough: Back to Faux News:

Have the tables turned? Has Faux News drank the Kool-aide of checkbook journalism? The subtleties of their reporting - even in tonight New Hampshire Primary returns - suggest that they have.

One example: on CNN we are given the top three candidates of both parties and their results as the polls come in. But Fox - continuing their attempt to high-hat Huckabee only list the top two candidate results. Am I being cynical? Maybe. In and of itself that little "dig" would be dismissed as unmentionable. However, given all of the attacks, spins, false accusations from Fox and their seeming love affair with Giuliani and Romney - this insignificant notice carries weight.

It has gotten to the point that listening to the talk-show hosts on their radio programs has become sickening. Watching the returns on FOX is no longer appealing to this conservative. I've flipped back and forth between CNN and FOX in the last two returns now - and CNN has now become the more F&B than the original F&B now turned Faux - CNN just doesn't brag about it.

I've stated before in referring to Robert Novak - which now applies to the likes of FOX, Rush Limbaugh, Gary Bauer, and other so-called Reagan-ites, that there is a wedge being driven into the Grand Old Party and pundits like these are the hammer driving it deeper and deeper until the GOP will be so divided that anyone with an R beside their name will not be electable to dog-catcher.

One of my favorite Democrats - though I have no connection to his political beliefs - who is immeasurably intelligent in all things political had this to say about Fox:

"Fox was, is and will continue to be an asinine and ignorant network. I have
not spoken to anyone in the Clinton campaign about this. I have not done
domestic political consulting since President Clinton was elected. I'm not
getting back into domestic political consulting. If I do go back, it would
be safe to say that I'm the biggest liar in America." -- James Carville after Fox tried to start the rumor that he was going to work with the Clinton campaign.

Bottom line: If you want true Fair and Balanced reporting during this election - you'll find it at CNN before you'll get it at FOX. If you want perfectly fair and balanced - watch C-Span.

Having Fun Yet?

I'm posting this article from Dick Morris as it is the TOPIC OF DISCUSSION at every lunch, breakfast, sidewalk, grocery store line, conversation that I have these days. Dick Morris nails it on the head - and because I don't keep up with the Democrats at this point - thought I'd share the entire picture of what NEEDS TO HAPPEN in these next few weeks for each candidate across the board. By the way - when you read Mr. Morri's description of McCain - that would be a good point to comment on - - he refers to McCain as "charasmatic" - um - has he actually seen McCain speak - or do I need to go get my dictionary and bone up on my definition of the word? (not intended to be an attack - just a little surprised by the characterization).

What Iowa Means to Each Candidate

The Iowa caucuses mean different things to different candidates.
Of course Obama, Clinton and Edwards, for the Democrats, and Huckabee and Romney, for the Republicans, are vying for a win in Iowa. But there are separate sub-primaries going on as well: Obama vs. Edwards for the position of chief challenger to Clinton, McCain vs. Giuliani for the right to wear the “moderate” Republican mantle, and Fred Thompson vs. Oblivion for the right to stay in the race.
So here’s the scorecard to use in keeping track of what each candidate needs to get from Iowa.

Hillary Clinton

If she scores a decisive triumph, the race for the nomination is almost over.
A victory here would likely propel her to a win in New Hampshire and the nomination would be hers. But she doesn’t need to win. Her national base is so strong that she just has to stop anyone else from winning.
If no clear winner emerges, but the results show, instead, a three-way tie with Obama and Edwards, or a two-way tie between herself and either of her challengers, she comes out the winner. But if she clearly loses by a good margin or finishes third, she has blown a major opportunity and is in for a long cold winter of primaries. She won’t be knocked out in Iowa no matter what, but she could be knocked down.

Barack Obama

He’s got to win in Iowa. He is so far behind Hillary in the national standings that he needs a decisive victory to give him the momentum to prevail in New Hampshire and to compete in Florida and on Super Tuesday. He also needs to leave the pesky John Edwards far behind so he can consolidate the anti-Hillary vote behind his candidacy.

John Edwards

His immediate need is to finish close to or ahead of Obama so he can show that a vote for him is not wasted. With pro- and anti-Hillary sentiment so strong, Edwards risks being excluded as an also ran if he doesn’t make it. He also needs Hillary not to win decisively so that the race stays alive. He has a decent shot in New Hampshire if he can stay in the race and make sure there still is one.

Mike Huckabee

Win or die are his choices. The Huck-a-boom will be right in the ancient history books with the Howard Dean surge in September of 2004. But even if Huckabee wins in Iowa, he’ll probably lose in New Hampshire. Then his candidacy will come back to another game-set-match point in Michigan the following week.

Mitt Romney

He doesn’t have to win, place, or show. He’s got a big checkbook so he can survive any kind of showing and stay in the game. But, a defeat in Iowa might make him vulnerable to McCain in New Hampshire. A loss in the first two states would cost him Michigan and he would limp into Super Tuesday with only a checkbook to protect him. Only.

John McCain

He’s got to finish third or, in other words, beat Rudy. If he does, he has a good shot at winning New Hampshire and getting back into the game. If he doesn’t, Romney will win New Hampshire and McCain will be out of the race. Huckabee has to hope McCain does finish third so Romney doesn’t win New Hampshire and, therefore, doesn’t win Michigan. Got it?

Rudy Giuliani

The Republican frontrunner is in a parallel situation with Hillary. He won’t be knocked out no matter how badly he does. But finishing below McCain means that he has to split the moderate vote with the charismatic Arizona senator and could weaken his chances in Florida and on Super Tuesday.

Rudy can lose Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, Nevada, and South Carolina and still survive to compete in the big states that follow. But he lost a golden chance to avoid a fight by winning in Iowa.

And, if Hillary wins big in Iowa, it will help McCain and hurt Romney in New Hampshire. Why? All the independents who would have voted for or against Clinton in New Hampshire will pile into the Republican primary and may boost McCain to victory (if he survives Iowa).
And . . . by the same token, Rudy needs Hillary to win in the early rounds so he can draw independents into the Republican primary to vote for him rather than the religious right crowd.

Having fun yet?

[Elephant In The Room: Did he say Religious Right Crowd? hmmm., Did he just sneeze at 42% of voters that make or break elections? - Kazuntite - Dick. I feel another blog coming on] :)

I Seem To Recall - Not So Many Months Ago...

...when Mike Huckabee wasn't even polling in double digits - and yet he simply plugged away in states like Iowa and New Hamphshire giving his message of Faith Family and Freedom (have I told you that my MD church where I serve as Pastor is named Faith Family Fellowship, hailing from Arkansas - NLR in fact - as my home town - I can't help but like Mike).

Not too much further in the campaign Mike broke double digits, causing O'Reilly to lose his dinner deal with Dick Morris.

In all of that hustle and bustle of Campaign (months before Christmas) two things I never heard - We're concerned about Mike Huckabee's poll numbers - - AND - - Mike Huckabee attacking those in the #1 and #2 (and #3 when it applied) spots in the polls.

Funny how that was Not So Many Months Ago....

In recent weeks, the process started when Mike tied and overtook Mitt in Iowa, Rudy in Florida, own's South Carolina, climbing in New Hampshire (with another steep hill before him). Fred wakes up from his winter slumber to slap Mike 6 times with negative statements (I wonder if he wakes up next to his "trophy wife" - his words not mine - with the same attitude and gives her 6 negative statements). Romney twists and turns every statement of Mike's to make him look mean and unconcerned about other religions and GOP politics, regardless of the fact that Mike thinks more like mainstreet voter's than Washington Business as Usual Politicians. And now McCain - who Mike has never publicly spoken any discouraging words or negative comments other than to call McCain a National Hero and thanked him publicly for his service to the country - only to receive a false accusation of Push Polling in New Hampshire. Which may be happening - but not from Mike Huckabee's directive, in fact latest news indicates that Mike Huckabee has also called on the NH Attorney General to investigate and stop the party from doing it (possibly a person trying to hurt the Huckabee campaign).

At the time I'm writing this blog - so far - Rudy has stayed away from the negative fray regarding Mike...He has kept to the high ground, and as I have noticed, Mike and Rudy tend to maintain a political respect for one another. Pay attention Mitt Romney and Fred, that's Presidential leadership material in action.

Mike didn't need to bring other's down to rise to the top over the course of the last 3 months. If your counting the "Jesus' brother" remark as negative - again - twisted and out of context from Romney's camp - but - Mitt got his apology nonetheless, then turns to slam Mike's statements on Bunker Bush tactics today. I don't get it (actually I do get it). But Negative campaigning will hurt you more than it helps you.

I like Rush Limbaugh's encouragement: Stick to the Issues. Getting distracted on the religion issues is only confusing the American Public [but still - keep reading my Mormon analogy on this blog (-: ].

Today has been a very huge day politically. Lot's of activity taking place. Hope your keeping up. Thank you for reading my blog - - as usual any and all comments are welcome (as long as they are on topic with the post your commenting on).

As The Worm Turns

William Shakespeare wrote in Henry VI, Part 3, where Lord Clifford urges the king against lenity and harmful pity, saying:

To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?
Not his that spoils her young before her face.
Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting?
Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.

Though too heavy a thought to be campaign clambake, "The Worm Is About To Turn" is a cliche that fits our current political climate.

Only a few weeks ago, Mike Huckabee was not getting enough attention in the media. Bloggers blogged, spinners spun, blitz's blasted and Mike's Glory-bound train took no jokers. Huckabee has arrived! O'Reily's olive branch obtained, Bauer's bashing buttoned, Hannity's hush now heralding its time to sing: FIVE GOLDEN RINGS!! four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves.......

Enter The new phase. Eight Candidates Clashing. Mike has left the 2nd tier behind to be in double digits nationally in the Rasmussen polls. He is well within the margin of error to be named #1 in Iowa - though the mainstream (and not so mainstream) media still refuses to recognize Mike as a contender. Fred who has floundered his campaign thus far with a lackadaisical approach - finally woke from slumber to hit Mike with six (6) negative ads "informing" Americans that Mike isn't a "Beltway insider" (as if that were a negative). Mitt's mindless mudsling would have you to believe that Mike is soft on immigration, when in fact - as a Governor of Arkansas he obeyed the laws and gave illegal immigrants the education required by state law as any governor would be required. Yes, in addition he allowed those immigrants who were successful in their education the same rights as other students with the requirements of maintaining above average GPA's and Citizenship. But, Mr. Romney fails to mention his personal lawn pawns amidst the rhetoric. Just so my bases are covered - they are not pawns - they are people (immigrants, aliens or whatever label you wish to place them under) and people deserve a chance in life - through the appropriate channels - to succeed. That is the very definition of being an American - more to the point - a Pro-life (all of life) American - how soon we forget after 231 years (or three years if your a former Massachusetts Governor adamantly campaigning as a pro-abortion and anti-Regan/Bush candidate).

While we all hear the bells on Christmas day, in the background you may very well hear the ringing of a hammer driving a wedge between the Evangelical/Values Voter and the GOP. Articles like Robert Novak's today (http://tinyurl.com/2plrus) will be the hammer as he views Evangelicals as not "serious republicans" or "real conservatives." I find it interesting that of all people, Robert Novak would be the town crier for defining the "real conservative" when he was a primary proponent of the evangelical inclusion into the GOP during the Reagan years. Now as the worm begins to turn and a true Evangelical shows up to the dance - he has cold feet and wants Evangelicals banished to the irrelevance of being political wall-flowers again.

Novak claims that Evangelicals pose a threat and Mike is the reputed repercussion of the religious right. He claims that Huckabee "press[ed] his new lifestyle" of good health on Americans after he lost 100 lbs. Let's hope Jenny Craig never runs for President, American might feel "pressed." I suppose Mr. Novak would prefer Americans to remain overweight and Diabetes to continue to be the fastest growing disease plaguing this country. Speaking of being pressed - wouldn't that be what Mr. Novak is doing in his article in trying to convince Americans that Evangelicals are bad (or a threat) for the GOP?

Who purports that Evangelicals created this candidate? Mike Huckabee has arrived on his own. Evangelicals have been shy to support Mike and some "Err-elevant" Evangelicals have supported other candidates in spite of the polarized view on the issues between them and their candidate of choice. Mike has at least wished for - if not actually asked for Evangelical monetary support as he struggled to get his train up the steep hill he has now crested. It hasn't been there. In fact, one evangelical leader suggested to me that Mike needs to 'prove he can make it on his own' before evangelicals will get behind him [with donations - implied]. Well, He's here, He's alive and thriving - and evidently threatening to pull off a nomination

One final thought before I close this episode of "As The Worm Turns," if I had the audience and the desire to go speak to the other GOP candidates - I would offer them this piece of advice.
Don't attack Mike too harshly - that strategy will backfire. It backfired with Reagan and it will backfire with Huckabee. He's a likeable candidate - by both parties and some in between. When other candidates attack Mike - especially with half-truths and blatant un-truths, they will only serve to burn themselves.

After claiming that Mike is no Goldwater-Reagan Republican - I think Iowa will prove him wrong as will the other February 5 states. Mike Huckabee is in fact the most Reaganesque candidate on the sale block. Rudy - would call for a Platform change by taking out the Pro-Life plank and Mitt is just too fake and flip-flop. Fred's closest association with Reagan is his acting career.

Mike remains the clear choice for the Value Voter and the Evangelical. He envisions an administration that is tough on immigration/border laws, victory in Iraq, Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Family, and Pro-American.

Your comments (even yours Ron Paul of Virginia) are welcome.