novatownhall blog

According to Rasmussen:

The number of Americans who consider themselves to be Republicans jumped nearly two percentage points in December to 34.2%. That’s the largest market share for the Republican brand in nearly two years, since January 2006…

Many will attribute this to the fact that we appear to have turned the corner in Iraq (more, here, and here) and the news has finally made it to the general public. (Maybe restating some of those 2003 arguments about why the U.S. went to war in the first place would be timely about now? Just a thought …)

I beg to differ, however. If you ask me, it’s the President Logan bandwagon which has reinvigorated the GOP brand.

He’s a rocker, for cryin’ out loud! Who can resist? Blue Suede Shoes, indeed …

Wail on, Huck dog!

POSITIVES:

- Sees both sides of an issue
- Publicly religious
- Teachable
- Kind to everyone

NEGATIVES:

- Takes both sides of an issue
- Politically religious
- Untrustworthy
- Kind to criminals

The whole Huckster controversy is enough to make one feel conflicted. Even though he is already being called the “Howard Dean” of 2008, and is getting clobbered in the press for various critical flip flops, I am the last one to want to take anything away from Huckabee after all he has accomplished in his life and the example he has set.

By losing goodness knows how many pounds he showed Americans it is possible to get a fresh start with one’s health simply by changing habits and hitting the jogging path.

Huckabee’s a personable fellow, a compelling, self-effacing public speaker, not afraid to wear his religiosity on his sleeve, and by all accounts a decent man. He’s an accomplished bass guitar player – certainly a cool skill to list on any prospective president’s resume.

As the Arkansas Times recently pointed out, he is “the immigrants’ friend” who makes John McCain “look like a nativist.” (Read all of that article, by the way).

This issue is where the problem arises with regard to Huckabee. The leader of a national advocacy organization said last week in an e-mail that, on the illegal immigration issue, Huckabee is “a carbon copy of President Bush.” Prominent opponents of illegal immigration call Huckabee a “disaster”:

“Every time there was any enforcement in his state, he took the side of the illegal aliens.”

To his detractors Huckabee has said, simply, “I drink a different kind of Jesus juice.”

Fair enough, I say: It’s a free country for Jesus juice drinkers of all persuasions. I take mine the way I like it – neat – and the Huckster should have the same options.

This forthrightness has earned him serious hits from GOP primary opponents and also from political leaders in his own state.

UPDATE: Much more, here.

More, below the fold. continue reading…