Well, Huckabee began to build

The party, in the 90s. It started with him being elected Lt. Governor, and, once Jim Tucker resigned, Huckabee became Governor... This led to Tim Hutchinson beinig elected to the Senate in 1996 as well... Plus, with Asa Hutchison being elected to Congress beforehand, and with the state legislature going less blue than before, and with its electoral votes going to Bush in 2000, hopes looked great for the Republicans...

However, Pryor won back Hutchinson's senate seat in '02... In '04, the Republicans were hoping to win back at least one house of the legislature... instead the Dems won a supermajority. Now, All statewide offices are Democratic...

Is Huckabee to blame? Perhaps... he was sort of elected as a fluke, but Arkansas is still one of the most Democratic states in the nation locally.

---

by: KainIIIC @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 17:34:35 PM UTC

Well

It's nice for Huckabee that he had some successes ten years ago. Since then, it looks to me like the Republican Party in his state has gotten pasted pretty badly.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 19:00:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry David, as a foremr local of

Arkansas I recognize the banter of uninformed Northerners wen I hear it, just being funny there David. Arkasnas is super-Denmocratic, it's an insult to Arkasnas to say it's hoispitable to Democrats. That conotates, "We don't like you Democrats, but we might elect you guys every now and then. There's a clear antio-Republican trend here:
2000: Congressional delegation is evenly split between Repuvlicans and Democrats, the southern Trend is very noticeable, Republicans have picked up Governorship, and LG position, and have the most seats in the state legislature in their entire history.
November 2000: fopur term Republican Congressman Dickey loses to Mike Ross, the only Republican incumbent outside of California to lose that year. Amazing, partly over his vote for Clinton's impeachment, which didn't go over well in his home district. state senate majority leader mike ross beats him fairly handily, and then runs unopposed twice in a row.
November 2002: Tim Hutchinson loses reelection in a Republican year, the only Democratic pick up that year. He doesn't just lose, he loses handily, 54-45, to Attorney General Mark Pryor the son of the man who retired in 1996, former Governor Daivd Pryor, elected after the death of senator John McClellan in 1978. thisi s partly over a extramarital affair that upset his evangelical base.
There are a ton of Democratic retirements n the State Senate, and House. In other states, like Oklahoma, this has killed Democrats, costing them their majorities. In Arkansas, Democrats picked up seats, and held seats held by ancient long time incumbent Democrats.
2004: gain more seats in the State House.
2006: We gain the LG and the Governorship, and gain 5 seats in the state House, including a shocking pick up, Bill Pritchard's district. He does hold State Senator Holt's district, defeating Karen Carver, a disabled persons advocate, that was a disapointment, made up for by Holts 55-45 lose to fairly liberal, and relatively unexperienced Businessman Bill Halter who had to go through a grueling primary, whie Holt ahd none.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:13:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Always amusing to me

That when we non-Southerners dare voice an opinion about Southern politics, we are regularly branded as "uninformed" or "outsiders" or "clueless Northerners." It's amusing because I never see "Northerners" (not that we ever even refer to ourselves in such a way) chastise Southerners the same way. Of course, if we did, we'd be branded as snobs and elitists.

Anyhow, geography doesn't confer expertise. But if you're going to decide I'm "uninformed" based on a strained interpretation of the meaning "hospitable," so be it. You do realize, though, that your interpretation is immediately contradicted by the second half of the sentence - in which I note (albeit in less excruciating detail than you do) the far-ranging nature of the Dem sweep of Arkansas political office.

But, whatever suits you. If one single misinterpreted word, held against years of blogging, renders me uninformed, then there's not much I can do about it. Sorry to have wasted your time.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Thu Nov 23, 2006 at 06:14:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wasn't being critical or rude,

that whole thing was just about being funny, and just trying to note to you just how Democratic Arkansas has become. That's why I love the state. I like the new site David, but we need to be able to change our wierd passwords. Always nice talking to you David.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Fri Nov 24, 2006 at 23:27:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You can change your password here

http://www.swingstat...

---

by: DavidNYC @ Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 02:24:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

By the way,

who won the predictions contest?

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Fri Nov 24, 2006 at 23:29:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

On the internet, no one can see you grin when you're joking.

He was kidding, big D!

Delaware Liberal - biggest and best blog in Delaware.

---

by: X Stryker @ Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 00:38:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Huckabee

Huckabee will try to fill the void with Republicans who do not like Rudy, McCain or Romney for various reasons. He would be the type of candidate who could appeal to the extreme right and evangelicals. He might have some appeal in the South and West if he can get off the ground.

BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog

---

by: rob @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 21:13:30 PM UTC

Personally

I feel like Brownback is the darkhorse for this segment. I would think his biggest obstacle to winning over evangelicals is that he converted to Catholicism from Methodism (while in office).

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 22:41:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Religion is going to be interesting.

It's hard to see who in the current field of presumed Republican primary candidates is really going to appeal to evangelicals.  I didn't know that about Brownback, but it's definitely a difficulty for him - one thing to be Catholic, another thing to have converted there from Protestantism.  Romney I still believe will have trouble due to being LDS, whatever Jerry Falwell says about that.  McCain, Giuliani, Pataki - their problems in this area are obvious.  So Huckabee could be the one to work that angle for the primaries at least.

---

by: MissLaura @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 00:28:12 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Brownback....

....sides with the meatpacking barons of his home state on the immigration debate.  He's a non-starter among social conservatives as long as he favors McCain-Kennedy.

---

by: Mark @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 05:07:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, the Shrub

did prove that a life-long failure can win the Presidency.  And he should get the support of the core of the christofacists. 
Plus, there's the weight loss, which our fluff loving MSM is going to nuts for. 

And look at the so-called front-runners.  They all have major questions and problems.  The republican race is wide open.

UID 445...I'm special

---

by: Jerry 101 @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 22:20:27 PM UTC

Ugh

I forgot about the weight loss thing. You're right - it's a perfect story. It's both about "human accomplishment" and also lets the press crack jokes, especially if Huckabee is self-depracating about (which I imagine him to be).

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 22:39:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That Weight Loss Thing

didn't help Cruz Bustamente-D in CA, he got slaughtered in spite of that new trim figure and those sexy ads.
;-}
Huckabee, what a laugh.
He's posturing for a VP slot.

(-8.50/-7.44) "Real Democrats don't make promises they can't keep." Dr. Howard Dean

---

by: Predictor @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 03:49:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Huckabee was a moderate

and liberal on Economic issues, which is a a right fit for Socially conservative Arkansas. I really like Hucakbee, and view him very favorably, he's the best Republican running for {President rightn ow. I've gone through years seeing him attack the far right nutcase Republican Party of Arkasnas on immigration, minimum wage, smoking in public buildings, (which is banned in Arkansas), you don't know how often I got to see him attack Holt and his own party. It was lots of fun. Huckabee is actually more popular with Democrats than Republicans in Arkasnas.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:17:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Then that seems to put Huckabee

in a precarious position in trying to win Republican primaries. Interesting.

(-8.50/-7.44) "Real Democrats don't make promises they can't keep." Dr. Howard Dean

---

by: Predictor @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 16:44:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yep,

he lost over a hundred pounds on the Atkin's pickle diet.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Fri Nov 24, 2006 at 23:32:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Red state view of HUCKABEE

Well, from a red state perspective Huckabee was a successful Governor and Governors make the best Presidential candidates.  Neither McCain nor Guliani has been a Governor.  Plus, he left office as a reasonably popular Governor while the remainder of the state was trending Blue.  He therefore appears to play well with Democrats.  And he is a Baptist Minister, and that will play very well throughout the South.  Southern Baptist Huckabee should be able to take down Roman Catholic Brownback in the South, which means the foundation of the 2008 GOP is ripe for the plucking by Southern favorite son Huckabee.

However, the current buzz about Huckabee is mainly negative at the moment.  He and his wife of (I think) 32 years recently re-affirmed their marriage vows to popularize "covenant" marriages.  Problem is, they then set up a marriage gift register on the internet to accept "marriage" gifts from their adoring public.  Why a couple of 32 years needs a marriage register, especially when he is running for President, is what is creating the (negative) buzz. 


"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." -- Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove

---

by: walja @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 23:06:20 PM UTC

Corruption won't lose the GOP primary

Otherwise, it's be pretty hard for any of 'em to get on the ballot. ;-)

Delaware Liberal - biggest and best blog in Delaware.

---

by: X Stryker @ Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 00:44:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

These are retread answers,

but I think Hutchinson is considered to have run an awful campaign.  This was projected to be a serious race, but reading between the lines of press accounts, I have the impression that Hutchinson shot himself in the foot, not unlike Beauprez in Colorado.  If Huckabee had invested heavily in Hutchinson and he had lost despite a well-run campaign, that might reflect poorly on Huckabee.  But if Tim Kaine had, say, run his mouth foolishly in January of 05, gotten a week of bad press, destroyed his own fundraising potential, and generally made a series of mistakes that were obviously not reflections on Mark Warner, then I don't think the press would be holding that loss against him.  Similarly, I think Hutchinson is thought to have been done in by his own piece-of-shit campaign, not by the political climate of Arkansas nor by the lack of political capital of Huckabee.

Disclaimer: I came to these notions by reading between the lines of stuff like Hotline and WaPo, and they're often totally wrong.  But there it is.

Also, I don't WANT Huckabee to get put away.  I think he can be a serious pest in the primary, especially to McCain because Huckabee is also considered honest, and of course he's utterly hopeless in the general election even if by a miracle he should win the primary.  On one hand, I don't want to crowd the anti-McCain slot, but on the other hand, I think Huckabee can do some real damage on the right wing of the Iowa caucus especially.  Go Huckabee!

Is Brownback even still running?  The press talks about him even less than Huckabee these days. 


28, gay guy, Democrat, CA-08

---

by: texas dem @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 23:13:27 PM UTC

Huckabee

I am hoping Huckabee can get some traction. If he could pull enough from McCain to help Romney or Rudy get the nomination that would help the Democratic nominee a lot.

Race42008 (a GOP site) has an interesting state by state analysis of how a 50 state race could play out if Clinton is the nominee against a non-conservative such as Romney. Some of the same scenario would be applicable if Rudy was the nominee. They conclude it would be just about impossible for Romney to win and McCain and Rudy would only have a 50% chance. I would disagree with them that Rudy has a 50% chance however.

http://liberalwire.b...

BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog

---

by: rob @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 00:39:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

On your last point

I probably agree - the more tension among the various factions of the Republican Party, the better. I suppose this post had more to do with media criticism than Huckabee himself. You KNOW that if any Dem had been the outgoing governor in a reverse situation, he or she would be tarred as a failure.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 17:27:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hutchinson ran a fine

campaign, I saw it. He just spent too much of his time attacking Beebe, and not enough coming up with his own ideas. For his part, Beebe, who'd never, weirdly enough, never had an opponent, he ran for Attorney General in 2002 against no oponent, astounduing for an open Statewide position of great prominence, ran a great campaign, which gave Democrats a big sigh of relief. Business, however, suppoted Beebe, and the State democratic Party, under Party Chairman Jason willet's plan to challenge every county, (yes he is a protiege of Howard Dean, and the yougnest party chairman in the statese history, a very liberal fellow and fan of Howard Dean, but a great unassuming chairman), was stronger than ever. They opened up an office in overwhelmingly Republcian Northwest Arkansas, and raised more money they ever had before, outraising the Republican party 4:1. Hutchinson wasn't a mdoerate, and he had a shaky past. He had a base in an already Republican part of the state, and was no moderate, even though he tried to act like one, that's why he lost. Arkansas hates Economically Conservatives, and terefore was very wary of Hutchinson. 

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:33:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Huckabee Campaign Button

http://www.goreporte...

BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog

---

by: rob @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 01:04:33 AM UTC

Romney

Kerry Healey's loss did little to nothing to damage Romney's presidential prospects because Romney spent more time campaigning for Nussle than he did for Healey. The same thing with Huckabee, as far as I know he didn't do a lot of campaigning for Hutchinson.

I want Huckabee to stick around too for the reasons previously stated but also because I think he's the only person that can beat Pryor

---

by: safi @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 02:12:58 AM UTC

I know

So then in my opinion Romney deserves to be tarred with Nussle's failing. He got whipped by double digits.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 17:26:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's a harder connection

To make though. Every GOP candidate campaigned for Nussle so if you look at it that way if all of them are hurt then no one is hurt

---

by: safi @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 18:19:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hah,

Huckabee campaigned constantly for Hutchinson, he spent two years doing nothing but campaign for the guy.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:34:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Romeny and Pataki

Over saw the whole sale slaughter of their respective  State Parties.  While KYL did survive in Arizona, Napolito got a ridiculously high Number for a Democrat in Arizona.  There are really no Republicans left who can say they have a stellar record building their state parties. Florida is their Best swing state and unless Jeb runs they have no candidate from ther.

---

by: democraticavenger @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 02:52:35 AM UTC

Why Mike Huckabee is taken seriously

Perhaps you have been too busy to properly research Mike Huckabee and his credentials, as we have record of you visiting our blog (www.mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com) which provides in-depth details about his qualifications. Allow me to share.

Among the reasons Mike Huckabee will make a fantastic and formidable candidate is:

1) Very popular and long-serving southern Governor
2) A strong (and lifelong) social conservative
3) A former Baptist minister
4) A practical (and compassionate) fiscal conservative - which means he believes in a fair tax system and keeping taxes low but not at the expense of the weakest members of society such as those on Medicaid, etc.
5) A remarkable record on education, infrastructure, public health, economic development,reform and more
6) Demonstrated leadership in times of crisis
7) A gifted (and I mean GIFTED) public speaker -- he absolutely melts people from the stump and he will do very, very well in a debate format

I invite you to explore our blog.

BSR

---

by: bluestaterepublican @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 18:20:12 PM UTC

Iowa

Are there any telephone polls for the GOP race in Iowa yet. I noticed in a link on your Huckabee blog that McCain fares very poorly in online Iowa polls.

BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog

---

by: rob @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 20:01:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I take Hucakbee Seriously

Though the record thing is a little creepy.  I was merely taking Pataki-Romney to town. I am hoping Huckabee gets the nomination.

---

by: democraticavenger @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 20:15:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wedding gift register

BRS,
  Have you given him a gift to celebrate his convenant marriage to his wife of 32 years?  Does his website have a link to his marriage register? 
  Where is the morality in hitting people up for gifts after being married 32 years anyway? Not a Minister whose ethics I would trust.  The word Pharisee comes to mind in fact.

"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." -- Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove

---

by: walja @ Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 22:56:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm from Arkansas

neither Beebe or Huckabee have a good record on Education. Let me rephrase that, they have a horrible record on education. The surpreme court had to order Huckabee not once, but twice to provide better funding for Rural schools. Beebe supported Huckabee on his disatorous education plan, including his continous merging of schools districts that was grossly unfair to rural areas. One 90 year school was closed in NW Arkansas, and the High School students who went there had to be bussed to a school 1 hour away every day. Hucakbee got into a merger mania that was disatorous in many ways, especially to rural schools. That was what he did to respond to the courts original demand, he did that to save a state with a huge surplus from spending more money on education, this did nothing to help rural schools. The second time around Huckabee fought the court and called it's motives political. In the end, I believe the legislature got more money for education.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:50:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

correction

Meant to say we have no record of you having visited our blog :)

BSR

---

by: bluestaterepublican @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 18:21:24 PM UTC

Don't see how you would know

One way or the other, seeing as you don't know my IP address. But thanks for stopping by.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 23:12:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Screaming Lord Sutch

Why pick on S.L.S.? He was better than the average Republican stuffed shirt. "Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?" et al.

---

by: Borat Obama @ Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 00:34:36 AM UTC

Fair point

So noted.

---

by: DavidNYC @ Thu Nov 23, 2006 at 06:15:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Numerous ethics violations

The list below came from an AP news story written by Andrew DeMillo published 22 Nov 2006 in the Kansas City Star.  Story linked below:

http://www.kansascit...

The state Ethics Commission has investigated 14 complaints against Huckabee and validated five. Two pertain to unreported gifts - a $500 canoe and a $200 stadium blanket - and three to cash the governor or his wife received but did not initially report:

_$43,150 from his 1994 lieutenant governor's campaign for use of his personal airplane,

_$14,000 Janet Huckabee received from his 1992 U.S. Senate campaign, and

_$23,500 from a tax-exempt organization he incorporated with others in 1994, but whose funding source isn't known. The Action America organization, Huckabee said, was set up to coordinate parts of his private-sector speaking schedule during his three years as lieutenant governor.

Huckabee appealed the stadium blanket sanction and a judge threw out the $250 fine.

"My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." -- Rep. Steve Kagen D-WI to Karl Rove

---

by: walja @ Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 20:24:43 PM UTC

Democrats

hold 27 of Arkansas' 35 Senate districts, and now have 74 of Arkansas' 100 house districts.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

---

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Fri Nov 24, 2006 at 23:30:22 PM UTC

Nice.

Populism for the peoples! Now we need to get some more of that southern democratic mojo back into Kentucky. Can we get a candidate to speak openly, passionately, and plainly about mine safety? It's a win-win issue that resonates all over Appalachia (and the Ozarks).

Delaware Liberal - biggest and best blog in Delaware.

---

by: X Stryker @ Mon Nov 27, 2006 at 01:25:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]